Hà Nội’s Thường Tín District has six communes that earned the title “advanced new-style rural areas”, and Hồng Vân Commune was recognised as a “model new-style rural area”. —Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội’s Office for Coordinating New-style Rural Building

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội's Thường Tín District has made significant efforts to attain advanced standards in new-style rural areas by mobilising resources to promote socio-economic development while also preserving and fostering cultural values over time.

As a result, the district's programme for building new-style rural areas has yielded positive results.

The appearance of the district's countryside has undergone a transformation, and the material and spiritual well-being of the local population has steadily improved.

The average income has reached VNĐ66-68 million (US$2,698-2,780) per person annually.

Within the district, six communes have achieved the designation of "advanced new-style rural areas," and Hồng Vân Commune has been recognised as a "model new-style rural area."

The district has also established 27 models that link the cultivation chain with high-tech agriculture, organic agricultural production, and clean agriculture, which have yielded positive results in communes such as Ninh Sở, Lê Lợi, Hà Hồi, Tân Minh, and Duyên Thái.

Simultaneously, the district has prioritised the transformation of crop and livestock structures, including the conversion of low-efficiency rice production land into high-value vegetable cultivation areas.

Communes like Hà Hồi, Thư Phú, and Tân Minh have implemented models for growing safe vegetables, while Nghiêm Xuyên Commune has developed an aquaculture model. Additionally, Lê Lợi and Ninh Sở communes have been engaged in poultry farming and slaughtering models.

All of these models have contributed to improving the lives of the local residents.

In Hồng Vân Commune, significant changes have occurred in economic and social aspects since the adoption of the ecotourism model.

The appearance of the commune's countryside is becoming increasingly beautiful, the living environment is cleaner, and the local people's income and living standards are continually improving.

After receiving recognition as a "model new-style rural area" in 2019, the commune has focused on the development of agriculture in conjunction with ecotourism.

Subsequently, it was acknowledged by the city's administration as a tourist destination for ornamental craft villages.

Dubbed the "land of a hundred crafts", many traditional craft villages in the district have been promoting their economic, cultural and historical values, making important contributions to the new-style rural area programme.— Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội’s Office for Coordinating New-style Rural Building

The average number of tourists visiting the commune is estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000 people each year. This has helped create and maintain stable employment for approximately 100 regular workers, with each earning an income of VNĐ6-8 million ($245-327) per person per month.

In Văn Bình Commune, all rural roads have been paved with asphalt or concrete, and each village has designated spaces for cultural, physical training, and sports activities.

Ngô Đình Tiến, the chairman of the People's Committee of the commune, stated that the commune earned the title of "advanced new-style rural area" in 2020. He remarked, "This is the result of the efforts of the local administration and the consensus of the local people."

Currently, the average income of the local people has exceeded VNĐ70 million ($2,862) per person per year.

The commune is actively working towards achieving the title of "model new-style rural area" this year.

Bùi Công Thản, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of the district, mentioned that the district has assessed the outcomes of implementing the criteria for building new-style rural areas in 12 communes: Duyên Thái, Thắng Lợi, Chương Dương, Quất Động, Văn Phú, Tự Nhiên, Tô Hiệu, Hiền Giang, Nguyễn Trãi, Văn Bình, Nhị Khê, and Hà Hồi.

"Basically, the communes have achieved their set goals," he stated.

Nguyễn Văn Chí, the standing deputy chief of Hà Nội's Office for Coordinating New-style Rural Building, noted that the district has undergone significant changes as a result of its efforts to meet the advanced standards of new-style rural areas.

The district's agricultural production has been developed with a focus on producing goods of increasingly high quality and efficiency, he said.

More attention has been given to establishing connections from production to consumption, he added.

These connections have enabled people to create branded agricultural products, he continued.

Furthermore, socio-economic infrastructure in rural areas, especially essential infrastructure that serves people's lives, has been consistently upgraded, he stated.

Building a canal system following the new-style rural criteria in Quất Động Commune, Thường Tín District, Hà Nội. — Photo courtesy of the Hà Nội’s Office for Coordinating New-style Rural Building

Inter-village and hamlet roads have been paved with concrete, he said.

The district intends to continue maintaining the quality of the 28 communes that meet the criteria for new-style rural areas, he said.

The district has set targets to achieve an average income of VNĐ70-72 million ($2,682-2,946) per person per year, health insurance coverage of 93.5-95 per cent, 90 per cent of total families receiving the title of "Cultural Family," and 90 per cent of total villages earning the title of "Cultural Village" by the end of this year.

Simultaneously, the number of schools meeting national standards will increase by 10 schools, and 16 schools will meet level-2 national standards.

The district also aims to have a minimum of 14 communes meeting advanced new-style rural standards by 2024, representing 50 per cent of the district's communes. This contribution will aid the district in achieving advanced new-style rural standards by 2024.

Secretary of the district's Party Committee, Nguyễn Tiến Minh, stated that the district will reform its dissemination efforts and raise awareness among officials and the public regarding the policies and directions for building advanced and model new-style rural areas. Their motto is "Building new-style rural areas has only a starting point, with no endpoint."

They will promote production development by focusing on restructuring the agricultural sector in conjunction with urbanisation and sustainable development processes. Additionally, they will emphasise digital transformation, the application of information technology, and the creation of smart rural areas.

The district will also implement the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Programme comprehensively and effectively. Their goal is to have multiple OCOP products in each commune while expeditiously completing the detailed planning project for commune administrative centres and rural residential areas. They will also accelerate school infrastructure construction. —VNS

*This article is a collaboration with Hà Nội’s Office for Coordinating New-style Rural Buildings.