Missing Nam Hai Lang

QTO - Chairman of Nam Hai Lang Commune People's Committee Tran Huu Bac told me: "In the central region, it is difficult to find a land like this border area. The two rivers O Lau and O Sa are quiet, diligent, containing historical and cultural sediments, creating the identity and simple lifestyle of the people of the "two hometowns". The South is the territory of Hue City, the North belongs to Quang Tri province. And it is also the place where people of the two provinces have come and gone for generations, with affection and loyalty".

Sources of love

The day I arrived at Nam Hai Lang commune, the elders in the border area told stories about their hometown rivers: O Lau River flows from the mountains and forests of the West of Hue City, down to Pho Trach, through Phong My, Phong Thu to Phong Dien... cutting the North-South highway parallel to the national highway to My Chanh, Quang Tri land. When mentioning O Lau, we must mention O Sa - the sister river. Through many rapids, streams in the mountains and forests of the West of Quang Tri, O Sa flows to the East and meets O Lau River...

The land of Nam Hai Lang is made up of the old communes of Hai Lang district including: Hai Phong, Hai Son, Hai Chanh, which have a lot of potential and advantages in terms of land and population. With its location adjacent to Hue city, Nam Hai Lang commune has all the factors of "heavenly time, favorable location, and harmony of people" to develop industry, trade, services, exchange, and trade of goods and agricultural products.

O Lau River and the border area between Quang Tri province and Hue city - Photo: Nam Hai Lang Commune People's Committee

In Nam Hai Lang commune, My Chanh market and Hai Hoa market have become two large commercial, trading and goods exchange centers, not only for local people but also for people and traders from Hue city. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, in Phong Dinh ward, Hue city, has been selling clothes at Hai Hoa market since March 2025.

Sharing with me, Ms. Hoa sincerely said: “Wherever there is good land, birds will flock. Wherever there is business, we, the traders, will be there. There is no distinction between regions, provinces, or localities. Here, everyone lives in harmony and loves each other like people from the same family, the same hometown.”

With more than 20 years of doing business and selling groceries at Hai Hoa market, Ms. Pham Thi Hao in Phong Dinh ward, Hue city said: “Although my house is in Hue city, it is closer to Quang Tri province. I have been doing business at Hai Hoa market since the time when it was still a flea market. Quang Tri welcomed me and many small traders and people in Hue city to do business and exchange goods with sincerity and love, as is the long-standing tradition of this border land.”

Sustainable development of the southern gateway region

Assessing the overall socio-economic situation of Nam Hai Lang area, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Huu Bac commune shared: After the merger, the Party Committee, government and political system soon stabilized, initially operating effectively and synchronously. The Party Committee and the People promptly promoted advantages and opportunities such as the geographical location of trade between the two provinces of Quang Tri and Hue City; potential land in the hilly area, abundant labor; tradition of solidarity, studiousness, diligence; attention and leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee, departments, branches; socio-economic development policies and guidelines suitable to local conditions... Thanks to that, the total production value of the whole commune in 2025 can be estimated at over 2,345 billion VND.

Agriculture, forestry and fishery have changed positively, focusing resources on restructuring industries associated with new rural construction. Developing agricultural commodity production in a concentrated direction based on exploiting and promoting local potentials and strengths...

Forestry is maintained in a sustainable direction with 1,267 hectares of FSC-certified forest; forest coverage rate reaches 61%. Continue to improve the quality and efficiency of 5 large fields including: Cau Nhi Cooperative 20 hectares; Ha Lo Cooperative 13.6 hectares; An Tho Cooperative 10.5 hectares; Van Quy Cooperative 20 hectares; Hung Nhon Cooperative 20 hectares along with 130 hectares of rice and vegetable production according to VietGAP standards at Luong Dien Cooperative.

“The 2025-2030 term is the first stage of implementing political tasks in the new conditions of Nam Hai Lang commune, striving to build a commune with rapid economic development, progressive society, strong national defense and security, and increasingly prosperous and happy people's lives, becoming a sustainable trade gateway in the southern region of Quang Tri province.”

Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Huu Bac commune shared.

The value of industrial, handicraft and construction production in 2025 strives to reach over 839 billion VND, accounting for 35.8% of the economic structure; average growth of 15.1%. The whole commune maintains a stable 580 handicraft and rural industry production establishments, creating jobs for more than 1,475 workers.

Trade and services are shifting in the right direction with an estimated production value of VND924 billion in 2025, accounting for 39.4% of the economic structure, with an average growth of 7.34%. Central markets are operating stably. The service network is developing along main traffic routes to promote trade, consumption of goods, create jobs, and increase income...

Determining the growth targets for the period 2025-2030, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tran Huu Bac commune added: The Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee of the commune agreed on a number of targets to strive for implementation such as: Total state budget revenue in the area reaches an average annual growth rate of 10-12%; growth rate of 9-10%. Specifically: Agriculture-forestry-fishery, 8-9%; industry-construction, 10-11%; service industries, 9-10%; production value reaches 89.6 million VND/ha; mobilizing social investment capital of over 300 billion VND; average income per capita by 2030 compared to 2025 increases by 50-52%; the annual poverty rate decreases by 0.3-0.5%...

Ngo Thanh Long

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202510/thuong-nho-nam-hai-lang-e33583b/