Promoting the completion of transport infrastructure is one of the top priorities of Gia Lai province to change the face of difficult areas.
In Po Yau village, Lo Pang commune, a major turning point came in 2019 when a more than 7km long concrete road connecting Provincial Road 666 to the village was completed and put into use. Not only removing the traffic "bottleneck", the project also opened up economic development opportunities for local people.
Mr. Teo, Secretary of the Party Cell cum Head of Po Yau village, said: Convenient transportation helps traders go to the place to buy agricultural products, reduce transportation costs, thereby increasing income for people. The education of children in the village has also been improved, and the poverty rate has gradually decreased year by year.
Similarly, in Canh Giao village, Van Canh commune, where 72 Cham Hroi households live, although only one hill from the commune center, to enter the village, you have to go around about 35 km. This is a unique road that is often landslide and degraded; especially in the rainy season, Lon stream rises, causing the village to be completely cut off.
In 2023, Van Canh district (old) and philanthropists supported nearly 10 billion VND to invest in building some concrete road sections, gradually completing the transportation system, shortening the distance between Canh Giao and neighboring areas.
By mid-2024, the entire road to the village had been completed. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao (48 years old), a resident of Canh Giao village, shared: I still remember my parents longing for electricity and roads. Since the country was liberated, villagers have only had national grid electricity, now concrete roads have entered the village. With electricity and roads, people are assured to develop the economy.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Viet - Chairman of Van Canh Commune People's Committee - said that the completion of the road has contributed to completing traffic infrastructure into Canh Giao village. Thanks to that, trade and transportation of agricultural products have become convenient, and the socio-economic life of people has had many positive changes.
In Canh Tien village, Canh Vinh commune, at the end of 2025, the inter-village road with a total investment of 156 billion VND, connecting Canh Tien with neighboring villages, was put into use in the joy and excitement of the people.
Recalling difficult times, Ms. Mai Thi Ly shared: Before there were roads, children went to school very hard. When someone was sick or giving birth, they had to take a ferry across the river, even some cases were born right on the ferry because it was difficult to move. Now it only takes about 30 minutes to get to the commune center, people are very excited.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Duong Hiep Hoa - Chairman of Canh Vinh Commune People's Committee - said that the road not only meets travel needs but is also a "lever" to promote production, trade of goods, transportation of agricultural products, and contributes to the implementation of the new rural construction program in the locality.
Gia Lai aims for sustainable development
In order to continue to promote the development of ethnic minority (DTTS) and mountainous areas, at the end of May 2026, Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee issued a Plan to implement the Ethnic Minority Affairs Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The plan sets the goal of comprehensive, rapid and sustainable development, especially in difficult areas.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Truong, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Gia Lai province, said that the goal by 2030 is for the average income of ethnic minorities to reach about half of the provincial average. The multidimensional poverty rate in ethnic minority and mountainous areas will decrease below 10%, basically no more extremely difficult communes and villages; over 85% of communes and villages have essential infrastructure to meet socio-economic development requirements.
In the coming time, from the resources of national target programs, Gia Lai will continue to focus on strong investment in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, focusing on developing production, creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods, and improving people's incomes.
Recently, Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee reported to the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religious Affairs on the total cost needs for implementing the National Target Program for the period 2026 - 2027 of more than 3,787 billion VND. The capital will prioritize projects in particularly difficult communes and villages, contributing to improving the lives of ethnic minorities and mountainous people. From there, Gia Lai aims for sustainable development in the period 2026 - 2030," Mr. Nguyen Minh Truong added.
(according to https://dantocphattrien. vietnamnet. vn/gia-lai-khi-nhung-con-duong-thay-doi-ca-mot-vung-dat-76199. html)
