Many internal village roads in Muong Chien commune have been paved with concrete.

Welcoming us at the commune headquarters, Mr. Nguyen Huu Chung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Chien commune, informed us: Muong Chien commune was established on the basis of merging the communes of Muong Chien, Chieng Khay, and Ca Nang. At this time, along with stabilizing the organizational structure, the commune is focusing on reviewing and evaluating the current state of infrastructure as well as the potential and advantages for economic development, in order to have specific solutions. Effectively utilizing capital from programs and projects, supporting people in converting inefficient land to fruit tree cultivation and renovating unproductive orchards. Encouraging the establishment of cooperatives to link production according to VietGAP standards and guarantee product sales. Coordinating the organization of visits for households to learn from fruit tree cultivation models in other localities. To date, the entire commune has 6 cooperatives with more than 50 members; in addition to creating jobs for members, the cooperatives also provide stable employment for 20 local laborers, with an average income of 4.5 million VND/person/month. At the same time, effectively utilize the value of traditional culture, ethnic costumes, good customs and practices, brocade embroidery, rattan and bamboo weaving; and the hot spring area in Bon village to develop community tourism.

Returning to Phieng Bay village, the hillsides previously used for growing corn and cassava have been replaced with fruit trees and other high-value economic crops. Visiting the medicinal herb and fruit tree cultivation model of Mr. Tan Van Pat's family in Phieng Bay village, one of the pioneering households in crop conversion that brings high income, Mr. Pat shared: In 2019, his family gradually converted the area previously used for growing corn to growing cinnamon, macadamia nuts, and Taiwanese mangoes. To date, the family has 4 hectares of Taiwanese mangoes and macadamia trees; 4 hectares of cinnamon trees and 1 hectare of cardamom under the forest canopy. The average income reaches 300 million VND per year.

Members of the Nhan Thuan Cooperative, Muong Chien commune, inspect the area planted with medicinal herbs.

Inspired by Mr. Pat's successful economic model, many households in Phieng Bay village have followed suit. Currently, the villagers cultivate and care for 5 hectares of fruit trees; 100 hectares of cinnamon; 8 hectares of macadamia nuts; intensively cultivate nearly 40 hectares of rice paddies with two harvests per year; over 90 hectares of high-yield corn and cassava; and raise nearly 1,000 livestock and over 2,000 poultry... Out of 212 households in the village, only 10 remain poor.

In Pa Lo village, after visiting several provinces and surveying the market demand for medicinal plants, in 2022, Mr. Lo Van Chau mobilized 11 households to establish Nhan Thuan Cooperative, specializing in growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy, with an initial scale of 3 hectares. To date, the cooperative has about 60 hectares of *Centella asiatica* (Centella asiatica) grown under the forest canopy, of which 7 hectares have already yielded harvests, with a yield of 30 tons of fresh tubers per hectare, selling at 4,500 VND/kg; after deducting costs, the profit is about 50 million VND/ha.

Mr. Lo Van Chau, Director of Nhan Thuan Cooperative, said: "The initial cost of planting 1 hectare of *Centella asiatica* is about 50 million VND. After 3 years of planting, it begins to yield a harvest, and the harvesting period lasts from 15-20 years. Currently, the cooperative is experimentally planting 2 hectares of coffee trees, and the trees are growing and developing well. In the future, the cooperative hopes to access preferential loans to expand the scale of medicinal plant cultivation; promote and find stable markets for the product, create jobs and increase income for members and people participating in the model."

Farmers in Muong Chien commune exchange experiences in livestock farming.

With diligent hands and innovative thinking, the people of Muong Chien have been exploiting their advantages for economic development. The entire commune currently cultivates over 2,000 hectares of grain crops; nearly 500 hectares of fruit trees, macadamia nuts, and coffee; manages and protects over 12,000 hectares of forest and nearly 300 hectares of cinnamon trees; utilizes nearly 50 hectares of water surface in the Son La hydroelectric reservoir for cage fish farming; and raises 122,240 head of livestock and poultry. The average income of the commune reaches 45 million VND/person/year; and the poverty rate is only 10%.

By implementing the new local government model, with expanded development space, it is believed that Muong Chien will awaken its potential and advantages, achieve more significant breakthroughs, and increase income for its people.