Celebrate Tet meaningfully in a new house

In the days leading up to Tet, the atmosphere in the Khmer ethnic minority areas in Chau Thanh district is more bustling than ever. People are busy cleaning and decorating their houses to welcome the new year. What is special is that this year, many near-poor and disadvantaged Khmer households will be able to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay in new houses built with support from the local government.

The family of Ms. Danh Thi Chuol, Tho Hoa Dong B hamlet, Phu Tam commune (Chau Thanh district) is one of the poor households supported by the local government and benefactors to build a new house. Up to now, the house has been completed and put into use in time to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay. Ms. Chuol emotionally shared: “I never thought I would have a solid house like this. This year's Tet is truly complete when the whole family gathers in the new house.”

Mr. Kim Nhieu, Phu Huu Hamlet, Phu Tam Commune, Chau Thanh District (Soc Trang) is happy because his new house was completed in time to welcome Chol Chnam Thmay in 2025. Photo: THACH PICCH

Sharing the joy, this year's Chol Chnam Thmay festival, Mr. Kim Nhieu, Phu Huu hamlet, Phu Tam commune also celebrated Tet in a spacious brick house. His family is poor, has no land for production, and has an unstable income. He and his wife have 3 children, the youngest son has a congenital disease. Mr. Kim Nhieu said: "Many times I planned to buy trees and leaves to re-roof the house and cover both sides of the wall, but because I am unemployed at the moment and my income is unstable, I cannot repair the dilapidated house. Thanks to the local government's attention and support of 60 million VND to build a solid house. Now that we have a new house! This year's Tet will be more cozy."

Join hands to bring joy to the poor

To help poor and near-poor households have stable homes before the Khmer New Year, Chau Thanh district has implemented the program "Joining hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide in 2025".

According to comrade Le Hoang Nuoi - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Chau Thanh district, recently, the District Steering Committee has directed the communes to review 347 subjects subject to the elimination of temporary and dilapidated houses in the district, of which, there are 35 subjects belonging to ethnic minorities, 60 policy households, the rest are near-poor households. Currently, in the district, more than 230/259 houses have been completed and put into use. For ethnic minority households, the District Party Committee and People's Committee have directed the construction progress to be completed before Chol Chnam Thmay so that Khmer people can celebrate Tet. For policy families, strive to complete 100% by April 30. Currently, the progress has reached over 90%, with 88 households remaining. The province is requested to continue to support to strive to complete by June 30 according to the direction of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, in order to complete the construction of dilapidated houses in the district on schedule.

Thanks to the determination of the government and the active response of the people, hundreds of new houses have been built, helping poor households and families with preferential policies stabilize their lives. Not only does the program help people have a safe place to live, it also creates a driving force to promote socio-economic development, contributing to improving the quality of life in the locality.

Comrade Chung Thi Phuong Tam - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Phu Tam commune expressed: " Implementing the plan "Eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses" in 2025, through screening in the commune, there are 29 households belonging to policy families, poor households, and near-poor households eligible for support to build new and repair houses, of which 24 households are supported to build new and 5 households are supported to repair. Supporting the construction of houses for poor and near-poor households is a meaningful work, demonstrating the concern of Party committees at all levels, authorities, sectors, the joint efforts of organizations, philanthropists and the community. The houses are built from the hearts of love, helping the poor overcome difficulties in life. Especially poor Khmer households, they are very happy to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmay in a new, cozy house".

The cheerful laughter resounded in the new houses, a Tet not only with banh tet, traditional rom vong dance, but also with the joy of gathering under spacious roofs. This is the proof of the concern of the Party, the State and the spirit of solidarity of the community in caring for the lives of poor and near-poor households, towards a better future.

STONE