In the days leading up to Chol Chnam Thmay, only when visiting villages with large numbers of Khmer people can one feel the atmosphere of the traditional New Year celebration of the people. Khmer families, in addition to working and producing hours, take the time to prepare, clean, and decorate their houses to make them look neat and clean. Artisans focus on adjusting their pentatonic musical instruments. Young men and women are absorbed in practicing traditional dances to prepare to show off their talents and beauty in the upcoming New Year days...
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| Celebrating the New Year, the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, Khmer people are excited and expect good things in the year. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Coming to Minh Hoa commune (Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province), we can see the full change of this place. Along the asphalt roads, rural concrete roads are newly built houses that have been built in time to help Khmer households no longer worry about their houses leaking during the rainy and stormy season.
As one of the households receiving housing support from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas (National Target Program 1719), Mr. Danh Thang's family, residing in Hoa Hung Hamlet, Minh Hoa Commune, is happy that their new house has been completed for more than 3 months now. As an old and weak veteran, Mr. Thang and his family have lived in an old and seriously degraded house for many years. When the State supported him with 50 million VND, his family contributed more than 20 million VND to build a new house.
Mr. Danh Thang shared his joy: “My family and I are very touched and grateful to receive the State’s support to build a new house. Now my family no longer has to worry about having to use buckets and basins to catch water in the house during the rainy season because the roof leaks in many places. My family will be very happy to welcome Chol Chnam Thmay this year.”
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| Mr. Danh Thang's family, residing in Hoa Hung hamlet, Minh Hoa commune (Chau Thanh district, Kien Giang province) received the house from the housing support fund from the National Target Program 1719. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
As one of the Khmer households receiving housing support from the locality, Ms. Danh Thi Heng, in Hamlet 6, Vinh Hoa Hung Nam Commune (Go Quao District, Kien Giang Province) shared: “Family life is difficult, the main source of income for both husband and wife is from working as laborers and hired workers. Providing food and clothing for our children is also our top priority. Therefore, although we have to live in a dilapidated level 4 house, the family does not have the conditions to repair or renovate it.
At the most difficult time, the government created conditions for my family to access preferential policy capital sources according to Decree No. 28/2022/ND-CP (on preferential credit policies to implement the National Target Program 1719) to build a house. From this money, my family was able to build a new house with an area of 32m2 . Now, my husband and I work hard to take care of our lives."
Mr. Danh Phuc, Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Kien Giang province, said: “After more than 3 years of implementing the National Target Program 1719 for the period 2021-2025; by the end of 2023, Kien Giang will support residential land for 31 households; support housing for 383 households; support production land and job conversion for 236 households; solve scattered domestic water problems for 472 households; upgrade and expand 14 centralized domestic water projects in ethnic minority areas with a total implementation cost of over 74 billion VND. Up to now, the shortage of residential land, housing, production land, domestic water has been basically solved...”.
Going to communes with a large Khmer population such as Vinh Trach Dong (Bac Lieu city), Hung Hoi (Vinh Loi district), Vinh Hau A (Hoa Binh district), Loc Ninh (Hong Dan district), Vinh Phu Dong (Phuoc Long district) ..., walking on the roads leading to the villages, we saw the bustling atmosphere of the New Year celebrations of the Khmer people in Bac Lieu. Seeing the scenery of the villages today, we clearly feel the presence and great benefits from the policies for ethnic groups that have brought to the communes and hamlets with special difficulties many projects to meet the needs of people's lives, serving the requirements of local socio-economic development.
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| Prayer ceremony on the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year at Xiem Can Pagoda, Bac Lieu City, Bac Lieu Province. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
According to Venerable Huu Hinh, Chairman of the Association of Patriotic Monks and Monks in Bac Lieu Province, the life of the Khmer people has improved a lot thanks to the effective implementation of programs, policies and special projects of the Government, ministries and branches for the Khmer people. I also often advise my people to live healthily and save money to work with the authorities to build an increasingly prosperous homeland.
“Implementing the National Target Program 1719 for the 2021-2030 period, the province has invested billions of VND to purchase pentatonic musical instruments, build and repair Ngo boats, invest in crematoriums and build main halls for pagodas. In addition, many pagodas and Salatels (places for Khmer people to participate in community cultural activities) in areas with a large Khmer ethnic group have been supported to operate and promote traditional art forms of the nation,” said Venerable Huu Hinh.
Coming to Cai Gia hamlet (Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province) these days, it is easy to see every household preparing to celebrate Tet. With the meaning of starting a new year, everyone is excited to renovate and decorate their house. Although life is increasingly modern, many families still preserve traditional customs such as making gingerbread, cooking noodle soup... during Tet.
Mrs. Thach Thi So Phi expressed: “This year, the crops of the village have improved a lot, life has also gradually improved, so everyone is excited to prepare to enjoy a warm and prosperous Tet. Even though they work far away, my children still return home to reunite to celebrate New Year's Eve, to spend happy Tet holidays together.”
Mr. Ngo Vu Thang, Vice Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, said: "In recent times, many specific policies and guidelines for ethnic minorities of the Party and State have always been directed by Party committees and authorities at all levels to be implemented promptly, closely and effectively. Notably, the National Target Program 1719, in 2023 alone, from the allocated capital of the Central Government and the local counterpart budget, Bac Lieu has disbursed nearly 42 billion VND to invest in infrastructure construction, production support, housing, clean water support, job conversion, etc., helping thousands of Khmer households develop production, improve the material and spiritual life of the people.
Along with taking care of material life, preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of the Khmer ethnic group receives special attention from Party committees and authorities in Bac Lieu province.
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| In many villages with a large Khmer population, young men and women are busy practicing traditional dances to prepare to show off their talents and beauty during the upcoming Tet holiday. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
The change and prosperity in the villages and hamlets are clearly shown through the organization of the Khmer people's Tet holiday in the provinces of the Mekong Delta. The gentle sunshine mixed with unseasonal rain in the middle of April has eased the heat, creating a cool atmosphere for people to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay more happily. So the villages and hamlets in the provinces of the Mekong Delta are about to welcome a warm, colorful traditional Tet holiday. After 3 days of Tet, we hope that people will have a new crop with many advantages and continue to preserve and promote the Khmer cultural identity in the new period.
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