New Concrete Roads Bring Joy to Locals in Vietnam’s Binh Dinh Province
In early May 2024, a new 1.7-kilometer-long and 3-meter-wide concrete road was completed in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. The road, connecting the Vinh Tho Communal House to Nuoc Tan Dam in Vinh Hiep Commune, Vinh Thanh District, was constructed with an investment of VND 2.5 billion from the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. The locals of Vinh Tho village are delighted as the new road provides easier access to their agricultural lands.
For families like that of Le Thi Minh Tam, who owns 10 sao of land near Nuoc Tan Dam, the new road is a welcome change. Previously, the area was only accessible via a dirt track, which became muddy and difficult to traverse during the rainy season. Now, Ms. Tam is relieved that the concrete road reaches her agricultural land, making transportation much more convenient.
The newly constructed concrete road in Vinh Phuc Village, Vinh Hiep Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province.
“Thanks to this new road, travel has become much easier, and motorbikes can now reach our farms. We don’t have to worry about landslides or muddy roads during the rainy season,” said Ms. Tam. “The convenient road access allows me to visit my farm and orchard at night. Now that we have a concrete road, we are mindful of protecting it by not allowing large vehicles to pass through. We only permit small vehicles and tractors to enter the farms to transport grass and other produce,” she added.
Another local, Huynh Thi Nhieu, from Vinh Tho Village, also expressed her gratitude for the new road. She shared that it has opened up opportunities for the villagers to tend to their farms and has improved access to emergency medical services during illnesses.
“In the past, this road used to get waterlogged and made it difficult to carry coffins during funerals. Now, with the new road, we have also established a new cemetery. During the rainy season, it was challenging to hire vehicles, but now with this road, it is much easier to access our farms and forests. The local authorities have also planned to expand the residential area, starting from the beginning of this road,” Ms. Nhieu explained.
The concrete road, funded by the National Target Program, leads to the production area.
In the same commune, a nearly kilometer-long concrete road has also been completed with funding from the National Target Program for the 2021-2030 period, amounting to nearly VND 3 billion. This road passes through hilly terrain and provides access to the production areas and long-standing forests of dozens of households. When the plan for this road was announced, 20 households in Vinh Phuc Village willingly donated their land to widen the road.
Nguyen Duy Nhat, a local government official in charge of land and agriculture in Vinh Hiep Commune, shared that the local authorities will continue to implement similar projects with the principle of the government investing in road construction while the people donate land.
“Previously, the means of transportation were not convenient, and the locals mainly cultivated cashew trees. The challenging transportation conditions made it difficult to care for the trees effectively. As a result, the cashew trees did not yield high productivity, and some farmers switched to forestry. Now, with the concrete road in place, some households have decided to keep their cashew trees and are bringing in fertilizer by vehicle. The previously neglected cashew gardens are now receiving proper care, including fertilization and irrigation, which has significantly improved their productivity,” expressed Mr. Nhat.
Investing in roads that lead directly to production areas.
In 2024, the mountainous district of Vinh Thanh received an allocation of more than VND 24 billion for essential infrastructure investments to serve production and improve the lives of ethnic minorities. So far, the district has disbursed over VND 7.1 billion, achieving more than 29% of the plan. This year, the district is prioritizing the construction of four rural transport infrastructure projects to provide better access to production areas for the locals.
“Through the implementation of 10 projects under the program, including four projects on infrastructure construction such as concrete roads and irrigation canals, we have facilitated the transportation of goods and communication between villages and localities. This has significantly improved the efficiency of these projects and made it easier for the locals to travel,” said Le Minh Thong, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vinh Thanh District.
A newly completed concrete road in Vinh Hiep Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province.
“These projects have also contributed to the development of the local economy. To ensure that the policies benefit the people, the People’s Committee of Vinh Thanh District established a steering committee and working groups with specific tasks. These groups conducted inspections and provided guidance to the localities, organized propaganda campaigns to mobilize the people, and developed projects and lists for implementation,” he added.
A residential area in Vinh Hiep Commune, Vinh Thanh District, Binh Dinh Province.
The ethnic minority areas in Binh Dinh Province are witnessing significant improvements in their rural landscape. The National Target Programs have played a crucial role in enhancing the material and spiritual lives of the ethnic minority communities.
