From a drug "hotspot" to the "richest Hmong village in a border commune"

From the center of Long Sap commune, following a steep slope for several kilometers, we arrived at Phieng Cai village, Long Sap commune, Son La province (formerly Long Sap and Chieng Khua communes, Moc Chau district, Son La province).

Amidst the vast green expanse of mountains and orchards, newly built houses with corrugated iron or cement tile roofs peek out, painting a picture of a prosperous and peaceful highland village.

Arriving at Phiêng Cài village during the day, without prior arrangement, we would have difficulty meeting any adults in the village.

Although the plum season is drawing to a close, the villagers are still busy in the fields, tending to their fruit trees. The children take care of the houses and kitchens.

The village of Phiêng Cài, in Lóng Sập commune, Sơn La province, is surrounded by the lush green of gardens and mountains. Photo: Kiều Tâm.

It is known that Phiêng Cài village was once a "hotspot" for drug use and poverty in Lóng Sập commune. Despite its difficult beginnings, according to Mòng Văn Ngọc, a specialist in the Economic Department of Lóng Sập commune, Phiêng Cài has now become "the richest Hmong village in this border commune".

Mr. Ngoc explained: "The Phieng Cai village has 100% of its population belonging to the Mong ethnic group, but the people are very united and hardworking. Those households that received livelihood support worked hard, rose out of poverty, and now have jobs and stable incomes."

Mr. Trang A Tua, Party branch secretary and head of Phieng Cai village, added: Phieng Cai village currently has 91 households, of which 7 are classified as near-poor households.

Before 2015, life was very difficult for the villagers. Many rice paddies and cultivated fields were eroded and barren due to unscientific farming practices. Rice and corn yields were low, and the village was far from the center, so agricultural products were often subject to price manipulation by traders. At the end of the season, only barren fields remained; those who planted corn simply let the plants wither because they didn't know what else to plant.

Mr. Trang A Tua, Party Secretary and Head of Phieng Cai village, Long Sap commune, Son La province, spoke enthusiastically about the changes in his village thanks to the policy of planting fruit trees such as plums, oranges, and passion fruit on sloping land. Photo: Kieu Tam.

However, since the implementation of the Party and State's policy on planting fruit trees on sloping land and converting inefficient rice and corn fields to fruit tree cultivation, the appearance of Phiêng Cài village is becoming increasingly vibrant.

Many households in Phiêng Cài village have converted their corn-growing land to cultivate plums, pears, and tea, generating a decent income. Photo: Kiều Tâm.

 

Many households have switched to growing pears, tea, plums, and short-term crops such as green squash, cucumbers, beans, and ginger, which both increase income and meet family needs. Many disadvantaged households have received support in the form of seedlings, livestock, and training in farming and animal husbandry techniques.

As a result, people of working age in the village have stable jobs. The average income per person has also increased, to about over 42 million VND/person/year.

“Those households that are resourceful and willing to learn can earn hundreds of millions of dong. For example, Mr. Trang A Lu's household, growing plums, pumpkins, and passion fruit, still managed to save 200 million dong at the end of the year; Mr. Trang Va De's household, growing pears and plums and raising breeding cows, earned nearly 300 million dong at the end of the year… These households not only have economic stability but also invest in their children's education,” Mr. Tua said enthusiastically.

Planting fruit trees on sloping land contributes to sustainable poverty reduction.

CommuneLong Sap, Son La province (before the merger, it consisted of 2 communes, Chieng Khua and Long Sap, Moc Chau district, Son La province) is a mountainous border commune with a long border shared with the People's Democratic Republic of Laos.

The commune has a large natural area, fragmented terrain, low population density, scattered population distribution, the majority of the population are ethnic minorities, and transportation is difficult…

Due to its unique topography and geography, Long Sap commune faces economic difficulties and has a high poverty rate (13.78%). Local people's income mainly depends on agricultural production, and farming techniques remain limited.

To effectively implement sustainable poverty reduction efforts, over the years, Long Sap commune has implemented many practical solutions, focusing on increasing income and transferring livelihoods and techniques to local people. In particular, the policy of developing fruit trees on sloping land has achieved many positive results.

Many rural workers have gained additional employment and income thanks to the development of diverse farming and livestock models, including the commercial-scale cultivation of green pumpkins in Long Sap commune, Son La province. Photo: Kieu Tam.

 

Speaking with a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Sap commune (Son La province), said: Implementing the province's policy on developing fruit trees on sloping land, before the merger, during the past term, the Party Committee and government of the two communes of Long Sap and Chieng Khua focused on leading and directing the people to develop advantageous crops.

These new crops are suitable for the natural conditions, encouraging people to switch crops and gradually forming fruit-growing areas such as plums, oranges, pears, macadamia nuts, passion fruit, etc.

As of June 2025, the total area of ​​fruit trees in the two communes reached 924 hectares, an increase of 312 hectares compared to the beginning of the term. This has contributed to raising people's income, gradually forming a concentrated fruit-growing area, and building several effective economic development models. Currently, 1 hectare of cultivated land yields a production value of 45 million VND.

The appearance of Long Sap commune has changed thanks to the policy of planting fruit trees on sloping land. Photo: Kieu Tam.

Within the commune, some areas previously used for short-term crops have been converted to tea plantations, concentrated in the villages of Muong Bo, Phat, and Phieng Cai... To date, the area planted with tea in the commune has reached 178 hectares, an increase of 139.5 hectares compared to 2020.

In addition, Long Sap commune is focusing on developing pilot projects and expanding the area for planting several types of industrial crops suitable to the local climate and soil conditions, especially tea.

According to Mr. Tran Xuan Thanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long Sap commune, the development of agriculture in Long Sap commune has not been commensurate with the commune's potential and advantages; the production value per hectare of land is still low; and the application of scientific and technological advancements in production to improve product quality and efficiency is still limited.

Applying advancements in livestock farming techniques and fruit tree cultivation on sloping land, along with a focus on clean agriculture, is a long-term solution for Long Sap commune (Son La province) to enhance the value of agricultural products, increase income, and sustainably reduce poverty for its people. Photo: Kieu Tam.

 

To continue effectively implementing national target programs, in the coming period, Long Sap commune will continue to strengthen the leadership and guidance of Party committees at all levels on sustainable poverty reduction, effectively implement credit programs for production development loans, and transfer scientific and technical knowledge to poor households, near-poor households, and newly escaped-from-poverty households.

The organization will review the rural workforce and orient vocational training to suit the actual needs of the locality and the labor demand in the area.

Long Sap commune effectively manages and implements the development of clean, safe agricultural production, applying high technology and organic farming; continues to research, transform, and improve high-economic-value crop varieties suitable to the local conditions...

The commune also attracts businesses, organizations, and individuals to invest in agriculture, building a production, processing, consumption, and export chain for products that meet prescribed standards; and developing green and circular agricultural production models.