Former warzone of delight

Long Nguyen warzone notable in wartime has become a new rural area in peacetime with economic development delights in Bau Bang District.

Land of heroism changes

We are arriving at Long Nguyen Commune in April to feel the heat-wave at a locality of beautiful appearance. The asphalted DT749A Street leads us to Long Nguyen Commune through the dense traffic. The new houses along the street enlightened the belief in tomorrow of the locals.

The former warzone of Long Nguyen is brighter in peacetime. Photo: K. Vinh

Tracking back the history, Long Nguyen Commune has eyed a long and continual term of struggling. By the end of the 19^th century, Long Nguyen people have joined up revolutionary movements to promote patriotism which has been maintained and promoted by the leadership of Party Committee. Long Nguyen people have been so determined to follow the revolution for people’s liberation and nation build-up. Thanks to its strategic position, Long Nguyen warzone, through 2 resistance wars, is the head of the revolutionary movements in Eastern Commanding Zone, Gia Dinh Party Committee, Thu Dau Mot Party Committee, Ben Cat District agencies, and armed forces of Battalion No.3, Regiment No. 301, and even the camp of Army Corps. No. 7 Commanding HQ.

After 40 years of liberation, Long Nguyen Commune has been on spotlight of economic development of Bau Bang District. Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Chair of Bau Bang District People’s Committee, said with pride: “After establishment of the district and review of local communes, we found out that Long Nguyen was a locality of great advantages for national pivotal program of new rural area construction. Thus, we have been so determined to change the rural appearance and improve life of local people.”

Mr. Le Thanh Nguyen is introducing his cold farm for chicken at Ba Phai Hamlet, Long Nguyen Commune. Photo: K. Vinh

Covering a natural area of 7,593.86 hectares on plain area near Thi Tinh River; however, local people have planted rubber trees even on the flooded areas near the river. This proved that rubber trees have economically brought major benefits to local people of Long Nguyen.

Long Nguyen has been holding on to benefits of other plants not rubber trees alone. Mrs. Nguyen Thanh Thuy, a farmer of 13 hectares of green-skin pamelo, bringing up high economic yields to her family. Long Nguyen is also notable for over 100 farms of pigs and poultries, supplying for CP and JAFEA. Thus, the locals could earn billions of VND a year thanks to such farms.

On those days, people are enjoying the completion of 19 criteria of a new rural area. In the matter of 3 years, rural areas have been innovated to boost up the completion of criteria including income per capita from VND 25 million a year to VND 38.99 million a year.

To promote criteria of a new rural area

On June 5, 1965 at Ho Men Village, Vuong Trau Hamlet, the first main force of the province was established – Phu Loi Battalion. Thirteen days later, the US Army dispatched 27 fury B52 bombing Trang Lon and Bo Cang of Long Nguyen which was the first place ever to witness the presence of B52 stratofortress in Vietnam war. Mr. Le Thanh Nguyen, a veteran of the resistance war against the US Army, took us to the former bombing sites at Bo Cang where he said: “At peacetime, we returned home to construct and revive the economy. The then Long Nguyen was badly damaged by the war; however, by local spirit, we got through the challenge.”

Mr. Le Thanh Nguyen is currently a famous farm owner in Long Nguyen. His years of planting rubber trees have paid off and he could, now, earn millions of VND a year.

Mr. Vo Van Truong, Chair of Long Nguyen People’s Committee affirmed the targets met after 4 years of constructing new rural area with environment-integrated economic development. Although agriculture is accounted for 75% of the economy, in the near future, Long Nguyen is transforming rapidly to catch up.

A picture of stable socio-economic development has been drawn up in Long Nguyen through time of heroism and economic development

Reported by Ly Khanh Vinh – Translated by Vi Bao