Remember the roots…
In May, the land and sky of Dien Bien are dyed in golden sunshine. The sky after the rain is clear and high. The golden fields of Muong Thanh are warm and full of two rice granaries, creating the Dien Bien rice brand that is comparable to Hai Hau's eight-grain xoan rice.
The afternoon fell very slowly, the western sunlight cast a fan-shaped shadow. The indigo-green mountains rose and hugged each other, running forever. A group of veterans from far away came, they stopped their cars and entered Cemetery A1 to offer incense in memory. They walked silently side by side in the late afternoon, the incense smoke wafted in the air. The sound of the bells rang, soothing the hearts of the living, echoing deep into the earth like the sound of the thousand-year-old mother earth embracing her soldiers, lulling them to eternal sleep...
There was an old soldier with white hair, holding a chrysanthemum in his hand, slowly walking through the main gate. His eyes were filled with emotion as he realized that he was the only one in Company 3, Regiment 88 left after the war. Standing in front of two rows of tombstones, he spoke hoarsely into the vast space: “Where have you been in the vast blue sky and earth? I have been looking for you for 10 years, but I still haven’t found you…?”. Many people present were moved by the short, sacred moment of that last old soldier…
The group of visitors was thinner, the old man sat by the grave for a long time then left, leaving behind a very quiet afternoon. Most of the veterans in that group were from the next generation, they went to Dien Bien to pay their respects…
After 69 years of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2023), Dien Bien today has changed, the past has closed, opening a new era, a new era in which the children of Dien Bien are still striving for the development of Dien Bien. The 19 ethnic minorities in Dien Bien are loyal to the Party, both protecting the "fence" of the Fatherland and taking care of labor and production so that the legendary land will forever shine like today's history page.
Loving homes
The movement to build houses of gratitude for the people of Dien Bien and the Northwest has existed for many years. In the 4 years from 2019 to 2022, the Party committees and authorities at all levels of Dien Bien province called for money and materials to build nearly 7,000 houses for the poor in Muong Nhe, Tua Chua, Dien Bien Dong, and Nam Po districts. The "Warm houses of gratitude and social security program" of Dien Bien province is still spreading into a strong gratitude movement.
Looking for households that have found a place to live, I met a Mong man named Ho A Nenh, from Tia Ghenh village, Keo Lom commune, Dien Bien Dong district. He said with emotion: “Before, my wife and I had to live in a temporary house. It was cold in the winter and water came into the house during the rainy season. Now, the district officials have supported us to build a new house. My wife and I, my family, and everyone in my village are very happy… Having a house to live in is so great!”
On the high slope of Tua Chua, Mr. Chang A Sao, Mang Chieng village, Sin Chai commune, could not hide his joy: “Before, I thought, I don’t know when I will be able to build a nice house to live in. For many years, I have lived in an old, leaky house. Sometimes, the rain suddenly came, and my wife and children had to wear helmets and wait for the rain to stop. Today, I am living in a new house that the officials supported with money and effort… and I feel like I am dreaming. Now, I am not afraid of rain, not afraid of wind… I can sleep until morning without worrying much.”
The dream of a warm house in winter, sheltered from rain and sun without worrying about leaks has also come true for Mr. Ho A Tung, Hang Sua village, Ta Sin Thang commune (Tua Chua district). Mr. Tung's family is poor and single. A few years ago, unfortunately, Mr. Tung had a work accident, affecting his health and family income. Life was hard and deprived, but thanks to the program "Warm house, social security" of Dien Bien province, after nearly 2 months of construction, Mr. Tung's house was completed with joy. In the house receiving period at the end of 2022 of Tua Chua district, Dien Bien province, 366 houses were given to the poor. People like Mr. Tung and Mr. Sao now have solid houses.
Nearly 70 years after Dien Bien Phu was liberated, the ethnic people have started to build and protect the border, build a prosperous life, and escape poverty. In addition to the efforts of the ethnic people, there is also the joint efforts of local authorities at all levels, and the financial investment of the Party and the State...
“A million loving hearts – a thousand happy homes”
Following the program "Warm homes, social security" of Dien Bien province, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee launched a large-scale program in mid-May.
At the launching ceremony, President Vo Van Thuong said that the program "A million loving hearts, a thousand happy homes" is a strong determination to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, so that poor households can have safe and stable housing, have conditions to improve their living standards, and escape poverty sustainably... This is a beautiful work, demonstrating the spirit of humanity and charity, both a responsibility and a sincere gratitude to the people of all ethnic groups in the land where in the past they made great sacrifices, contributed human resources and resources without sparing blood and bones for the Fatherland.
The program will be implemented from May 2023 to May 2024, and is expected to support the construction of 7,000 to 8,000 Great Solidarity houses... Of these, about 5,000 houses will be donated to households in the revolutionary cradle of Dien Bien.
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien said that with its profound political, social and humanitarian significance, the program... contributes to supporting the ethnic people of Dien Bien province and the Northwest region to escape poverty, improve their material and spiritual lives, and feel secure in their "flesh and blood" attachment to the borderland of the Fatherland.
All organizations and individuals can support through 3 forms: Support through the Central "For the Poor" Fund account so that the Central "For the Poor" Fund Mobilization Board can transfer the funds to Dien Bien province to support the beneficiaries; support directly to the "For the Poor" Fund account of Dien Bien province so that Dien Bien province can organize and deploy to the beneficiaries; deploy support and directly help households in Dien Bien province.
Surprisingly, right after the launching ceremony, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dien Bien province received the first round of support of 200 billion VND, equivalent to 4,000 houses.
Mr. Lo Van Mung, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dien Bien province, said: After the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee issues the plan, we will propose to advise on the establishment of a Steering Committee for building houses for the poor at all levels, from the province to the commune and ward. Then, make a detailed plan for each household, each commune, each district, time, participating forces... Especially in difficult, remote areas, poor and single households, the province will mobilize many support forces, the entire political system will participate to help the people.
Perhaps, this is the largest-ever campaign to build houses for the poor in Dien Bien province. From now until the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024), Dien Bien province will have 5,000 more poor households supported to build 5,000 "homes of love". These are great efforts, the care for the poor of the entire political system of Dien Bien province, the special attention of Party and State leaders at all levels for ethnic minorities in Dien Bien.
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