Chau Binh commune in Ben Tre province’s Giong Trom district has seen significant changes in recent years including new bridges and paved roads. These changes are thanks to the tireless efforts of local authorities and the public, especially war veterans, who went to every household to encourage people to donate land, money, and labor to build roads and upgrade the local infrastructure. The engagement of war veterans in the new rural development program created the local people’s consensus and trust necessary to the program’s success. Dao Van Hoi, Secretary of Chau Binh commune’s Party Committee, said: "The local War Veterans’ Association plays a leading role in the national new rural development program. We often take the lead in any movement to encourage people to take part in the program by donating our own land, money, and labor to upgrade local traffic and irrigation systems, and build cultural houses and other public works. People trust us and follow suit, making the program more inclusive."

Rice fields in Chau Binh commune, Giong Trom district

In the past 3 years, Ben Tre’s War Veterans’ Association has paved many local roads, built dozens of bridges, and raised 2.25 million USD from local contributions. Poverty reduction is a key task of the new rural development program. Many solutions have been designed to help local people escape poverty, including establishing clubs where members share ideas for economic development and support each other in production and daily activities. Bui Thanh Khoi, deputy chairman of the Association, told VOV: "The Association has played a constructive role in the program’s success. We’ve spared no effort to encourage people to get involved in the program’s implementation to improve local living standards."