Bau Bang district integrates new rural construction with urbanization efforts

Bau Bang district is actively reorganizing its development space to align with the province’s rapid integration and development process, focusing on urbanization. A key strategy for the district is the creation of new rural areas in conjunction with urban development. This approach is seen as a vital step to enhance the quality of life for rural residents while also optimizing economic, infrastructure, and environmental factors during the transition.

Creating new economic space

As of now, all 6 communes in Bau Bang District have achieved advanced new rural standards. During the 2021-2025 period, Bau Bang invested in constructing over 71 kilometers of rural roads. Additionally, 100% of roads managed by the district and communes were asphalted or upgraded, ensuring they are bright, green, clean, and beautiful. Mr. Nguyen Phu Cuong, Chairman of Bau Bang District People's Committee, stated that in addition to improving transportation infrastructure, the district is also investing in irrigation systems and the national power grid to support production activities and enhance the quality of life for residents.

A key feature of rural development in Bau Bang District is the strong connection to economic models, notably through the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, which serves as a strategic direction. In the period from 2022 to 2024, the entire district developed 35 products that meet the three-star OCOP standards. The OCOP products were diverse, ranging from Anh Hao refined clean bird's nest from the households of Nguyen Duc Toan in Cay Truong II commune and Nguyen Huu Anh Hao in Tru Van Tho commune, to Song Dam fresh whole grain rice produced by Song Dam household in Tan Hung commune. The processed food sector includes Ms. Phuong's pork roll and Ms. Doan Phuong's lemongrass chicken jerky from Bui Phong Son household in Long Nguyen commune. Noteworthy high-tech agricultural products include hydroponic vegetables and dandelion from Ms. Van Thi Truc Giang in Lai Uyen Town, as well as clean vegetables and fruits from Hung Thinh in Lai Hung commune and durian from Anh Hao Farm in Tru Van Tho commune.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao, owner of Hung Thinh clean vegetable and fruit business, shared, “The OCOP program has helped us standardize our products and improve quality and branding. As a result, our sales have significantly increased, creating more jobs for local people and affirming the value of traditional products from Bau Bang District in the market.”

Furthermore, Bau Bang District is implementing the Rural tourism development program and the Digital transformation program to build smart new rural areas. Many projects that apply science and technology to agricultural production have been successfully implemented. These include initiatives focused on raising high-yield crossbred beef cattle and building models for crossbred goat farming, as well as applying intelligent systems to manage historical and cultural relics…

Mr. Vuong Dinh Thien, Deputy Director of Bau Bang District Agricultural Service Center, noted that the locality is encouraging farmers to cultivate crops suitable for the region’s natural conditions. Currently, the district has over 361 hectares of fruit trees, with more than 214 hectares utilizing drip irrigation and automatic spraying. Additionally, there are 40 livestock farms in the district that meet VietGAP standards, generating an average annual output of more than 500 beef cattle, over 900,000 meat chickens, and over 98,000 pigs. This progress indicates a clear shift in the district's agricultural sector towards safe and high-quality commodity agriculture.

Towards green and smart cities

Bau Bang district is reorganizing its rural space with a focus on smart, green, and cohesive criteria. The district is actively working on waste collection and treatment, addressing flooding issues, and reinforcing areas vulnerable to landslides starting from the grassroots level. Additionally, it is effectively mobilizing resources from businesses and residents to contribute to the development of new rural areas, thereby creating a strong foundation for Bau Bang District to evolve into a green, smart, and sustainable urban area.

Environmental protection, food safety, and access to clean water in rural areas are also prioritized by Bau Bang District. The district has strengthened its management, construction, and protection of the rural environment; it promotes solid waste classification at the source, and provides specialized trash bins in residential areas. The locality is also committed to creating a "bright, green, clean, beautiful, and safe" rural landscape by developing model residential areas as a foundation for rural tourism and increasing tree-planting initiatives. Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, a resident of Hamlet 4 in Tan Hung Commune, noted that since the implementation of these environmental programs, village roads and alleys have become cleaner, and the air quality has improved. Specifically, waste classification has become a habit for many families, contributing to environmental protection and enhancing community awareness.

According to the leaders of Bau Bang District, the achievements in new rural construction and urbanization reflect the efforts of the entire political system and the support of the people. The ultimate goal remains to improve the quality of life for residents. Therefore, the urbanization process in the district adopts appropriate and flexible solutions to avoid compromising the environment for growth. Although there are challenges regarding investment capital for certain new rural construction criteria and an uneven application of high technology, Bau Bang District has learned valuable lessons, including the importance of promoting community involvement, mobilizing the political system, and ensuring democracy and transparency in resource allocation for new rural development.

With strong determination and accumulated experience, Bau Bang is steadily becoming a livable, dynamic, and sustainably developed rural area.

Reported by Tien Hanh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh