On a chilly morning, on the hillside covered with ancient Shan snow tea trees in Ban Lien commune (Lao Cai province), Vang A Pao, a H'Mong man, nimbly picks tender tea buds. For nearly 10 years, tea cultivation has been the main source of livelihood for his family.

"Before, we did things haphazardly and sold our produce cheaply. Now, having joined a cooperative, producing clean tea, and having a cooperative that guarantees sales, I feel much more secure. With stable employment, I'm even more determined to stay in this land and village," said Mr. Páo.

In many mountainous communes of Lao Cai province, ethnic minorities are changing their production mindset, shifting from self-sufficiency to a market-oriented economy. Lush green tea hills, cinnamon forests, and medicinal herb forests not only provide income but also help people maintain a long-term connection with the border region.

People in border regions believe that the 14th National Congress of the Party will open up new avenues of development, leading the country steadily into a bright future. Photo: Tuan Ngoc

The spirit of labor competition is not only prevalent in the fields and farms, but also strongly spreads to construction sites and factories in border regions. At the Nam Na 2 Hydropower Plant (Lai Chau province), Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, an operating worker, is accustomed to long shifts amidst the mountains and forests.

"Working in border areas is more difficult, but we understand our responsibilities. Competing in safe work and efficient operation is the most practical achievement to celebrate the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party," said Mr. Hoa.

In the Mai Son Industrial Zone (Son La province), Ms. Lo Thi Mai, a Thai woman, works in a factory processing agricultural products for export. From an unskilled agricultural worker, she received training and now has a stable job with an income sufficient to support her children's education.

"Having a factory in our hometown means workers don't have to travel far. I hope the upcoming Party Congress will introduce more policies to encourage businesses to invest in the highlands," Ms. Mai expressed.

Workers compete in production to celebrate the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Phong

In Sin Thau commune (Dien Bien province), which borders three countries – Vietnam, Laos, and China – Mr. Ly A Chu, an elder of the Ha Nhi ethnic group, still regularly participates in the self-governing group for border and boundary marker management.

"During the day we work in the fields, and at night we patrol with the soldiers. As long as the land and the village remain, we can still make a living," Mr. Chứ said simply.

For people living in border regions, labor and production are closely linked to the responsibility of protecting the land, preserving the forests, and maintaining peace in their villages. Concrete roads and public infrastructure built by the hands of these workers have contributed to changing the face of the border areas.

Thanks to supportive government policies, the lives of ethnic minority people are becoming increasingly prosperous. Photo: Tuan Ngoc

Mr. Ly Gio Luy, 70 years old, former Party Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee of Y Ty commune, Lao Cai province, shared: "Previously, the commune's infrastructure was very difficult, but now it has been comprehensively invested in electricity, roads, schools, and health stations. Ethnic minorities have been supported in eliminating temporary houses, everyone is enthusiastically working and producing, and life is becoming increasingly prosperous."

I believe that the 14th National Congress of the Party will continue to have special mechanisms to help people in mountainous and border areas achieve sustainable poverty reduction, maintain their attachment to their homeland, and build peaceful, prosperous, and beautiful border regions."