This year, many families in the highland villages of Co Ma, Son La, are celebrating a more prosperous Tet (Lunar New Year) thanks to outstanding achievements in production. Every household is preparing pigs and chickens to celebrate the holiday. Mothers and grandmothers are personally preparing costumes for their children and grandchildren to wear during the spring festivities. Many young men are also preparing their most beautiful spinning tops and the strongest, most sturdy crossbows to participate in the games organized by the village and commune.

Mr. and Mr. Dong, from Co Ma village, excitedly shared that growing ginger has provided their family with a significant source of income. With nearly 2 hectares of cultivated land, Mr. Dong's family harvests over 50 tons of ginger tubers annually. At a selling price of 4,000 VND/kg, they earn over 200 million VND, a substantial income many times higher than their previous corn and rice crops. This year, with the expansion of their planting area, even before harvesting, the family is confident they will have enough income to continue investing in economic development in the coming year and years to come.

The sisters are getting ready with their outfits for the Lunar New Year...

"This year my family is very excited. We've already prepared pigs and chickens to slaughter for Tet (Lunar New Year) and invited relatives and friends from near and far to celebrate with us," said Va A Dong.

Ms. Va Thi Cai's family, residing in Pha Khoang village, Co Ma commune, has chosen livestock farming as their economic path. This year, she sold two batches of buffalo and cattle, earning nearly 150 million VND. Currently, her family owns 15 buffalo and cattle, including 7 female animals raised for breeding, and over 20 pigs, regularly providing a continuous supply to the market and generating additional income. Ms. Cai also built affordable boarding houses to support students living far from school.

Ms. Va Thi Cai happily shared: “This year is very exciting because our family has many new things. Our family's finances are better than in previous years, so we can celebrate Tet more warmly with our children and grandchildren, wishing everyone good health in the new year.”

...with their vibrant traditional costumes.

Following the merger and implementation of a two-tiered local government model, Co Ma commune comprises 33 villages, nearly 2,900 households, and almost 15,000 inhabitants belonging to four ethnic groups, with the Mong ethnic group accounting for over 90%. The lives of the people in the Co Ma highlands mainly depend on agricultural production and small-scale service businesses. By focusing on restructuring crop and livestock production and encouraging people to leverage the region's advantages, Co Ma reduced the number of poor households by 198 in 2025, equivalent to 6.8%. In 2026, the commune will continue to direct efforts to maximize its potential and advantages, focusing on developing key local crops and livestock, concentrating on livestock farming, and planting new crops such as coffee, fruit trees, cassava, ginger, and vegetables, striving to reduce the poverty rate according to the multidimensional poverty standard by 5-10% compared to 2025.

Mr. Thào A Của, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Co Mạ commune, said: "With the spirit of 'leaving no one behind,' Co Mạ commune has done a good job of supporting and giving gifts to policy beneficiary households, people with meritorious services, poor and near-poor households in the commune. In addition to the prescribed allowances, the commune also prepared meaningful gifts including essential items and food to support policy beneficiaries, poor households and families with difficult circumstances, ensuring that everyone can have a fulfilling, joyful, safe and economical Tet holiday."

Traditional folk games, including pao throwing, add to the festive atmosphere of spring in the highlands.

“The commune has directed the Department of Culture and Social Affairs to review the disadvantaged individuals who are unable to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) in order to provide support, and instructed the villages to organize Tet celebrations while preserving the cultural identity of the ethnic group. The Tet celebrations must be warm, safe, economical, and meaningful for the people,” said Mr. Thào A Của.

A new spring has arrived in the Co Ma highlands. Here, the people are uniting with the government to accelerate the fight against poverty, improve their lives, and enjoy more prosperous springs.