An economic miracle in a mountain commune of the Central Highlands

Da M’Po Hamlet, located in Lieng S'ronh Commune, Dam Rong District, has been successfully resettled with 200 households comprising 946 residents living in stable conditions. (Source: Dam Rong District Party Committee)

Nearly 50 million VND per capita and several billion VND per household—these are impressive statistics on average income in a remote area of Lam Dong Province, blessed by nature with fertile red basalt soil ideal for cultivating agricultural crops.

According to Mr. Pham Van Dien, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lieng S'ronh Commune, despite its vast terrain and difficult roads - especially during the rainy season - the living standards of local residents are steadily improving. In 2024, the average income in the commune reached 46.43 million VND per capita. This year, the prices of coffee and durian have surged to three to four times higher than last year. Many households in the villages have built solid houses, bought cars and other vehicles to improve their quality of life. In some hamlets, individual household incomes have reached several billion VND.

“Lieng S'ronh Commune belongs to sub-region 2, focusing on the development of industrial crops and fruit trees, particularly durian and coffee, which are local strengths. We also promote cold-water fish farming and make use of the nearby rivers and streams for mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing. Currently, the price of silkworm cocoons is over 200,000 VND per kilogram, providing a stable source of income. A household can earn more than 20 million VND per month from this activity”, Mr. Dien shared.

Mr. Pham Van Dien, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lieng S'ronh Commune, said that each household in the locality can earn over 20 million VND per month through mulberry cultivation and silkworm farming. (Photo: Xuan Son)

As the largest commune in Dam Rong District, Lieng S'ronh is home to 2,199 households and nearly 8,000 residents - all united in the collective effort to eradicate poverty under the close guidance and support of local authorities. Thanks to these concerted efforts, the commune achieved the new rural development standards in 2024, with the multidimensional poverty rate dropping to just 12.4%. As livelihoods and incomes continue to rise, so too do hope and confidence among the people.

That sense of hope is even more profoundly felt through the effective and compassionate policies implemented by the commune authorities, especially in resettlement areas for migrants from the North. With over 500 households of Hmong people - approximately 3,000 residents - concentrated in hamlets 178, 179, 181, and Tay Son, the Lieng S'ronh commune authority has taken meaningful actions to ensure social welfare, including building health stations, schools, and providing 100% health insurance coverage.

The local administration also regularly dispatches officials and mass organizations to these areas to assess conditions and provide timely support. One notable initiative is the establishment of community security teams to manage population and household registration, ensuring that welfare policies and entitlements reach ethnic minority communities effectively.

The socio-economic situation in Lieng S'ronh has been increasingly improving, thanks to timely and comprehensive support and attention from all levels of administration. (Source: Dam Rong District Party Committee)

Alongside efforts to encourage the transition toward multipurpose agricultural crops, the local authority has also intensified public education campaigns urging residents not to encroach on or clear forest land. The aim is to promote sustainable and stable farming practices that serve a dual purpose: fostering economic growth while preserving the environment.

However, one of the major challenges facing residents in the hamlets is the lack of personal identification documents - an issue rooted in patterns of spontaneous migration into remote, hard-to-access areas which doesn't have basic infrastructure such as clean water, schools and health clinics.

“The most difficult issue is that some migrants cannot verify where they originally came from, making it very hard to issue citizen ID cards. Many of them traveled through various provinces - from Dak Nong to Dak Lak - before settling here, even before Dam Rong District was officially established in 2004. After 21 years, we’ve managed to stabilize residential areas like Da M’Po and hamlet 179, and we are now proposing that the province continue planning for additional settlements in hamlet 181 and Tay Son", Chairman of the Lieng S'ronh Commune People’s Committee emphasized.

Mr. Tran Van Ha, Chief of Police of Lieng S'ronh Commune, emphasized that the police force regularly advises local authorities to create the best possible conditions and ensure that all citizens fully enjoy their rights and benefits. (Photo: Xuan Son)

To address the issue in line with the national population management strategy, Mr. Tran Van Ha, Chief of Police of Lieng S'ronh Commune, emphasized that the immediate priority is to build a grassroots-oriented commune police force - close to the people, serving the people, and always attentive to their needs and concerns.

Secondly, the police will establish local security groups. These units, operating semi-autonomously within the community, serve as an extension of the police force, assisting in managing resident and household registration. Thirdly, the commune will continue to maintain and expand the model of community security teams, which help disseminate the Party’s guidelines and mobilize public participation in the national movement for safeguarding security and order.

Regarding support for the issuance of citizen ID cards and registration of temporary or permanent residence, Mr. Ha explained: “Due to language barriers and low education levels among residents, the commune police have coordinated with religious centers familiar with local languages and scripts, as well as respected village elders, to collect household information from those who migrated from the North. These partners assist both in the declaration and verification processes. Without personal identification documents, people are unable to access essential public services such as healthcare. Therefore, the police frequently advise local authorities to facilitate these processes to ensure that all citizens receive their full legal rights and benefits".

It can be said that the lives of ethnic minorities in Lieng S'ronh Commune, Dam Rong District, Lam Dong Province are showing encouraging signs of progress and readiness for transformation alongside the nation. The achievements seen today are the result of the resilience and perseverance of the local people, combined with the determined and attentive leadership of all levels of administration amid numerous challenges. No matter how harsh the sun and wind of the Central Highlands may be, they have never shaken the spirit of self-reliance and determination that defines this land of towering forests.

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