(VOVworld) – Culture is both the target and driving force in Vietnam’s new rural development. Villagers look for a proper model to develop a new rural area with a growing economy and satisfying culture. The story of the people of Me So commune, Hung Yen province bordering Hanoi is a good model for building a cultural lifestyle.

Changes in Me So commune since the program on new rural development was launched (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

Located along the Red River dyke, Me So commune in Hung Yen province has 6 villages covering an area of 664 hectares. More than half of the commune’s area is farmland where the locals grow fruit-trees and ornamental plants instead of rice. The agricultural restructuring of recent years has helped the people of Me So earn up to 11,000 USD per hectare. A number of new crafts including carpentry, mechanics, agricultural processing, and civil construction have recently come to Me So, generating thousands of jobs and new sources of income for farmers.
Me So has, so far, completed 16 of the 19 new rural development criteria. The criteria relating to transportation, irrigation, and the environment will be completed this year. Of the completed criteria, Me So has paid closest attention to cultural norms and crop restructuring. The commune has invested nearly 47,000 USD in upgrading its secondary school to meet national standards.
Tran Van Binh, Deputy Secretary of the commune’s Party Committee, said large investments have also been made in the local library and cultural center. He noted: “Since the program was launched, we’ve simultaneously invested in building infrastructure and a cultural lifestyle in residential areas. Social organizations, including the Fatherland Front, and associations of veterans, farmers, and women, have launched emulation movements to ensure a healthy cultural lifestyle.”

Chợ (Market) Street in Me So commune, Van Giang district (Photo:hungyentv.vn)

To realize the commune’s achievements, the Me So authorities have mobilized people to donate land for infrastructure building. The donated land has been used for cultivation, to make new roads, and to build a cultural house and a kindergarten. In Hoang Trach hamlet villagers contributed money to construct a road worth more than 47,000 USD.
Nguyen Cong Binh, a Hoang Trach villager, said: “Whenever a movement is launched, it’s publicized. The fund money is used transparently and democratically, so we have faith in the local leaders’ management and make large contributions.”
With a policy of mobilizing all local residents to participate in emulation movements, Me So commune has asked villagers to donate workdays and materials to build cultural infrastructure. Me So now has two gymnasiums and every hamlet has a sports field where locals can take physical exercise. A highlight of Me So’s cultural identity is community solidarity, mutual affection, and mutual support.