The headquarters of Bac Phong commune’s People’s Committee (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Bac Phong commune has 5,100 people living in 10 hamlets. The Muong ethnic group accounts for 55% of the population, the Kinh 25%, and the Dao 15%. They live mainly by farming and animal husbandry.

Bac Phong has upgraded its transportation infrastructure and built a water supply system. The communal administration has provided capital support, seeds, and technical guidance on more profitable production models.

The locals have been encouraged to invest in bigger barns, apply new technology to production, and ensure epidemic safety. The local government has mobilized villagers to plant citrus trees according to VietGAP standards.

Khuong Xuan Lich, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Phong commune, said that Bac Phong is developing an agricultural economy, with the main crops being oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, and sugarcane.

“The local farmers have been trained to restructure their crops and livestock. Hoa Binh province now exports sugarcane. We’ll continue to develop cooperatives and high-tech agriculture,” said Lich.

He took Ha Phong cooperative, a typical cooperative producing and selling citrus fruits, and Ngoc Tao Cooperative with OCOP products as an example.  

“We’ll also develop tourism and services because Bac Phong is home to a Heritage Park of Vietnamese Scientists and a small hydroelectric plant,” Lich noted.

To meet the cultural criteria of new-style rural building, Bac Phong has built a cultural house with 300 seats and a 12,000-square-meter stadium. Every hamlet has a cultural house and a sports ground. All these facilitate the dissemination of State guidelines, policies, and laws, and cultural, artistic, and sports activities.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong, head of Bac Phong commune’s medical station (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Public health has also received attention, said Dr. Tran Ngoc Duong, the head of Bac Phong commune’s medical station, adding that Bac Phong commune’s medical station has two doctors, a nurse, a midwife, and a person who consults on family planning.

“Compared to other medical stations in Cao Phong district, we have sufficient personnel. We have been sent to study to improve our professional qualifications to better serve the locals. Now we can treat many diseases including flu, viral fever, hepatitis, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and several infectious diseases,” said Duong.

He noted, “The station is in charge of medical examinations and treatment and epidemic prevention. Local ethnic people have been given health insurance cards and have confidence in the Bac Phong station for medical help. If something is beyond our expertise, the patient is referred to a higher-level hospital.”

To strengthen administrative reform, Bac Phong has set up a model that follows the motto "Friendly government to serve the people", which has changed the approach from issuing administrative orders to serving, guiding, mobilizing and convincing people.

According to Do Duy Sua, a resident of Bac Phong commune, the commune’s administrative procedures are now handled very quickly and smoothly. “Our public servants are friendly and enthusiastic to everyone, not just me. I hope the commune’s People's Committee will continue to serve local citizens enthusiastically,” said Sua.

Lich says the Bac Phong administration has always stood side by side with the locals in implementing three national target programs – building new-style rural areas, boosting the socio-economy of ethnic minority areas, and reducing poverty.

People completing administrative procedures (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

The three national target programs have improved the lives of locals. In 2021 the annual income per capita was 1,700 USD. In 2023 it grew to 2,170 USD. Electricity, roads, schools, medical stations, and cultural houses are now available. All children attend school. Two schools in Bac Phong meet national standards.

“Bac Phong has set up folk singing and dancing clubs which contribute to preserving Muong ethnic culture. Last year Bac Phong met the criteria for building advanced new rural areas,” said Lich.

Economic growth and higher incomes are the core goals of new-style rural building in Bac Phong commune.