From a particularly disadvantaged village, its appearance is gradually improving, and residents’ livelihoods are steadily advancing. However, many challenges remain in helping the community achieve stable incomes, escape poverty, and pursue sustainable development.

A fresh look

Located about 40km from the center of Mường Nhé district, Nậm Sin is nearly isolated from other villages. With rugged terrain, harsh natural conditions, and the distinct characteristics of the Si La people, Nậm Sin is considered one of the most difficult localities in the district.

For the elders of the village, memories of the early days remain vivid, when only a few makeshift thatched and earthen-walled huts stood in the village. Due to the village’s isolation, livelihoods relied almost entirely on corn and a small area of upland rice, cultivated with outdated techniques. As a result, poverty persisted for years, with nearly 100% of households classified as poor.

Lỳ Lóng Hừ, 62 years old, a long-time resident, recalled: “Back then, people were extremely poor and couldn’t grow enough food. The village was so remote that even reaching the commune center meant wading through streams and crossing forests for an entire day. Going to the district center would take a week on foot.”

But those days are now behind.

The muddy dirt road into Nậm Sin has been replaced by smooth concrete. In 2020, the road connecting the National Highway 4H to the village center was upgraded to nearly 10 kilometers in length. Essential infrastructure such as access to the national power grid, clean water, irrigation systems, and schools has also received comprehensive investment.

Returning to Nậm Sin after several years, we were surprised to see sturdy houses, children attending school, and lives beginning to stabilize. These changes are largely due to the special support from the Party, State, and local authorities, especially under the socio-economic development project for extremely small ethnic minority groups from 2016 to 2025.

Reflecting on these improvements, Lỳ Lóng Hừ shared his joy: “Now the roads are easy to travel, and we are no longer worried about going to the commune or district. When someone is sick, it’s easy to reach the health station, and the doctors and nurses are very kind. Life has improved so much.”

Currently, Nậm Sin is home to 56 households with 228 Si La residents. The poverty rate has dropped to 57.14%, and near-poor households account for 12.5%. The village has over 10 hectares of two-season paddy fields, 1.2 hectares of fish ponds, 35 buffaloes, and 20 cows. Average annual food output exceeds 360kg per person, ensuring local food security.

Lỳ Hồng Sơn, the village head, said: “Some young people from the village are now working in industrial zones in Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces. This income allows them to build or renovate homes and buy TVs and motorbikes. The village has a primary school and a kindergarten, with 100% of children attending at the appropriate age.”

On-going challenges

Despite notable progress, Nậm Sin remains among the poorest and most challenged villages in the commune. One major obstacle is the mindset of relying heavily on government support. This lack of motivation hampers efforts to escape poverty.

In 2020, under the ethnic development project, the government supported 48 households in building livestock shelters and provided 96 piglets. However, instead of expanding, the livestock model has been shrinking. Many shelters have deteriorated, and residents have not taken the initiative to repair them, waiting instead for more state assistance. At village meetings and voter forums, all previously supported households requested additional pigs and funding to maintain the shelters.

This dependency is not unique to the livestock project. Nậm Sin is also a beneficiary of various national target programs such as sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development, and housing support. Yet, after receiving aid, most livelihood models have not been maintained, and residents continue to rely on government support. For instance, 14-15 households not eligible for housing aid have still requested state funds for home repairs. Recently, all households in the village jointly proposed that each family be provided with a toilet.

A current difficulty in Nậm Sin is the lack of arable land. While the village has more than 10 hectares of irrigated land for two rice crops, only about 20 households own these plots. The rest farm on upland fields, with just 2-3 hectares per household. As a result, they grow corn and upland rice for subsistence, with no capacity to participate in crop diversification programs.

In 2023, seven households joined a cinnamon-planting initiative, but due to inexperience and poor cultivation techniques, many trees died. When the Chung Chải Commune People's Committee offered more seedlings to replace the dead trees, households declined, preferring to keep the land for traditional crops.

Lỳ Chà Là shared: “I tried planting cinnamon as the commune encouraged, but the survival rate was low. I don't think cinnamon is suitable for this soil, so I don’t want to replant. If the trees keep dying, I’ll go back to growing what I know.”

Regarding this issue, Giàng A Sử, Vice Chairman of the Chung Chải commune People's Committee, said: “In the future, alongside implementing government support programs, we will increase communication and advocacy to help change the way people think about production and eliminate dependence. However, this is a long-term process and won’t change overnight.”

To preserve and develop the Si La community in Nậm Sin, in addition to general policies for ethnic minorities, the State has implemented specific mechanisms. However, for these policies to be effective, authorities at all levels must actively review and adapt them to local conditions. More importantly, it's essential to inspire a spirit of self-reliance and resilience among residents, empowering them to build a prosperous and sustainable life.