Minh Chau - A Bright Spot in Clean Agriculture and Ecotourism

Minh Chau - a special island commune of the capital with a pristine ecological space, surrounded by the Red River and typical rural landscapes, is gradually shaping community tourism models, agricultural experiences, where visitors can immerse themselves in the lives of the people, explore indigenous cultural values and enjoy local products.

Minh Chau is the only island commune of Hanoi in the process of arranging administrative units this time. About 60km from the center of the capital, Minh Chau is considered a green island, where three historical rivers converge: Red, Da, and Lo. The administrative area of the entire commune is more than 560 hectares, with over 1,400 households and 6,500 people. Because it is located in the middle of the river, every flood season, the travel of the people here will depend entirely on boats and ferries. During the dry season, people can cross the spillway, from Vinh Phuc to enter the island commune. Established in 1955 with three villages: Chu Chang, Chu Chau and Lieu Chau, around 1972, Lieu Chau village merged with Tay Dang town, so Minh Chau now has only two villages with a natural area of over 563 hectares, a population of over 6,545 people, mainly doing agriculture. Every year, during the rainy season, when the water rises, the whole commune is almost isolated, the movement, trade, and education of students depend entirely on ferries, so they often encounter difficulties.

The commune currently has 2 villages including 7 residential areas, a natural area of over 560 hectares, a population of 6,541 people. Although not included in the list of communes to reach the advanced new rural area (NTM) standard in 2024, the Party Committee, government and political system of Minh Chau commune together with all local cadres and people have promoted the strength of great solidarity, overcome all difficulties, strived to achieve many positive results in terms of economy and society, and promoted the process of building advanced NTM in the locality.

Minh Chau's average income per capita in 2024 will reach 71 million VND

According to information from the People's Committee of Minh Chau commune: the average income per capita in 2024 reached 71 million VND; basic infrastructure is invested synchronously and modernly; ecological agriculture and green tourism models are gradually forming and developing. In 2019, Minh Chau was recognized as meeting the new rural area standards, and to date is the only commune in Hanoi that has not merged, continues to maintain its original name, affirming its separate position.

In 2019, Minh Chau commune was recognized as a new rural commune with many changes, when "electricity - roads - schools - stations" were invested synchronously by the State. According to Chairman of Minh Chau Commune People's Committee Nguyen Danh Dat, Minh Chau commune only had grid electricity in 2000, the traffic roads to the commune headquarters and inter-villages were concreted and lit up to 7 residential areas. In early 2024, Minh Chau commune inaugurated a clean water supply system, marking a historical milestone and bringing joy to the people. This is also a prerequisite for the commune's advanced new rural construction plan expected in 2025 towards the 70th anniversary of Minh Chau commune's founding as well as the goal towards economic, social and eco-tourism development in the future for the locality of Minh Chau island commune.

Minh Chau commune has been recognized as a new rural commune with many changes, when "electricity - roads - schools - stations" were invested synchronously.

Minh Chau Commune Party Secretary, Comrade Nguyen Duc Tien said: Minh Chau island commune officially has access to the city's centralized clean water source, which is an important historical milestone in the development process of Minh Chau commune, contributing significantly to improving people's lives and being the driving force for the commune's economic development. In particular, aiming to successfully complete the general targets of the whole city to ensure that by 2025, the rate of households in the district being provided with clean water reaches 100%, Ba Vi district continues to focus on materials and human resources to connect the entire water supply system for households in Minh Chau island commune, with the remaining communes, investors are developing the network, investors continue to speed up the construction progress.

In addition, from the development reality of the unique island commune, the local government has focused on construction planning, associated with local tourism development, to both develop the socio-economy but still preserve the rural landscape, without causing environmental pollution; at the same time, maintain national defense and security, promote administrative reform, build a strong political system, and strive to achieve advanced new rural standards as soon as possible.

A corner of Minh Chau island commune

With the advantage of pristine ecological space, surrounded by the gentle Red River and typical rural landscape, Minh Chau commune is gradually promoting its potential to develop community tourism associated with agricultural experiences... promising to become an attractive destination on the eco-tourism and community tourism map, bringing authentic experiences, close to nature and traditional Vietnamese rural life. Visitors can immerse themselves in the lives of the people, explore indigenous cultural values and enjoy local products.

Currently, the commune is developing a project with a specific mechanism for the island commune such as investing in rural transport; converting the structure of crops and livestock; policies to reduce tuition fees, support ferry fees for students and encourage teachers to teach in the commune; build a bridge connecting Minh Chau commune with An Tuong commune, Vinh Phuc province... The goal is for Minh Chau - the "green island" of the capital to become a bright spot in clean agriculture, eco-tourism and sustainable community development.

By Bao Dan. Vietnam Business Forum