From the morning of September 1, locals in Ia Pa commune gathered at designated locations to receive financial aid from the government.
Kpă Bay, a resident of Thăm village, said: “Although the amount is not large, it is enough to prepare a decent meal for the holiday. More important is the care and encouragement from the Party and the State, which makes us feel warm inside. We promise to unite and work together to develop the economy and build a more prosperous Gia Lai.”
Siu H’Linh, another resident from Thăm village, added: “My family has eight members, so we received 800,000 VND [≈34 USD]. This is enough to improve our meals for several days. I am grateful to the Party and State for caring about our lives during this holiday.”
In Ia Hiao commune, Nay H’Prươr from Ma H’Rai village received 100,000 VND [≈4 USD], marking his first gift from the government for National Day. “This small amount means a lot to me and the villagers. We will continue to encourage and mobilize people to unite and develop the local economy,” he said.
In the border commune of Ia Mơ, local authorities distributed 100,000 VND [≈4 USD] per person to residents, while poor households like that of Hà Văn Thự from Klăh village received 300,000 VND [≈13 USD].
Thự said: “A month ago, my family received 60 million VND [≈2,550 USD] from the State to build a new house and now we are given more money to celebrate the holiday. We are very grateful and promise to work hard to escape poverty and contribute to building a stronger homeland.”
Trần Quyết Thắng, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ia Mơ commune, said the commune has a population of 3,431 and a total support fund of 343.1 million VND [≈14,600 USD].
By the afternoon of September 1, 90% of the funds had been distributed across six village cultural houses, fostering a joyful and united atmosphere among residents.
Across Gia Lai, streets and alleys from urban to mountainous areas were decorated with vibrant flags and flowers.
Cultural and artistic activities, including a mass folk dance in Ia Tul commune, attracted large audiences.
Eighty women from 16 villages performed folk dances in traditional costumes, showcasing patriotism and national pride.
Residents of the Mông village in Ya Hội commune continued their tradition of making cakes and five-colored sticky rice, celebrating the holiday with family gatherings.
Independence Day. Photo: Ngọc Minh
Lý Văn Tính, a Mông resident who migrated from Cao Bằng province in 1982, said: “Thanks to the care of the Party and State, our lives in this new land have become increasingly prosperous. Receiving 100,000 VND [≈4 USD] per person makes the celebration even more meaningful.”
Many young people also chose to return home rather than travel during the holiday. Hà Thị Kiều Phương from Đak Đoa commune, who works in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “Gathering around the family meal is an opportunity to recall history and honor the sacrifices of previous generations. Receiving 100,000 VND [≈4 USD] from the government adds to the joy of the holiday.”