Part 2: From a “Party-barren village” to a “digital Party cell”

Today, right in the center of that former blind spot, elderly and young Party members of the Dao and Sán Chỉ ethnic groups gather to access meeting materials directly on their smartphones.

The journey from a village without a Party organization straight to a digital Party cell in Huổi Thanh 1 represents far more than a technological breakthrough in an underprivileged region; it illustrates how the flame of political trust can be rekindled through the distinctive currents of a new era.

When the trailblazer willingly steps aside

Welcoming visitors on an early autumn day inside his wooden residence in Huổi Thanh 1 village, Đặng Dấu Phùng (born in 1977) poured cups of hot tea. His weathered hands, long accustomed to swinging a clearing scythe, periodically swiped across a smartphone display to verify and supply information. He noted that all his personal files and village records are now stored on the handset, accessible at a moment’s notice. Observing that digital agility, few would guess the uphill struggle required to achieve it. In this locality, Phùng is not merely a familiar figure to every household; he marked a historical milestone by becoming the first spontaneous migrant in Nậm Kè commune honored to join the ranks of the Communist Party of Việt Nam.

From that resilient personal foundation, the Dao man planted the first landmark of faith amidst the highland wilderness. Alone and tireless, traversing steep mountain slopes, he worked to eliminate the Party-barren status of Huổi Thanh 1. Moving further, using personal prestige and the patience of a pioneer, he nurtured and guided 12 outstanding individuals to become members of the Communist Party of Việt Nam, creating a sturdy political framework for the impoverished village.

Huổi Thanh 1 is home to 100 households comprising 577 residents, predominantly from the Sán Chỉ and Dao ethnic groups. Years ago, the community lived in deep isolation, leaving outsiders largely unaware of the Sán Chỉ settlement here. In 2010, the internet first snaked through mountain ravines into Huổi Thanh 1. However, only over the past two years has 4G network infrastructure become truly stable and uninterrupted. As the technological tide arrived through digital touchscreens, experienced Party Cell Secretary Đặng Dấu Phùng felt his pace slow. Watching village youths typing rapidly, Phùng acknowledged that he was gradually falling behind.

Within modern operational models, leadership demands greater agility and administrative flexibility. Phùng realized that clinging to office based solely on past prestige would cause the Party cell to lag behind the times. He subsequently made an unconventional yet deeply respected decision: volunteering to step back from the role of Party Cell Secretary, creating space for dynamic youth to advance.

Conversing with visitors, Phùng exhibited confidence and pride, remarking that a communist must know not only how to advance, but also when to step back for the common good. Having fulfilled the mandate of establishing a Party branch and pulling the village out of perceptual poverty, he recognized that the modern era operates on digital keyboards and online networks. Hesitating over a mobile screen, in his view, precluded effective leadership. Relinquishing the post of Secretary to the youth was not an abandonment of duty, but an act of trust in a brighter future for Huổi Thanh 1.

Building a digital Party cell on the frontier

Phùng’s decision to transition to Head of the Front Work Board was far more than a personnel adjustment. It sparked a civilized, humane generational handover in the heart of an impoverished village at the westernmost frontier. This provided momentum for young successors whom he had groomed, such as Sần Quẩy Mình and subsequently Đặng Văn Néng (born in 1990), to carry the work forward. When Néng officially assumed the role of Party Cell Secretary on July 1, 2026, youthful drive and open-minded initiative proved immediately effective. Undeterred by hardships, Néng actively enrolled in training workshops and explored technology independently to upgrade his competencies, quickly guiding Huổi Thanh 1 to become an exemplary digital Party cell in Nậm Kè commune.

Presently, the Party Cell of Huổi Thanh 1 village comprises 14 Party members, including 5 probationary members. The youngest member has just turned 24, while the oldest is Phùng himself. All Party cell proceedings have dispensed with paper documents. From digitizing member records and recording attendance to deploying assignments, distributing tasks, and deliberating resolutions, all activities are conducted through Zalo groups and shared digital platforms. One hundred percent of the Party contingent in Huổi Thanh 1 understands and operates digital tools proficiently.

Reflecting on initial transition phases, Party Cell Secretary Đặng Văn Néng recounted that elderly members were initially hesitant. Some argued that meetings should rely on traditional face-to-face exchanges and handwritten logs rather than complex computers. Néng explained that superior levels were issuing directives and receiving reports digitally, necessitating adaptation. Furthermore, digitization prevents document loss, assigns clear deadlines, and provides immediate operational visibility. Néng and young Party members sat with each elder, demonstrating how to open files, annotate documents, and cast votes on group platforms. Convinced by the tangible convenience, senior members embraced the transition.

To reinforce the digital Party cell, Huổi Thanh 1 prioritizes recruiting young individuals who possess solid educational foundations and technological agility. Since the beginning of the year, the cell has admitted five young Party members, all serving as active digital drivers in the village. An example is the couple Bàn Văn Hòa (born in 1993), Head of the Village Security Team, and Lò Thị Lan (born in 1995). Guided, oriented, and encouraged by the Party cell, both submitted applications to join the Party, strived together, and were honored with admission on the same day, May 16, 2026.

These young Party members have in turn become dedicated bridges, offering hands-on guidance to help village elders navigate technology and establish public service accounts. In particular, they assist senior citizens in identifying and accessing mainstream news sources, guarding against online disinformation and subversive solicitation.

Traveling ten thousand miles for mentorship and expanding tourism via digitization

The transformation of the digital Party cell in Huổi Thanh 1 extends beyond administrative meetings, opening direct livelihoods for the local population. Endowed with favorable natural landscapes, Huổi Thanh 1 was oriented by local Party committees and authorities to establish a community-based tourism model. Yet the challenge remained how to attract travelers to a hamlet tucked behind mist-shrouded peaks. The Party cell resolved to exploit technology to project the village’s image outward, proactively dispatching one Party member and two village youths to learn digital content production.

The pioneering member in this campaign was Đặng Văn Trọng (born in 1997). Over the past two to three years, driven by personal interest in technology, Trọng independently learned video recording and created a YouTube channel to promote his homeland. Recognizing his technical skills remained rudimentary, he committed to pursuing specialized training. Encouraged by the Party cell, Trọng gained the confidence to spend personal savings and journey to Cà Mau to learn from prominent digital creators.

A ten-thousand-mile cross-country trip from the westernmost border to the southern tip of the Fatherland was undertaken purely to master video production. Although his household economy remained modest, upon his return, Trọng discussed with his wife allocating over VND 20 million - a substantial accumulation in the highlands - to invest in a high-performance computer and personal camera equipment. Comprehending that ambition, the village Party cell regularly provided moral support, encouragement, and conditions to sustain his focus.

Standing in his front yard carefully cleaning a camera lens, Đặng Văn Trọng passionately shared that the village possesses beautiful Dao and Sán Chỉ cultural traditions, terraced rice fields, and pristine primeval forests. Without showcasing those assets on social networks, prospective travelers would never discover them. Though the equipment expenditure represented their entire savings, he expressed conviction that this was the most direct route to project Huổi Thanh 1 further. As a Party member, he felt duty-bound to take the initiative.

The story in Huổi Thanh 1 provides living proof of implementing digital transformation resolutions at the grassroots tier. Success stems from two pivotal elements: the pioneering spirit and self-sacrifice of preceding Party members like Phùng, paired with the agility and dedication of incoming youth. Operating as a genuine digital nucleus, the Party cell has not only overhauled administrative governance, but opened a path toward sustainable poverty eradication for an ethnic minority community. Amid the cloud-covered heights of Nậm Kè, a digital landmark has been planted within the village - not through concrete or steel, but through faith, youth, intellect, and the unified resolve of communists on the nation’s frontier.