Fostering Productive and Sustainable New Countryside

Achieving significant criteria in the New Rural Development Program in the mountainous commune of Yen Bai holds tremendous importance for local socioeconomic development.

Yen Bai is gradually transforming, with achievements in building a new countryside

Yen Bai is gradually undergoing a strong transformation through the adoption of new economic models that bring long-term values to its residents. Among the most prominent is the cultivation, care, and supply of green plants, flowers, and landscaping plants. Many households have not only prospered from this profession but also created stable jobs for local workers, hence contributing to fulfilling environmental criteria in new rural development and beautifying the rural landscape with bright, green, clean, and beautiful surroundings.

This success is thanks to the timely support from Hanoi authorities and, above all, the unity and dedication of local residents. Building on this foundation, Yen Bai is leveraging its natural and social strengths to contribute significantly to its sustainable development.

Enhancing cultural and social life, improving people’s livelihoods, and implementing social security policies are among the immediate goals the commune is striving to achieve. Additionally, Yen Bai is concentrating all available resources on economic restructuring, strengthening national defense and security, and promoting the grassroots movement “All people unite to build a cultured life in residential areas.”

Xuan Hoa village (Yen Bai commune) is one of the outstanding examples of rural economic development aligned with the cultivation of ornamental flowers and landscaping trees. Its tree-lined roads and lush gardens vividly reflect the remarkable local transformation. For example, Hoang Quoc Dat, owner of Hong Lan Nguyen Ba Vi Flower Garden, has painstakingly nurtured and developed a well-branded flower garden covering nearly 5,000 square meters after nearly 10 years in business. In addition to roses, orchids, and camellias, the garden grows various fruit trees and rare ornamental plants. Thanks to his market acumen and hard work, Dat earns a stable annual income of VND120-150 million from this profession. “I always put myself in the shoes of a flower enthusiast to stay updated on new plant varieties and market trends. Besides selling plants, I also share knowledge and support others who are passionate about starting their business,” he said.

Impressively combining shade trees, landscaping plants, and valuable medicinal herbs, Nguyen Manh Hung has utilized available land, invested systematically in finding and propagating high-quality green plants. Currently, his garden grows a wide variety of unique ornamental plants and seasonal fruit trees, especially about 1,000 golden camellia trees - a precious medicinal plant highly valued in health benefits. Every year, he earns billions of Vietnamese dong in profit and provides stable jobs for 10 residents. For him, planting trees is not just for sale but also to preserve and develop green cultural values sustainably for the future.

The landscape of the new countryside has improved significantly

Nguyen Van Tung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Bai Commune, said that growing flowers, shade trees, and landscaping plants has played a crucial role in restructuring the commune’s agricultural economy. He noted that this is not simply ornamental or commercial planting, but the development of a sustainable trade well-suited to local natural conditions and current market demands. Therefore, in the coming time, Yen Bai will continue to plan specialized planting zones, support residents with new plant varieties and tending techniques, and connect with businesses and distributors to expand market access.

Ngo Van Ngon, Deputy Chief of the Hanoi Coordination Office of the New Rural Development Program, said: The Hanoi Party Committee (17th term) issued Program 04-CTr/TU on “Promoting the effective implementation of the National Target Program on New Rural Development associated with agricultural restructuring and rural economic development, material and spiritual life improvement for farmers in the 2021-2025 period.” This program features many new aspects aimed at further promoting agriculture, farmers and rural areas. By 2025, the city will complete its new rural development tasks. 100% of communes will meet new rural development standards; 40% of communes will fulfill advanced new rural development standards; and 20% of communes will be certified to accomplish model new rural development standards. The acreage of flowers and ornamental plants will increase from 8,500 ha to 9,000 ha. The roadside tree-growing movement will be accelerated to reach 8-10 square meters per person. Yen Bai will plan the development and preservation of cottage industries and craft villages to boost the traditional cultural values of localities and facilitate craft villages to develop production, business, and trade promotion. Well-developed craft villages will be linked with rural tourism and experiential tourism.

Yen Bai Commune People's Committee

Developing green plant and landscaping plant models, tailored to local soil conditions, also helps expand the coverage of forests and urban trees, improves the environment, and enhances the quality of life in the area. The impact of these models in Yen Bai goes beyond income figures, but it also lies in building green models that utilize local labor effectively. Moreover, green plants and ornamental flowers help enhance the beauty of the living space and beautify the rural landscape.

From this movement, many other households in the commune have begun to switch from low-yield crops to ornamental plants and shade trees, gradually forming a green tree value chain in the locality. The tree and landscaping plant cultivation model in Yen Bai is paving the way for a promising and sustainable path for local farmers.

By Dinh Bao, Vietnam Business Forum