Khanh Thanh was one of the first 3 communes in Yen Khanh district, Ninh Binh province, chosen to implement the national new rural development program. The commune has had its infrastructure significantly upgraded with paved roads, and newly built schools, healthcare centers, and cultural houses, thanks to a new 3-in-1 rural development model which combines agriculture with vegetables and rice growing. This model, which has been widely applied in hamlet No. 13 over the past 5 years, has earned local people an annual income of more than 5000 USD/hectare. Pham Van Lai of hamlet No. 13 told VOV that his family now earns approximately 25,000 USD/hectare each year: "Thanks to this model, we now export several kinds of our vegetables, including bitter melons, squash, cucumbers, and chilis. Growing several kinds of vegetables at the same time has helped us avoid losses and generated significant income."

Another farmer of hamlet No. 13, Pham Thanh Son and her family, earned 400 USD/hectare growing bitter melons only. Others earned thousands of USD/hectare growing squashes and chilis. Son said her family’s living conditions have really improved, thanks to this effective agricultural model: "Our household economy has improved a lot since we applied this model. It’s about 2 or 3 times higher than in previous years. This has enabled us to enjoy a better life and build a new, more comfortable house."

The number of households involved in this new agricultural model in Khanh Thanh commune has grown from 5 to 67.  Pham Van Dan, Secretary of Khanh Thanh commune’s Party Committee, said that a shift from rice-only cultivation to growing additional crops has earned them more money. As a result, percentage of poor households has fallen from 9.6% to 3%. Dan added: "Our most important target is to boost production and improve people’s living standard. We have adopted specific measures to help local people escape poverty, including providing them with capital and knowhow to establish their own businesses. We aim to reduce poor households 0.5% this year and 2% in the future."

There are approximately 255 models of agricultural production being applied in Yen Khanh district, of which, the 3-in-1 model has been the most favored, as Yen Khanh tries to become the first district in Ninh Binh province to complete the national new rural development program. Le Trung Thanh is Standing Deputy Secretary of Yen Khanh district’s Party Committee: "We are looking for more diverse and effective methods of agricultural production since most of the local people are involved in farming. A wide application of diverse models of agricultural production will help ensure a successful implementation of the national rural development program, improving local incomes and living standards."