As the habit of dependency is replaced by a determined will to succeed, many households are boldly diversifying their crops and livestock to find new ways of doing business. Highland villages are undergoing a steady transformation as they progress along the path of hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

In the border commune of Mường Nhà, Quàng Văn Thoại from Xôm village has become a leading example of this transition. Since 2024, he has dedicated himself to reclaiming four hectares of arid, wasteland hill soil, painstakingly clearing rocks to plant coffee. During the early days in the harsh climate of the border region, every step was fraught with difficulty, but he persisted in tending to every green sprout. Quàng Văn Thoại shares that if one does not change or seek a new path, poverty will remain a permanent companion. He believes that with courage and perseverance, even the most difficult land can eventually bear “sweet fruit.”

Embracing the same spirit of innovation, Tòng Thị Hà from Chiềng Chung village, Tuần Giáo commune, has developed a unique economic model and spread this inspiration to other households. Building on the success of her family’s poultry farm, she connected with like-minded individuals to establish the Mường Quài Eco-Agriculture Cooperative with five members. Currently, the cooperative focuses on raising hill-roaming chickens, black pigs, and fish using organic methods, leveraging local soil advantages to build a value chain from production to consumption. Today, the lives of its members have improved significantly, with many achieving a comfortable economic status. Tòng Thị Hà notes that the cooperative supports its members with experience, breeding stock, and safe techniques, with plans to expand their brand to ensure stable outlets and higher incomes for local residents.

Sustainable changes in farming mindsets require the close companionship of local Party committees and authorities. When the government is truly close to the people and addresses their difficulties promptly, initial hesitation is replaced by confidence. In 2026, Điện Biên province strives to increase the total coffee area to approximately 13,135 hectares and macadamia to 14,860 hectares. To achieve this, a large-scale planting objective of 12,000 hectares has been set for 2026 alone, including 5,930 hectares of coffee and 5,930 hectares of intercropped macadamia.

Recently, communes across the province simultaneously organized coffee and macadamia planting festivals. Đặng Văn Tuấn, Chairman of the Mường Nhà commune People’s Committee, stated that the local government will accompany residents from the very first steps, providing technical training, seedling support, and care instructions while helping to connect producers with market outlets.

Điện Biên is a highland border province with 45 communes and wards characterized by scattered populations and difficult terrain. Raising awareness is seen as the “key” to ensuring people understand and effectively participate in state-led production support policies. Lò Văn Đức, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Sáng Nhè commune Party Committee, explains that through village meetings and close conversations, authorities persistently encourage people to change their way of thinking. Once awareness is “unlocked,” residents no longer rely on external aid but instead actively seek new ways to build a prosperous life.

These shifts in perception are giving highland villages a new appearance. By the end of 2025, the province’s poverty rate had decreased to 17.66%. Although the journey ahead remains challenging, the opening of new mindsets and the cultivation of trust ensure that the people remain the central subjects of their own development, lighting the hope for a brighter future.