Xa Dung is home to the Mường Tỉnh cave, an important revolutionary base during the Điện Biên Phủ campaign. It was here that our army established a command post and launched many battles that defeated French sweeps. In 1950, the Party Committee of Lai Châu province (former) was founded at this cave, becoming a center of leadership for the revolutionary movement across Xa Dung and the wider province.

After independence, Xa Dung faced countless challenges: remote location, poor transport links, and limited economic conditions. Yet in hardship, the people’s resilience and unity grew stronger. They trusted in the Party’s leadership, stayed attached to their homeland, and persevered, refusing to accept poverty but striving to rise through their own labor and determination.

Since July 1, 2025, under the new two-tier local government model, Xa Dung was merged with Phì Nhừ to form the new Xa Dung commune. Covering nearly 216 km² with over 16,000 residents, 87.5 percent of whom are Hmông, the commune continues to face major challenges: scattered population, poor transportation with only 23 percent of roads hardened, small-scale agriculture, and frequent natural disasters. A severe flash flood in late July alone caused losses of around VND 420 billion in lives, property, and public infrastructure.

Confronted with these challenges, the Party Committee, authorities, and people of Xa Dung have demonstrated even greater determination. Immediately after its establishment, the commune consolidated its administrative structure, assigning clear responsibilities to each cadre. Following the devastating floods in Háng Pu Xi Hamlet, local authorities worked with functional forces to urgently evacuate residents from dangerous areas, provide temporary shelters, and help restore production. The spirit of “a morsel in hunger is worth a feast in plenty” spread widely as authorities, mass organizations, and communities promptly supported affected households.

Just one month after the disaster, new houses have begun to rise and life is gradually returning. Beyond addressing immediate needs, the Xa Dung’s Party Committee is charting a path toward long-term sustainable development. Central to this is encouraging farmers to abandon traditional upland farming practices and shift toward high-value crops such as coffee and amomum, combined with livestock rearing.

Thanks to government investment, electricity, roads, schools, and clinics have steadily improved, creating conditions for growth. Farmers have boldly adopted new crop varieties with higher yields. Hybrid maize, wet rice, and fruit trees are promoted alongside buffalo, cow, pig, and hill chicken raising. Many families that once barely had enough to eat now have savings, machinery for production, and can send their children to school.

Parallel to economic development, the Xa Dung’s Party Committee has focused on Party building and strengthening grassroots political systems. Branches have revitalized their activities, linking the study and practice of Uncle Hồ’s teachings with daily production. Cadres and Party members, many from ethnic minority backgrounds, have matured from grassroots movements and become key forces in mobilizing the masses. This has ensured that policies are quickly integrated into daily life, fostering strong public consensus, an essential factor for Xa Dung to overcome difficulties and progress.

Giàng Trọng Bình, Secretary of the Xa Dung’s Party Committee, emphasized that while economic development is the central mission, Party building remains the decisive one. The Party Committee has issued specialized resolutions on economic growth and poverty reduction, including the resolution to eliminate villages without Party branches. By mid-2024, 100 percent of hamlets had independent Party branches, all hamlets had cultural houses, and the national electricity grid reached every community.

Based on these resolutions and local realities, Xa Dung has implemented comprehensive measures to harness its potential. Economic indicators have steadily improved: cereal crop area now stands at nearly 3,400 hectares (up 476 hectares from 2020), producing nearly 7,700 tons (up 335 tons); per capita food supply is 522 kg per year; per capita income has risen to VND 35 million annually (up VND 17 million); and the poverty rate has fallen from 61.19 percent in 2020 to 41 percent by the end of 2024.

These achievements reflect not only Xa Dung’s transformation but also the power of unity between the Party and the people.