In 2019, he borrowed 2,000 USD from the Bank for Social Policies to begin livestock production and grow 1 hectare of anise trees. After 2 years, his livestock and anise trees earned him more than 4,000 USD per year.

By the end of 2021, Tron’s family had escaped poverty. He then borrowed another 4,000 USD from a program for households newly escaped from poverty to invest in more livestock and anise trees.  

Tron was moved t say that without the support of the Bank for Social Policies, his family would never have had enough money to raise pigs and grow anise and would never have qualified for a loan.

“If we continued growing rice, we wouldn’t have had enough to eat. Now that I have capital, I’ll invest in raising pigs and planting trees. It’s much better than growing rice. I’ll increase my herd of pigs and chickens and plant more anise trees,”  Tron added.

Like Tron, Hoang Thi Phan of Ban Chu B hamlet in Khuat Xa commune, Loc Binh district, was also poor. Thanks to a bank loan, in 2020 Phan's family escaped poverty. Her family has also received support in developing economic models from the local government.

She said, “Thanks to support of the local administration and the State, my family got a loan from the bank to raise pigs and chickens and open a convenient store. Now my family's income is stable. We’ve escaped poverty.” 

Over the years, the preferential credit capital provided by the Bank for Social Policies has been likened to a "midwife" for many poor families and policy beneficiaries in Lang Son province.

The provincial Bank for Social Policies has disbursed nearly 61 million USD to 34,000 households. Over the past 5 years the loan program for poor households has helped thousands escape poverty and stabilize their lives.

Nguyen Thi Phuong, Director of Lang Son province’s Bank for Social Policies, said that preferential loans help poor and disadvantaged households in rural areas develop crop and livestock production.

“As a result, the face of the countryside has improved, as families escape poverty and better their lives. Policy credit has significantly narrowed the gap between rich and poor, reduced unemployment, satisfied the criteria on building new-style rural areas, and played an important role in stabilizing and developing the local economy,” said Phuong.

Policy credit has mobilized the political system and society to jointly implement the national target program to reduce poverty, create jobs, and ensure social security.

According to Duong Xuan Huyen, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, the Lang Son provincial administration has asked the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to support people with capital for production and trade.

“This demonstrates the Government's commitment to giving ethnic minorities in mountain areas more development opportunities,” said Huyen.

The lending program of the Bank for Social Policies has helped Lang Son province reduce its poverty rate 3 to 5% per year.