CHARTING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: THAI NGUYEN'S ETHNIC MINORITY COMMUNITIES

Abstract

Socio-economic development plays a pivotal role in driving progress within a nation. In Vietnam, the government's ethnic minority policy is instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for minority communities. Thai Nguyen province, situated in the Northern midland and mountainous region, houses a diverse population of over 1.2 million individuals, encompassing 51 distinct ethnic groups. Notably, more than 384,000 residents belong to ethnic minority groups, constituting nearly 30% of the provincial population.

These ethnic minority communities are dispersed across 123 communes and towns, predominantly within 5 mountainous and highland districts. These regions are categorized into 3 development areas, consisting of 25 communes in Region I, 63 in Region II, and 36 in Region III. Over time, the inhabitants of these communities have displayed remarkable resilience, fostering patriotism, unity, industriousness, and steadfastly preserving their cultural heritage.

In recent years, the government's commitment to advancing socio-economic development in Thai Nguyen province has yielded substantial results. Extreme poverty has witnessed significant reductions, with 33 out of 48 communes successfully escaping extreme poverty status by the close of 2020. Furthermore, the province is making remarkable strides in accomplishing the objectives of Program 135, a governmental initiative aimed at alleviating poverty in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. In 2019, an impressive 75 out of 94 hamlets in Thai Nguyen province benefiting from Program 135 succeeded in attaining the program's goals, positioning the province as a national leader. The poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas has experienced a swift and consistent decline, averaging 3-4% annually. This, in turn, has contributed significantly to Thai Nguyen's ascent in the ranks of low-poverty provinces within the Northeast region