Tears of joy
In Khe Sanh commune, in a new, sturdy house completed in mid-2025, Ms. Ho Thi A Lam (65 years old) is still moved. For more than 20 years, the mother and daughter have lived in an old, dilapidated hut, and every rainy season they have to run to the neighbor's temporary shelter for fear of collapse. "My husband passed away early, and my first two children also passed away due to an accident or illness. I have 4 young children, one of whom is often sick. For many years, living in a temporary house, every time it rains, water flows everywhere. Now that I am in the new house, I feel like I am dreaming" - Ms. Lam said emotionally.
8 months ago, thanks to the support of 70 million VND from the temporary house removal program, Mrs. Lam's family started construction. When the house was completed and moved to a new house, her life changed. "Since the new house was built, I have slept better and been healthier. Every day, I pick sweet soup and pick vegetables in the garden to sell, making life much happier" - Ms. Lam shared.
Mrs. Lam's happiness is also clearly seen in the eyes of Mr. Ho Van Hong (81 years old, Huong Hiep commune), a soldier who participated in the Road 9 - Khe Sanh campaign in 1968 For a few decades, Mr. Hong and his family have lived temporarily in his old stilt house that was severely damaged and leaky everywhere. In early 2025, he was supported with 100 million VND to build a new house of nearly 80 square meters and after only a few months the house was completed and put into use. "I didn't think I would have such a spacious house if I dreamed. Thank you to the Party, State and local government for helping me realize my dream in my old age" - Mr. Hong said, eyes wide-opened when looking at the photo of Uncle Ho solemnly hanging on the wall.
During the heavy rain last October, the family of Mr. Ho Ta Ca (73 years old, Huong Hiep commune) no longer lives in the fear of house collapse. Mr. Ta Ca said that the couple was old and weak, the stilt house built in 1990 was dilapidated but they could not afford to build a new house. When he was supported to build a new house, he did not sleep many nights and kept going back and forth to see the progress of the project. Now, the house has been completed and put into use, with shelter from the rain and sun, he sees many good things in life.
Thanks to new houses replacing temporary houses, many joys are built. New roofs are not only a place to shelter from the rain and sun, but also the "key" opening up confidence and motivation for people to move forward in life.
Continuing to carry out the mission of "nuclear" connecting love
Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province, Dao Manh Hung, said: The program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses is a major policy, deeply demonstrating the spirit of helping each other. Since its launch, the program has received the strong participation of Party committees, authorities, and consensus from people and businesses.
Starting from January 3, 2025, at the program "Connecting arms of kindness" in the Spring of At Ty, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province (old) launched a fundraising campaign, calling on cadres, party members, businesses, armed forces and people to join hands to help poor and near-poor households have stable housing. The movement spread strongly, becoming a "line of love connection" between hundreds of organizations, individuals, and units inside and outside the province. Since then, the Vietnam Fatherland Front at all levels has synchronously implemented many activities: From mobilizing resources, guiding procedures, supporting materials, monitoring progress, to propagating and arousing the spirit of solidarity in the community. Tens of thousands of working days were mobilized; the Army, Police, and militia went to the grassroots to help people build houses, transport materials, and level the ground.
In Huong Lap commune, Lieutenant Colonel Thai Anh Tu, Political Commissar of Huong Lap Border Guard Station, said that the unit had mobilized more than 120 officers and soldiers, more than 280 working days, to support the construction and repair of 30 houses for people, and at the same time called for an additional support of 70 million VND to build a "border shelter". "We consider this a sacred task - helping people have a solid roof is contributing to maintaining the border of the Fatherland" - Lieutenant Colonel Tu said.
Not only the border guards, units such as the Provincial Police, the Provincial Military Command, the 37th Economic - Defense Group, Division 968 ... have also become "special sponsors and builders". Wherever there are dilapidated houses, there are soldiers. They not only help people build houses, but also build trust in sharing and military-civilian affection.
In reality, implementing the above program is not easy. The whole province has thousands of houses that need to be rebuilt, of which the old Dakrong district alone has more than 1,500. Many households lack residential land, legal documents, and isolated terrain, making it difficult to transport materials. To resolve the issue, localities have flexibly handled each case, mobilized relatives to exchange land, donated land, and instructed on completing documents. The Provincial Steering Committee, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and authorities at all levels regularly inspect, monitor, promptly detect, and adjust problems, ensuring "right work, right progress", the right subjects, and the right progress.
Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Tri province Dao Manh Hung emphasized: We are implementing the motto of both doing, completing procedures, and removing on-site difficulties. The most important thing is to be punctual, not to let any household have to wait too long because of intermediary procedures". Thanks to this approach, the program is implemented publicly and transparently, promoting the supervisory role of the Front and mass organizations. Each house has the contribution of the community - from the family, neighbors to the union force, youth, police, border soldiers.
Deputy Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Dang Quang assessed: The program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses not only helps people settle down but also contributes to the goal of sustainable poverty reduction. This is an all-people movement, a bright spot in the spirit of solidarity and sharing in Quang Tri".
It is known that in 2025, thousands of new houses have been completed, spacious and cozy, helping people feel secure in their work and production. The joy of having a solid home is also a belief for them to look forward to the future, not to rely on others, but to strive to escape poverty. In the coming time, Quang Tri province will continue to integrate the temporary housing elimination program with socio-economic development programs, especially the sustainable poverty reduction program. The Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee continues to play a core role in connecting social resources, ensuring that "no one is left behind", while closely monitoring the implementation process so that each roof can be given to the right person, at the right time.
