Ba Trai: A Vibrant Transformation

Once a humble mountainous commune, the charming countryside of Ba Trai has transformed dramatically. Clean concrete roads weave through the area, while vibrant flower-lined alleys and spacious, tranquil homes create a picturesque and peaceful atmosphere.

Headquarters of the Ba Trai People's Committee

Unanimous in new rural development

Mr. Hoang Van Chuyen, Chairman of Ba Trai People's Committee, said embracing the principle of collaboration between the State and the community, the construction of rural roads sparked enthusiastic support from the people right from the start. Among the households donating land for road construction, Mr. Nguyen Van Binh said, “I won't deny I have some regrets, but when I think it through, giving up this land brings many benefits. A wider road will make travel easier for everyone, and with my property facing the road, its value will surely rise.”

Mr. Le Van Hai, a 77-year-old veteran, said: “In the past, traveling was very difficult because the commune was full of dirt roads which were dusty in the sun but muddy in the rain. Students came home from school dirty from head to toe after school time. What we have today comes from the government-led good work in mass mobilization and trust building. People are willing to join hands and make contributions, depending on their ability. As a result, the roads in the commune are becoming more spacious, clean and airy.”

According to Chuyen, since the new rural construction movement was launched, road expansion has been strongly promoted among the people. After the good success of the first concrete road, more roads were built. Up to now, most main roads have been concreted. Only nooks and crannies are still being concreted for the time being.

In addition to donating land for road construction, residents in Ba Trai commune also enthusiastically participated in donating land to build the cultural house of the village. Mr. Ngo Quoc Hien said: “I voluntarily donated the land because this project would serve the needs of my family and my neighbors and provide a healthy gathering place for villagers. I am very happy to have made contributions to this work.”

Local leaders focus on developing the agricultural economy, especially tea villages linked to community tourism

Toward building an advanced new rural area

Chuyen said, to effectively build new rural areas, the Party Committee and the People's Committee of Ba Trai should focus on making rules, working out specific plans and informing all officers of the rules and plans in order to mobilize public resources. This very important issue requires the participation of the entire political system to "make people understand, know, discuss, work and inspect" together with the locality to complete the assigned tasks. There were also many difficulties arising from implementation.

Therefore, to be successful, incumbent leaders, old leaders and Party members took the lead in setting an example to muster the strength of all people. By mobilizing many resources, especially the combined resources of national target programs, power grid, roads, schools, clinics and cultural houses basically meet the mandatory standards.

According to a report by the Ba Trai People's Committee, the total income was VND1,068 billion in 2023. The economic structure was shifted toward an expected pattern where agriculture, forestry and fishery accounted for 58% and industry, construction, trade and services made up 42%. Per capita income was VND69.7 million in the year. The commune currently has only two poor households (accounting for 0.05%) and 69 near-poor households (1.85%).

In sociocultural fields, the commune has effectively propagated Party and State policies and laws, mobilized the entire people to actively participate in patriotic emulation movements in the commune like "Building new rural areas and civilized urban areas" movement associated with the "Building bright, green, clean, beautiful and safe villages, hamlets and alleys" movement. The commune has upheld a civilized lifestyle in funerals, weddings and religious activities and festivals. Up to 96.7% or higher of households were certified " cultured families" and 89% garnered the title in three consecutive years (2021-2023). All 10 villages of the commune were accredited to "cultured village" titles. In education and training, the teaching staff of five schools all meet and exceed the given standards and the quality of teaching and learning of secondary schools, primary schools and kindergartens remains high.

In the past year, the Ba Trai People's Committee awarded prizes worth VND14.1 million in total to 77 secondary and primary students with excellent national, municipal and district-level academic achievements, and presented gifts worth VND11.5 million to 24 students passing university entrance exams with 24 points or higher. In the first six months of 2024, the committee awarded 100 students who won medals at city and district distinction contests with a total value of VND21.05 million, sourced from the commune's scholarship fund. Population and family health work was well implemented.

Local leaders have regularly paid attention to developing the agricultural economy, especially tea villages associated with experiential tourism and community tourism. Currently, the commune still has 471 ha of tea, harvesting 8.5 tons per ha on average or 4,003.5 tons in total. Ba Trai tea brand was certified 3-star OCOP standards from 2022.

To further promote these achievements, the Party and government of Ba Trai commune will continue to mobilize the strength of great solidarity of the people and complete socioeconomic development targets set at the beginning of the year. Economically, the total income of the commune was expected to reach VND1,110.4 billion in 2024, of which agriculture, forestry and fishery will contribute 60% and industry, construction, trade and services will make up 40%. The per capita income was forecast at VND72 million in the year. The commune will also maintain political security, social order and safety; build a clean and strong Party, government and political system; and complete the program of building Ba Trai commune into an advanced new rural commune, thus giving a helping hand to the development and renovation of Ba Vi district.

By Ngoc Dan, Vietnam Business Forum