Harnessing Community Strengths for New Rural Development

In carrying out the National Target Program on New Rural Development, the entire political system and the people of Hanoi have joined hands and united in advancing new rural development.

Hanoi’s rural landscape has become increasingly spacious and clean

From 2010 to the end of 2024, Hanoi mobilized over VND183.7 trillion for new rural development, of which more than VND162.8 trillion came from the State Budget and the rest was sourced from socialized funding.

Thanks to this effort, the city’s rural landscape has become increasingly spacious and clean. Transport and social infrastructure have been synchronously developed, narrowing the gap between rural and urban areas. The material and spiritual life of rural residents has been significantly improved.

The engagement of the entire political system

To date, all of Hanoi’s communes have been recognized to meet new rural development standards. Among them, 229 out of 382 communes have been certified to achieve advanced new rural development standards. In 2024, the average income per capita in rural Hanoi reached nearly VND75 million a year. The city has no poor households remaining. Hanoi leads the country in implementing the new rural development program.

Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said under the strong leadership of the Hanoi Party Committee, the Hanoi People’s Council and the Hanoi People’s Committee, with the active participation of all agencies and localities, and especially with the enthusiastic support of all people, the city’s new rural development program has produced a lot of positive outcomes.

Hanoi has completed all eight criteria stated in the Prime Minister’s Decision 321/QD-TTg on conditions for recognition of provinces and cities that fulfill new rural development standards in the 2021-2025 period. Notably, the city has not seen any outstanding debt in basic infrastructure projects in the course of carrying out the program. The locality has actively worked out annual plans and appropriately allocated resources to ensure the progress and quality of criteria.

Phu Cat commune, with its semi-mountainous terrain, large natural area, and extensive road network, required substantial investment for infrastructure to achieve advanced and model new rural development standards. In addition to support from the city, Phu Cat has maximized its internal resources under the principle of “mobilizing people’s strength for people’s benefit.”

The city invests in infrastructure to meet advanced new rural development standards

Nguyen Trong Hoan, Chairman of the Phu Cat People’s Committee, said that thanks to effective communication and high consensus, local residents have actively supported the new rural development movement. The commune has mobilized nearly VND500 billion since 2011. Since 2015, local people have donated 5,000 square meters of residential and garden land along with about 3 ha of agricultural land for building roads and auxiliary works to meet travel demand. As a result, Phu Cat was certified by the city to meet advanced new rural development standards in 2021 and the first to fulfill model new rural development standards.

Beyond Phu Cat, many bright examples in socialized investment for new rural development have emerged across Hanoi. In Gie Ha hamlet (Chuyen My commune), the united movement for new rural development has spread widely among the people. Consequently, the hamlet’s infrastructure has been upgraded to improve the physical and spiritual life of its residents. This also helped Phu Yen commune reach advanced new rural development standards in 2023 and fulfill model new rural development standards in healthcare and tourism fields in 2024.

According to the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, from 2021 to the end of 2024 alone, the city mobilized over VND86.8 trillion for new rural development, fulfilling 120% of the budgeted target. Of this amount, more than VND4 trillion came from non-state sources. Thanks to strong public support, all communes in Hanoi have now met new rural development standards, including 229 communes accredited to fulfill advanced new rural development standards, and 109 communes recognized as exemplary models in new rural development.

Fostering strong consensus

Sharing about experiences in mobilizing community contributions, Do Quang Bang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Head of the Fatherland Front Committee of Gie Ha hamlet said that he and local officials had actively encouraged residents to participate in the new rural development program. To earn the trust and support of the people, officials and Party members must lead by example. His own family donated 32 square meters of residential land, valued at about VND1 billion, to widen the road passing his house to 4.5 meters, hence facilitating easier travel for residents.

Mr. Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, noted that, in carrying out the National Target Program on New Rural Development, localities in the city have made effective communication and mobilization efforts and engaged the entire political system and the people to contribute their labor, knowledge and materials for new rural development. However, to ensure effective socialization, transparent mechanisms and policies for mobilizing, receiving, and using resources must be further improved. Mobilizing contributions from residents and businesses must be voluntary and public to avoid undue pressure. Only then can social trust be established to create a solid foundation for sustainable development. The new rural development program not only aims to improve infrastructure quality but also serves as a fundamental solution to enhance living standards, restore traditional cultural values and strengthen community bonding. As Hanoi pushes forward with the implementation of Resolution15-NQ/TW of the Politburo dated May 5, 2022 on orientation and tasks for Hanoi’s development to 2030, with a vision to 2045, rural areas play a vital role in generating new resources, space and momentum for the city’s development.

In this new phase of development, Hanoi needs to further perfect policies, enhance communication and honor exemplary models to turn public strength into a solid pillar and advance the new rural development program further, deeper and more sustainably.

By Bao Ngoc, Vietnam Business Forum