It was harvest season for corn and coffee, so everyone in the village was busy. Yet, as we had arranged in advance, Mr. Sùng A Lầu, Head of Phiêng Pi village, had been waiting for us since early morning. Welcoming us into his spacious wooden house, built in the traditional Mông architectural style and fully equipped, he shared: “The life of Phiêng Pi’s people has become much better off than before. This is thanks to the care and support of the Party, the State, and all levels of government through investment programs in infrastructure, livelihood models, and the restructuring of crops and livestock. To bring new models and good practices to the people, local cadres and Party members have been the first to take the lead.”

As a Party member who dares to think and act, Mr. Lầu converted part of his low-yield maize area into higher-value crops such as Taiwanese mangoes and coffee. Currently, besides three hectares of maize, his family has over one hectare of coffee and mango trees that generate a stable income.

Following the example of pioneering Party members, villagers in Phiêng Pi have actively restructured their crops and livestock, applied scientific and technical advances, and improved both productivity and product quality.

Phiêng Pi no longer relies solely on maize and rice as before. The villagers now cultivate a variety of high-value crops such as coffee, macadamia, and mango. Since 2021, the village has converted hundreds of hectares of low-fertility maize and rice land into economic crops. At present, Phiêng Pi has 3 hectares of mango, 66.6 hectares of macadamia, 115 hectares of coffee, and 4.5 hectares of sugarcane. Livestock farming in household-scale models has also expanded, with the village now raising over 310 cattle, 420 pigs, and 3,533 poultry.

To illustrate his story, Mr. Lầu took us to visit some exemplary production households. Mr. Và Sáy Nếnh’s family has successfully combined cultivation, animal husbandry, and agricultural trading. He currently grows three hectares of maize and nearly two hectares of coffee and mangoes, while also buying and selling local produce such as corn and cassava ,  earning over VND 200 million per year and creating jobs for others. Similarly, Mr. Sùng A Thu’s household grows three hectares of maize, nearly two hectares of coffee (with 5,000m² already harvested), and raises over 30 pigs, 2 breeding cows, and more than 100 chickens and ducks, earning around VND 150 million annually.

Phiêng Pi now has 179 households with 876 residents, of which 98% are Mông and the rest are Phù Lá people. In 2021, the village’s poverty rate was 44.8%. Thanks to livelihood support, funding, seeds, and technical training from national target programs, the rate has now dropped to 24.1%. The rural landscape has become increasingly well-organized and vibrant, with the village meeting 16 out of 19 new rural development criteria and successfully implementing multiple agricultural production models.

As the economy improves, villagers pay more attention to healthcare and education. All school-age children now attend school. The village has a community cultural house serving meetings, sports, and entertainment.

With better living standards, villagers also enrich their spiritual and cultural life. Phiêng Pi has established a folk performance group of 20 members, actively participating in cultural and artistic activities. Traditional customs and cultural values are preserved and promoted alongside new rural construction. The village has developed its own regulations on weddings and funerals in accordance with a civilized lifestyle and has been recognized as a Cultural Village, with 163 households honored as Cultural Families.

The socio-economic progress and transformation of Phiêng Pi have been highly appreciated by authorities at all levels. Recently, the village was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister for its outstanding achievements in implementing the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2025 period. This recognition not only rewards their hard work but also motivates villagers to continue striving for a better future.

As we left Phiêng Pi under the soft afternoon light, the sight of new houses nestled among green coffee gardens and the cheerful laughter of children vividly reflected the profound changes in both the material and spiritual life of the local ethnic people.