Funded under project 4 of the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the projects include cement roads, anti-erosion embankments, and community centers.
Local authorities report that these efforts have transformed rural landscapes, improved connectivity, and strengthened sustainable development.
In Vân Canh commune, 23 projects in transportation, irrigation, and cultural centers have been carried out with a budget of more than VND 30 billion (USD 1.2 million) since 2021. Five more projects, including roads to production areas and anti-erosion embankments, are scheduled for 2025.
The impact is visible in remote villages. In mid-2023, the former Vân Canh District People’s Committee allocated nearly VND 3.9 billion (USD 158,000) to build a 636-meter-long concrete road connecting Canh Giao village to Hamlet 4 in Xuân Lãnh commune, Đắk Lắk province. Completed in April 2024, the road has improved trade, enabled vehicle access, and helped 28 households escape poverty.
Similarly, in Sơ Lam village of Krong commune, nearly VND 1 billion (USD 41,000) was used in 2024 to construct an 830-meter-long road linking the Đăk Bok production fields. Residents say the road has lowered transport costs, raised crop values, and encouraged cultivation expansion.
“Previously, the road from the village to the commune center was muddy and inaccessible during the rainy season. Now, cars can reach the area, people’s lives have improved, and agricultural goods circulate more easily,” said Nguyễn Văn Thanh, head of Canh Giao village management board.
Local leaders pledged to continue prioritizing essential projects that directly serve production and livelihoods, while encouraging community participation in maintaining infrastructure.
“Project 4 has delivered tangible results, laying the foundation for sustainable development and long-term poverty reduction,” said Nguyễn Bá Thạch, Deputy Director of the Department of Ethnic Affairs and Religion.