The ceremony to recognize Son Dong commune as a new-style rural village (Photo: VOV)

Located in the suburbs of Ben Tre city, Son Dong commune began to implement the new-style rural program in early 2011, when it fulfilled 9 of the 19 criteria.

By the middle of last year, Son Dong had completed all the criteria thanks to the efforts of the local Party Committee and villagers.

Over the past 4 years, Son Dong has spent 2.5 million USD on infrastructure, 390,000 USD of which was contributed by local people. Dozens of households donated land to build roads and irrigation works.

All the commune roads and roads connecting Son Dong with Ben Tre city have been widened and paved.

Twenty-three irrigation canals in Son Dong have been dredged and dams have been constructed to prevent salt water intrusion and ensure a fresh water supply for 86% of the local farm land.

Vo Van Chinh, a resident of Son Dong commune’s hamlet 2, said, “We’ve agreed on a new-style rural development plan with the local administration and have contributed what we have to building rural roads.”

He recalled, “Villagers donated farm land to expand three roads in hamlet 2. On Sundays, the locals diligently cleared the areas along the roads, dredged dirty canals, and tidied up the environment.”

Thanks to the new-style rural development program, people's lives have been improved.

Son Dong has set up an agricultural cooperative and two cooperative groups specializing in growing and trading green skin pomelos, which has stabilized local farm income. The development of service and trade activities in Son Dong is creating jobs and improving people's lives.

The commune collects 217,000 USD a year for the local budget. The commune’s average income per capita is around 2,000 USD.

Son Dong only has 29 poor households, less than 1% of the total. 82% of its houses are made of concrete, and its three schools meet national standards.

All roads in Son Dong commune have been paved. (Photo: VOV)

Son Dong’s Party Committee has 450 members who belong to 10 Party cells. Son Dong was the 6th commune in Ben Tre city to meet the new-style rural standards. Dang Thu Hien, Chairwoman of the commune’s Fatherland Front, said, “The Front and other social organizations play a key role in getting people to implement the new-style rural criteria, particularly the ones relating to public contributions to bridges, roads, and environmental sanitation.”

According to Hien, “The program has greatly improved local people's lives. Roads are better, making it easier for people to travel and do business. The Front will continue to mobilize people to implement the new-style rural criteria.”

To keep their “new-style rural village” title, the local Party Committee, authorities, and people continue to use loans, vocational training, and transfer of technology to support production development.

Party members have asked local people to strictly follow the new-style rural criteria. Le Huu Phong, Deputy Secretary of the commune’s Party Committee, said, “As we focus on the criteria related to environment and roads, the communal People's Committee and social organizations have encouraged locals not to litter, for example.”

“The construction of roads and bridges was easier because villagers donated land. Although the commune has been recognized as a new rural village, we are still exhorting the locals to follow all the criteria pursuant to the Party Committee’s Resolution until 2025 to become a new rural commune at a higher level,” said Phong.