Having worked in policy lending across the westernmost communes of the country for more than 12 years, Mào Văn Tuấn, Deputy Director of the VBSP Mường Nhé, still embarks on each routine field trip with unwavering enthusiasm. For him and his colleagues, these trips mean bringing policy credit closer to those who need it most.

“The terrain is vast and mountainous,” Tuấn explained, “so each visit to these remote areas is an arduous task. During the rainy season, some places take half a day to reach. Landslides are a constant threat. Sometimes we have to walk several kilometers. But that’s never a reason to give up. Whether it’s day or night, we make our way to the farthest hamlets in every commune we cover.”

The challenges extend far beyond difficult roads. Language barriers, low literacy levels, and a lack of awareness about financial programs make it difficult to communicate the benefits of preferential credit.

“Some residents hesitate to take out loans because they’re afraid they won’t be able to repay them. Others use the loans improperly, which limits their impact. Some borrowers migrate for work, making it hard to collect interest and repayments,” Tuấn added. “That’s why we live among the people, eat with them, and try to understand their perspectives. We guide them in using the funds correctly, so they can earn more income. Only then can the capital truly make a difference.”

For Toán Xá Pứ, a credit officer in charge of Nậm Kè, Chung Chải, and Leng Su Sìn (prior to administrative restructuring), the mountain roads have become as familiar as the path to his own home. While his assigned communes may not be the most difficult, they come with their own share of challenges.

Some hamlets like Huổi Khon 1 and 2 are more than 15 kilometers from the commune center, accessible only by motorbike along degraded dirt roads. During the rainy season, it’s nearly impossible to reach these places without help.

In addition to regular commune-level transaction points, Pứ makes extra trips each month to distant hamlets where poverty rates are high and livelihoods depend largely on subsistence agriculture.

“We take the time to learn local customs, build trust, and work closely with local associations and trusted community leaders to promote the program,” he shared. “We also coordinate with authorized mass organizations and savings-credit groups to make the loan process as easy as possible for residents. It’s very fulfilling to see people using the loans effectively, building livelihoods, and repaying on time.”

Thanks to sound management, the volume of loans disbursed in Pứ’s areas continues to grow. In the first half of 2025 alone, the disbursed capital in the former Nậm Kè commune ranked second out of the 11 former communes of Mường Nhé. In Chung Chải, overdue loans accounted for just 0.01%, one of the lowest rates in the region.

Currently, the VBSP Mường Nhé has nine staff members, including four credit officers. Before the commune mergers, each officer managed 2 to 4 communes. To maintain consistency in tracking loan performance, territorial assignments have remained unchanged after the mergers.

Dương Thành Nghĩa, Director of the VBSP Mường Nhé, explained: “With a small team managing a vast area, we’ve had to adapt our strategies. We develop plans tailored to local borrowing needs and closely coordinate with entrusted mass organizations and savings-credit groups to deliver loan programs effectively. We expedite loan reviews and help borrowers complete the necessary documents quickly so disbursements can proceed on schedule. Currently, our total outstanding balance across policy credit programs exceeds VND 429 billion, supporting over 7,000 borrowers.”

Driven by their sense of purpose and empathy for the people they serve, these credit officers make the long, often difficult journeys every month, from the 6th to the 20th, to reach isolated communities. From these preferential loans, new livelihoods emerge, new homes are built, and more families escape poverty, gradually bringing prosperity to the far Western edge of Vietnam.