Located in a mountainous border region with rugged terrain and poor transport links, Điện Biên faces numerous challenges: limited infrastructure, scattered ethnic minority populations, low productivity, and persistent poverty.

Yet amid these hardships, the “For the poor - Leaving no one behind” movement has ignited a flame of hope and determination. Under the strong and hands-on leadership of local Party committees and authorities, and with the collective effort of social and political organizations, businesses, and citizens, the campaign has gained momentum and depth, significantly improving rural life and livelihoods.

In Điện Biên, the movement has been implemented through practical, targeted actions tailored to local realities. Authorities at every level have clearly defined their roles in directing and executing the program. Localities have set clear poverty reduction goals and mobilized resources effectively. Innovative models and initiatives have been replicated, such as “Women helping each other out of poverty,” vocational training for ethnic minority women and youth enabling poor households to gradually become self-reliant and less dependent on aid.

The provincial Women’s Union has rolled out a series of impactful initiatives like “Millions of gifts of love”, “One clean garden and 10 poultry per household,” and “5 nos, 3 cleans”. The provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee has played a vital role in mobilizing community contributions to directly support those in need. Since 2021, the “For the poor” fund has raised over VND 533 billion, helped build or renovate nearly 10,000 great solidarity houses, provided tens of thousands of Tet gifts, supported livelihoods for hundreds of poor households, and helped thousands of students stay in school.

The farmers’ support fund has extended loans to 652 households, with outstanding loans totaling over VND 27.78 billion. Working with the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, the province has disbursed more than VND 1.321 trillion in preferential loans to 21,040 poor and policy households. Farmers have received over 4,500 crop seedlings, 97,614 tons of fertilizer, 30,331 tons of rice and corn seeds, 860,550 packs of pesticides, and 1,064 tons of animal feed.

In addition to material support, Điện Biên has invested in healthcare and education, two key pillars in breaking the cycle of poverty. New, well-equipped schools in remote areas have provided ethnic minority students with better learning environments. Free health check-ups and health insurance for poor households have eased medical burdens and improved quality of life for thousands.

These achievements are best reflected not just in statistics but in real-life stories. In Mường Nhà commune, the family of Giàng A Tính, an ethnic Mông farmer, once lived in poverty. Thanks to preferential loans for raising cattle and growing pineapples, they now enjoy a stable income. From living in a makeshift house, they now have a sturdy home, and their children go to school regularly. “I used to think poverty was my fate, but now I believe that with timely help and personal effort, anyone can overcome it”, Tính shared.

In Long Dạo village, Si Pa Phìn commune, Cháng A Dũng succeeded by switching from traditional farming to growing passion fruit, a new and more profitable direction. His family once struggled with unstable income, but with technical support and preferential loans, he boldly converted his garden to passion fruit in 2022. Now with a steady income, he voluntarily applied to be removed from the poverty list, inspiring others in his village.

By the end of 2024, Điện Biên’s poverty rate had fallen from 34.9% in 2021 to 21.29%, exceeding the target with an average annual reduction of 4.53% (113.25% of the plan). In the poorest districts, the rate fell by 6.45% annually. Among ethnic minorities, the average annual reduction reached 5.85%. Average per capita income rose from VND 38.6 million in 2021 to over VND 48 million in 2024. Thousands of households gained access to new housing, preferential loans, and improved healthcare and education services.

The “For the poor - Leaving no one behind” movement is not just a policy in action, it reflects the compassion, solidarity, and shared responsibility of the community. Its success goes beyond numbers: it’s about the real improvements in people’s lives and the rising aspirations of communities in the highlands. These results are a clear testament to effective leadership, the right investments, and the united resolve of the entire political system and society in the fight against poverty. They lay a solid foundation for Điện Biên to continue its path toward sustainable, inclusive development.