In response to Prime Minister’s Directive No.102/CD-TTg, issued on October 6, 2024, which calls for an accelerated nationwide effort to eradicate temporary and substandard housing, Party committees, local authorities, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and socio-political organizations in Nậm Pồ district have identified this initiative as an urgent mission. The district is engaging its entire political system to ensure swift and effective implementation, aiming to complete the goal of eliminating temporary and dilapidated housing by 2025. According to an assessment of housing need for poor and near-poor households in Điện Biên province, Nậm Pồ has been allocated a total of 476 houses, including 406 newly built homes and 70 renovated ones.

Nguyễn Hữu Đại, Vice Chairman of the Nậm Pồ District People’s Committee, emphasized that the district has developed a focused and strategic plan to ensure timely and efficient implementation. Responsibilities have been clearly assigned regarding personnel, tasks, timelines, and expected performances. Recognizing this as a critical political task, the district is demonstrating strong determination and decisive action to achieve its goal. Additionally, local authorities have directed communes and village officials to conduct thorough surveys to ensure accurate identification of eligible households in accordance with the national housing support program.

Public awareness campaigns have also played a vital role in encouraging beneficiaries to take an active part in the process. The district has been effectively mobilizing social resources alongside state funding, integrating housing support policies from various programs and projects. A diverse range of support mechanisms has been established under the principle of “Those who have strength contribute their effort, those who have wealth contribute their resources; give what you can, whether big or small”.  Beneficiaries are also encouraged to contribute their own resources to enhance the value of their new homes. Transparency and accountability are key priorities, ensuring that all processes are conducted fairly, without waste or corruption.

In the first phase of 2025, Nậm Pồ district will provide support for 85 households to rebuild their homes, with a total budget of VND 5.1 billion. Currently, beneficiaries are actively preparing materials and receiving labor community  service to construct or renovate their homes. For poor and near-poor households with disabled members or vunerable individuals in extreme difficulty, who are unable to build or repair homes on their own, the commune-level People’s committees, in collaboration with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and other organizations, have been coordinating efforts to ensure housing completion according to schedule.

During a visit to Nậm Chua village, Chà Tở commune, we met Khoàng Thị Tiện’s family as they eagerly prepared to move into their new home. The stilt house, with a living space of 80 square meters, was built with VND 60 million in government support, while family members and neighbors contributed labor. Overjoyed, Tiện shared: “Many nights, I still feel like I am dreaming. Living in a solid, spacious, and comfortable house makes me incredibly happy! This home is a huge encouragement for us to work harder, improve our livelihoods, and build a better future”.

Meanwhile, in Sín Chải village, Nà Hỳ commune, Phàn Sếnh Chiêu was busy laying bricks and preparing concrete for his new home. “I have lived in a cramped, deteriorating house for years. With the government’s VND 60 million support and additional savings and loans from relatives totaling VND 150 million, I’m building a solid house with a metal roof, nearly 100 square meters in size. It should be completed by April. This new home gives my family the motivation to strive for a better life and escape poverty”,  he said.

Seeing firsthand the impact of this program, we witnessed not only the joy of the residents but also the satisfaction of local authorities as long-held aspirations for improved housing become reality. Lường Văn Toán, Vice Chairman of the Chà Tở commune People’s Committee, noted: “Our community still faces many hardships, with high poverty rates and a significant number of rundown houses. Thanks to the housing support program, people now have access to financial resources to build safe, stable homes, fostering hope for a better future where they can settle, work, and develop their livelihoods”.

“Settling down leads to prosperity”. It is our hope that these new homes will inspire families to work towards economic growth, ensuring a better future along the country’s borderlands. This initiative contributes to the district’s broader goal of poverty reduction, improved living standards, and fulfilling rural development criteria in housing.