Street lights are installed along the road (photo: vinhlinhquangtri.gov.vn)

Vinh Thach commune has about 1,100 households of 3,600 people who live in 10 hamlets. The commune is located on fertile land suitable for agricultural development.

Vinh Thach is associated with the historic Vinh Moc tunnel, a famous military base built in 1965. At that time, Vinh Moc and all the other villages in Vinh Linh district were heavily bombed and devastated by American air strikes and artillery.

Now the district has totally changed. All roads and lanes are paved. At night, streets are lighted as in urban areas. People regularly talk about donating land for road expansion and building rural works. Chairman of the Vinh Thach commune People’s Committee, Nguyen Viet Sinh, recalled the first days of paving the roads. The entire commune was as busy and jubilant as if it were a festival. Banners and posters were hung on both sides of the roads. People of all ages were eagerly involved in transporting waste and road building materials. Sinh said the new rural development program reminds him of the busy atmosphere of collective work in the years after southern liberation and national reunification in 1975. “President Truong Tan Sang supported our commune to build new rural areas. The commune is striving to complete the program ahead of schedule. The villagers are very happy.” Sinh said.

President Sang has called on individuals, enterprises, and scientists to contribute funds and initiatives for building the countryside. The Thang Long Cement Company donated 1,000 tons of cement and the Vinh Linh People’s Council gave 3,000 blocks of macadam. The Sai Gon Securities Company gave 100 cows to poor households. The villagers contributed 50,000 sq.m of land and thousands of work days to build roads and public works. Tran Van Thanh, who donated 100 sq.m of land, said that in addition to the President’s sponsorship, Vinh Thach’s people are always determined to give their best effort. “Villagers are eager to get involved in building the countryside. In this basalt land, it’s difficult to travel on unpaved roads in the rainy season.” Thanh recalled.

Vinh Thach is taking the lead in building new rural areas in Quang Tri province. The commune has met 14 of the 19 new rural criteria including zoning land, irrigation network, electricity and post office, residential houses, incomes, production, healthcare and culture.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan visited Vinh Thach and encouraged the local people to continue to develop the countryside. “Despite difficulties, we have achieved 14 of the 19 criteria. The people’s contributions reflect their sense of responsibility to their home village. I urge the local Party cell and administration to exert more effort to build new rural areas.”

Vinh Thach commune is becoming a role model in new rural development in Quang Tri province.