In recent years, under the leadership of the provincial Party Committee and People’s Council, and through the concerted efforts of local Party organisations, authorities, and ethnic communities, Hoa Binh province has achieved significant progress in implementing ethnic affairs and policies. These efforts have brought a new face-lift to ethnic-minority-inhabited and mountainous areas, according to Ha Van Di, Head of the Ethnic Affairs Board of Hoa Binh province.
Bui Van Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, and other delegates attend the great national unity and military-civilian culture festival in Ngai hamlet, Thach Yen commune, Cao Phong district
The economic situation and livelihoods of ethnic communities in the province remain stable, with social welfare ensured and public safety maintained. Ethnic groups have fostered a strong sense of solidarity, mobilising internal resources to actively work, study, and boost economic development. Improvements in the material and spiritual lives have contributed to narrowing the development gap between ethnic and mountainous areas and other regions.
Notably, the poverty rate in ethnic-minority and mountainous areas has decreased by 3.36% on average annually, with extremely disadvantaged communes achieving an annual reduction of 6.4%. Currently, 62% of communes or 80 out of a total of 129 have met new-style rural development standards, including 14 extremely disadvantaged and seven disadvantaged communes. An additional six extremely disadvantaged communes are expected to meet these standards by the year-end. Rural infrastructure continues to improve, social welfare policies are effectively implemented, and national defence and security are firmly upheld.
These achievements stem from the commitment and responsibility of Party committees and authorities, who prioritise regular dissemination of information to enhance the effectiveness of ethnic policy implementation. Authorities actively monitor socio-economic conditions and the aspirations of local communities, addressing challenges promptly to prevent "hot spots" at the grassroots level. Collaborative efforts among various sectors have been strengthened, with a focus on the implementation, oversight, and evaluation of ethnic programmes, projects, and policies, particularly national target programmes.
Efforts also prioritise developing a strong contingent of ethnic minority leaders and enhancing the roles of reputable individuals, village elders, and community leaders within ethnic groups.
Looking ahead, ethnic minority communities in Hoa Binh are encouraged to continue promoting patriotic movements and innovative labour, in combination with Directive No. 05-CT/TW, issued by the Politburo on May 15, 2016, to advance the study and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style. These initiatives contributed to the broader national goal of building a prosperous, strong, fair, democratic, and civilised society.
For the 2024-2029 period, Hoa Binh aims to achieve several key targets, including lifting the per capita income of ethnic minorities in rural areas to half the national average and reducing the poverty rate among ethnic minorities by 2.5-3% annually, and by 4-4.5% in extremely disadvantaged communes.
Over 90% of ethnic minority farming households will engage in commercial agriculture and forestry while ensuring over 90% of communes and villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have basic infrastructure to support socio-economic development and improve living standards.
The ethnic communities of Hoa Binh remain united and determined to collaborate with the province's political system to realise these ambitious goals, creating a brighter future for all.
Hoa Binh is carried out investment projects to upgrade three district medical centres in Lac Son and Yen Thuy districts and Hoa Binh city. The projects are funded by the central budget under the Economic and Social Recovery and Development Programme, aiming to improve healthcare services. The goal is to gradually develop a system of modern and quality district-level healthcare facilities.
To improve the cultural and spiritual life of the elderly, the associations for the elderly at various levels in Hoa Binh province have created many interesting and meaningful activities, attracting the participation of a large number of old people. These activities provide opportunities for them to improve both their physical and mental health, enabling them to live happily and healthily.
The pilot programme for sending Vietnamese workers to the Republic of Korea (RoK) for seasonal agricultural jobs continues under a collaboration between localities of the two countries, running for five years from January 1, 2022.
Staff of the Red Cross Society of Hoa Binh province were deeply moved by a meaningful and humanitarian act by Mr Vu Huu Lung, 86, in Hoa Binh city, to donate his corneas, which brought hopes to those yearning for the light. Before passing away, Lung left behind a noble wish to donate all of his organs, including his corneas, to help patients suffering from blindness and those in need of organ transplants to revive their lives.
In the small house of Bui Van Luong in Bung 2 Hamlet, Thu Phong commune, Cao Phong district, an array of traditional items such as serving trays, woven storage baskets for blankets, sticky rice containers, and bamboo baskets are beautifully and skillfully crafted.
Over the recent past, the education and training sector of Hoa Binh province has paid great attention to reforming management activities, improving teachers’ quality, and innovating teaching methods that focus on quality and efficiency, at the same time with implementing the sector’s emulation campaigns and movements.
