Along with officials of the Veterans’ Association of Búng Lao commune, we visited the family of veteran Bạc Cầm Phiu in Nà Dên village. He is one of the typical members regarding the will to overcome difficulties and develop the economy. Currently, his family owns a farm with a scale of over 10ha, combining afforestation, coffee, and livestock and poultry farming. With this model, each year brings an income of VND 300 - 500 million.

Sharing about the family’s economic model, Phiu said that previously his family was also a difficult household in the commune. Every year, besides working on upland fields like other households in the village, his family raised livestock and poultry but only enough to cover life for 7 members. Not resigning to poverty, realizing the favorable conditions of the mountains and forests, in 2003 he boldly transformed the crop structure, developing a forest planting model with nearly 10ha of dổi (Michelia tonkinensis) trees; and 7ha of coffee under the forest canopy.

Taking advantage of the empty land area and natural water sources from streams, he dug ponds to raise commercial fish; planted more fruit trees such as: Mango, orange, pomelo combined with developing a free-range chicken model.

Thanks to the suitable direction, the economic model of veteran Bạc Cầm Phiu has brought efficiency, helping the family rise to become a wealthy household in the locality; at the same time creating seasonal jobs for 3 - 5 local workers with an income of VND 2 - 3 million/person/month.

In Mường Luân 2 village, Mường Luân commune, veteran Lò Văn Muôn is mentioned by the people as a shining example in production labor. After being demobilized and returning to the locality, utilizing the family’s land fund, Muôn dug ponds to release fish on an area of 5ha, built sturdy barns to raise buffaloes, cows, and pigs with a total herd of nearly 30 heads. Besides, he arranged a part of the area to plant seasonal rice and fruit trees. Thanks to the suitable direction, every year his family has a stable income of VND 100 - 150 million.

Muôn shared: “As a demobilized soldier returning to the locality, I always keep in mind to preserve and promote the virtue of Uncle Hồ’s soldiers in daily life. If you have land and labor power, you must work hard to calculate and do business thoroughly. I raise fish, buffaloes, cows, pigs combined with planting rice and fruit trees to have a stable source of income. Doing economics is hard, but if you are persistent and diligent, there will be results...”

With the spirit of Uncle Hồ’s soldiers, returning to peacetime life, with a sense of responsibility, veterans have been constantly promoting the pioneering and exemplary role in all conditions and circumstances, becoming advanced models in many fields of economic, cultural, and social life. Many veterans also become bright spots in the locality with livestock and crop models bringing high economic efficiency.

Statistics from the Điện Biên provincial Veterans’ Association show that currently, the whole province has over 30 enterprises and 12 cooperatives owned by veteran members with an average income of about VND 500 million/year; nearly 600 farms and farmsteads, of which over 50% of models have a profit income of VND 100 - 400 million/year. Notably, the number of well-off and wealthy households among veteran members in the whole province accounts for nearly 40%.

Parallel with economic development, veterans’ chapters at all levels in the province always pay attention to promoting traditional education and fostering revolutionary ideals for the young generation. Every year, under the leadership of the provincial Veterans’ Association, Association levels have proactively coordinated with many educational institutions to organize traditional talks between veterans and students. Through stories about an arduous and heroic wartime period of the nation, the young generation understands more and appreciates the value of peace, thereby striving to study, train, and contribute to the development of the homeland and the country.

Major General Lưu Trọng Lư, Vice Chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairman of the provincial Veterans’ Association, said: “With a widespread force of members in all fields of social life, through each specific period, Veterans’ Association levels always thoroughly grasp and strictly and effectively implement the leadership resolutions of the party committees; proactively coordinate to participate in performing well the task of economic development and ensuring national defense - security at the grassroots. Movements and campaigns such as: “All people protect national security in the new situation,” “Joining hands for the poor, leaving no one behind,” activities to maintain security and order, charity, humanitarianism, and gratitude... are deployed deeply, widely, and effectively.”

It can be said that, through specific and practical actions, the image of Uncle Hồ’s soldier continues to shine in community life, contributing to building a new life, consolidating the great national unity bloc, becoming a spiritual support and a shining example for the young generation to follow.