Small actions creating a new urban look

In recent years, the push to build new style rural areas and a modern, livable urban environment has gained strong momentum in Mường Lay ward, with a goal of developing a green, attractive lakeside tourism town. For years, Mường Lay has carried out this movement in a “close to the people” and easy to join manner. A recent plan No. 928/KH-UBND launching the flower planting initiative “A ribbon of blossoms along the Đà River” has drawn enthusiastic participation from agencies, neighborhoods, and households.

Several key streets have been selected to create visual highlights, such as Khoàng Văn Tấm street with its “model flower route,” the twin Võ Nguyên Giáp boulevards, Chi Luông square, the boat dock area, Cơ khí - Nậm Cản bridge, the green park near Nậm Cản market, and the former Sá Tổng commune area. Medians, pavements, and fence bases are gradually being covered in bright marigolds, petunias, bougainvillea, and ban flowers.

Weekend afternoons in Mường Lay now often feature groups of women, youths, and elders working together to clean, weed, and care for flower beds along roads and residential areas. Environmental upkeep and flower route maintenance have extended beyond the town center, with outlying neighborhoods joining in. Many families have widened their gardens or improved dry plots to plant flowers and trees for shade. The urban landscape is taking on a vibrant new look.

While Mường Lay shows its transformation through blooming streets, Mường Nhé commune reflects change through strong community self management and consensus. With over 24,000 residents from various ethnic groups such as Hà Nhì, Mông, Thái, and Si La. Mường Nhé previously struggled with public works due to difficult terrain and scattered settlements. Years of communication and advocacy around new style rural development have significantly improved public awareness.

Every project is carried out under the principle “people discuss - people do - people supervise.” Residents contribute ideas and directly benefit from their own decisions. According to Phạm Thị Hà, Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Mường Nhé commune, dozens of public works in the past five years: bridges, irrigation channels, village cultural houses were completed with strong local participation. “Those with labor contributed labor; those with materials donated materials; those with excavators or tractors supported the work.” Many projects were completed in half the expected time, saving tens of millions of đồng. More importantly, residents consider these works their “shared property,” ensuring long term upkeep.

Mường Nhé now maintains over 10 self management models tailored to its border area context. The “inter-household security group” model has reduced community disputes. The “bright - green - clean - beautiful road” model motivates neighborhoods to improve their surroundings. The “clean house - neat gate - green garden” model encourages families to stop raising livestock beneath stilt houses and move barns further away. The “drug free commune” model is written into community agreements and strictly monitored; meanwhile, the “three no’s” (no illegal migration, no illegal border crossing, no unlawful marriage) has earned strong support, especially from village elders and clan leaders.

United communities building a modern and cultured society

The movement “All people unite to build a cultured lifestyle” has become an important driver of social transformation in Điện Biên. From promoting civility and solidarity in neighborhoods to improving landscapes and preserving ethnic cultural identity, the movement reinforces the role of local residents in building a healthy, progressive, and sustainable cultural environment.

After five years implementing the cultural development strategy, the province now has cultural houses in 900 of its 1,446 villages; all 45 communes and wards have community activity centers and legal bookcases, allowing residents to access and create cultural values. Some 1,240 performing arts teams operate in villages, neighborhoods, and schools, contributing to community cohesion and preserving ethnic heritage. Notably, 100% of religious dignitaries have committed to participating, and many religious facilities have become exemplary in environmental protection and social welfare, embracing the spirit of “good life, good faith.”

The movement is closely tied to the campaign “All people join hands to build new style rural areas and modern urban communities”, generating momentum from cities to rural areas, from lowlands to border regions. The Fatherland Front at all levels has played a core role, organizing over 9,000 communication sessions; mobilizing residents to donate more than 224,000m² of land; and contributing nearly 70,000 labor days, worth over VND 9.2 billion. Notably, residents of the former Thanh Xương commune alone contributed over 13,000m² of land for rural roads.

To date, Điện Biên has 26 out of 115 pre-merger communes meeting new style rural standards - 22.6%, surpassing the Prime Minister’s target. The province also has 5 advanced new style rural communes and 2 model communes. Self management models continue to expand: 14 models on security and order across all residential areas; 13 environmental protection models in more than 1,120 communities; and 12 civility lifestyle models in 370 communities. Models such as “peaceful villages,” “drug-free families, clans, and neighborhoods,” “moving barns away from houses,” and “forest planting to protect water sources” have been widely adopted, contributing to social stability.

Through practical, people centered actions, the movement has truly taken root in daily life. Landscapes have improved, civilized habits are forming, and communities are becoming more cohesive. The results show that in Điện Biên, the movement is far more than a slogan. The power of unity has become a core value and a foundation for socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and the creation of a healthy, sustainable cultural environment.