Improving infrastructure in ethnic areas is one of the most important tasks the authorities have focused on in recent years.

The community house in Phu Man commune, Quoc Oai district. Photo: Lam Nguyen/The Hanoi Times

Over the past three years, Hanoi has spent more than VND1 trillion (US$40.7 million) on new construction and renovation of infrastructure for people living in ethnic and mountainous areas of the city.

So far, the city government has launched 95 projects, of which 52 have been completed and put into operation, another 15 are nearing completion, and 13 are in progress. Since the beginning of 2023, ethnic and mountainous districts have implemented 15 projects.

Nguyen Nguyen Quan, Chairman of the Hanoi Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, said that the investments according to Plan 253/KH-UBND of the Hanoi People's Committee dated November 11, 2021, have brought about comprehensive and sustainable socio-economic growth in ethnic minority areas.

These investments have also brought out the full potential and advantages of ethnic people, he said.

"Through the projects, we have seen that the gap in income and living standards between ethnic people and rural residents has narrowed," Quan said.

According to the chairman, the average income of ethnic and mountainous communes in 2023 was VND66 million (nearly $2,700) per capita, the proportion of poor families dropped to 0.42%, and all 13 communes fulfilled their tasks in developing new rural areas.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen said that taking care of ethnic people is one of the city's top priorities from the municipal to the local level.

In addition to allocating a huge capital fund for ethnic minority regions, the city government has sought ways to decentralize power to district and commune-level authorities so that they can make their own decisions on construction projects, he said.

Municipal authorities also monitor and help subordinate authorities to solve problems during project implementation, the vice chairman added.

"Annual assessments have shown that local governments in ethnic mountainous areas have performed well and have efficiently implemented projects in line with expectations," he said.

According to Quan, chairman of the Hanoi Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the city government will strengthen communication with ethnic people to help them understand Party and government policies.

The city's Party committee and local organizations will boost their outreach to ethnic, mountainous areas and work together to address emerging issues to improve local ethnic residents' trust in the authorities, he said at a meeting on ethnic minority affairs earlier this month.

Quan also called for joint efforts by Hanoi's municipal and local authorities to implement effective solutions to improve the living conditions of ethnic people in the capital region.

"We need to take care of them, especially during the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival," he said.

Encouragement for ethnic youth

The Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnam Youth Federation organized a ceremony for ethnic and religious youth in the city on January 21.

The event, held in Thach That District's Tien Xuan Commune, aimed to raise young people's awareness of the policies announced by the Party and the government, and to attract them to participate in community service and  socio-economic growth activities.

Through the event, the authorities hoped to create a good environment for young people in ethnic areas of Hanoi to stick together and improve national unity.

Nguyen Duc Tien, deputy secretary of the Hanoi Communist Youth Union and chairman of the Vietnam Youth Federation, said the two agencies have organized many activities for young people, especially those from ethnic minorities.

"They will be able to showcase their special talents in sports and art performances, get low-interest loans and jobs, and keep up with the latest developments in the world," he said.

"The event is the first of many important activities we plan to hold for young people in the capital to help them get to know each other and better integrate into society," Tien added.

During the event, organizers handed out 20 gifts to underprivileged students in Tien Xuan commune.

Hoang Thuy Nhung, a ninth-grade student from Muong, said the gift was encouragement and motivation for her to work hard and enter high school next year.

Quach Huu Luong, a young resident of Tien Xuan commune, said that the event shows the affection and togetherness that the city's youth union has for the local young people.

He said that the gift is really meaningful and strengthens his belief in humanity and life.