In a spacious, two-story house built solidly with a modern design, Mr. Lường Văn Diên and his wife Mrs. Lò Thị Thân from Kép Hamlet, Chiềng Sinh Commune (Tuần Giáo District) cannot hide their joy. He shared that after nearly ten years of hard work, the couple saved enough money to build the house that they dreamed of for years. His family used to be very poor, one of the poorest in the village. With four members relying solely on 500sq.m of rice fields and his seasonal construction work with low, unstable income, he struggled hard. Without capital or land for farming, they had no idea how to improve the family’s livelihood.

“In 2009, my wife and I decided to work for a construction company in Hải Phòng City. I did as a builder, and my wife worked as a construction assistant. Working at the same place reduced our daily travel and food costs. Despite many hardships, our life is now stable. After covering our children’s monthly expenses, we save over VNĐ 100 million per year. Our two-story house, with over 150sq.m per floor, cost more than VNĐ 700 million for materials, with labor provided by us and labor exchanges with villagers. In our village, construction workers are all locals; if one house is built this year, the owners will return the favor to others next year. If we had stayed at home doing seasonal work, we would never have built this house,” he added.

Chiềng Sinh is recognized by Tuần Giáo District for its effective job counseling and introduction efforts in recent years. Working at small enterprises or major industrial zones in the country is a new direction for many young people from highland communes.

Mr. Lò Văn Pánh, Chairman of the Chiềng Sinh Commune People’s Committee, said that nowadays, after finishing high school, many youths who do not pursue higher education seek jobs through family or neighbors in companies. Therefore, introducing locals to reputable businesses is a priority for the commune’s leadership. On average, 1,800 people aged 18-35 from Chiềng Sinh work in industrial zones like Bắc Giang, Bắc Ninh, Hải Phòng, earning VNĐ 8-13 million/month. With their earnings, many families have built houses, and bought vehicles and modern household appliances. The face of the highland commune has changed considerably.

Similarly, in Chiềng Đông Commune, young people actively seek suitable jobs to help their families. Mr. Quàng Văn Thương, Vice Chairman of the Chiềng Đông Commune People's Committee held that today’s youths are quick to seize job opportunities. Whenever they hear of good recruitment offers, they immediately apply, often with friends or family members. After every Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday, few working-aged people stay home. Annually, about 550-600 locals work for domestic companies, sending money home and bringing back new ideas for local economic development, such as opening grocery stores or motorbike repair shops.

To meet labor demands and ensure workers’ rights, the Tuần Giáo District’s Sub-department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs connects with major domestic enterprises to provide stable, well-paying jobs. On February 11, 2024, Vietnam Coal and Mineral College, in collaboration with companies from the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group, recruited and sent workers from 10 communes in Tuần Giáo for vocational training.

Having jobs and stable incomes, migrant workers have improved their family lives and transformed their hometowns. In recent years, modern multi-story houses have been built, enhancing local living standards. However, urban temptations pose risks to honest, naive workers, with some returning burdened by debt after falling into social evils. Thus, learning from successful peers, staying alert, avoiding social vices, and living frugally and healthily are essential for every migrant worker.