Making life more beautiful

More than 30 years ago, when the alley leading from Sao Mai Kindergarten to Provincial Road 175 was still a dirt path and Le Thi Hue, residing in Group 4, Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, Dinh Quan Commune, Dong Nai Province, was still unknown to most, she quietly and diligently cleared weeds, swept up trash, and filled potholes each day to keep the path clean and accessible for everyone.

Le Thi Hue (center) with officials and residents of Gia Canh 1 Hamlet discussing environmental beautification in the locality. Photo: D.Phu

Today, despite taking on multiple roles, deputy head of the hamlet’s executive board, head of the women’s union, leader of the policy bank loan group, and officer in charge of children's affairs, population, and study promotion in the hamlet, Hue still remains committed to cleaning the alley. For her, it is not just about keeping the path clean for those who walk it every day, but also a way of bringing beauty to life itself.

The sound of a broom at dawn

In 1993, the more than 300-meter stretch from her house to Provincial Road 175 was still a rough dirt and gravel path, not yet paved with concrete as it is today. Even then, Hue had already formed the habit of waking at 4 a.m., taking a sickle and broom to cut weeds and sweep trash. By 6 a.m., she would return home to tend to housework, while residents, students, and teachers walked through the alley on a clean and tidy road.

Hue shared that she and her husband had only 400 square meters of land, just enough for a modest house and a small vegetable garden. In her free time, she would take advantage of the early morning hours, while her husband and children were still sound asleep, to slip out into the alley and do something useful. Whenever she saw weeds or trash in the yard or along the street, she would pull them out and clean them up; over time, it simply became a habit.

The swishing sound of Hue’s broom and sickle, along with the soft clatter of her boots before sunrise, became a familiar part of the early morning. In the beginning, a few small dogs, unsure of what was happening, would bark noisily. But over time, they got used to it, barking a few times as if in greeting before curling back up in their nests. Early risers passing by would see Hue bent over at work and call out a greeting.

Because she often swept and cleared weeds in the dim morning light, Hue was more than once cut by her sickle or stung by ants.

Nguyen Van Cuong, Hue’s husband, knew about it and urged her to stop. However, seeing the alley grow dirty without daily sweeping and new patches of crumbling pavement appear, Hue quietly resumed her unpaid, unsolicited work as usual.

It wasn't until 2002 that the Executive Board of Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, seeing Hue's active involvement in neighborhood and residential area affairs, invited her to participate and take on the role of Head of the Hamlet Women's Union. From then on, Hue's work of cleaning the alley received more active support from many people.

Deserved recognition

In her role as Head of the Women's Union of Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, Ms. Hue collaborated with the Hamlet Executive Board to mobilize residents in the group and residential area to pave dirt roads with concrete and build alleys according to the criteria of bright, green, clean, beautiful, and safe, making travel more convenient for residents and students.

Hue also worked with the Hamlet Executive Board to launch various initiatives that encouraged women in the hamlet to get involved, such as loan groups, maternal and child care, community health, volunteer work, and charitable activities. Over time, the appeal of these initiatives spearheaded by Hue created opportunities for women in Gia Canh Hamlet to raise their children, build happy families, and contribute more actively to society.

Nguyen Thi Sang, a resident of Group 4, Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, shared: “In the past, seeing Hue clearing weeds and sweeping the alley all by herself, I deeply admired her, but I didn’t dare step out to help. Now that she is trusted by the hamlet and commune with many responsibilities, whenever there’s a call to action, I join without hesitation.”

Gia Canh 1 Hamlet is home to more than 770 households and 3,550 residents. Most of the population comes from various provinces and cities, bringing with them diverse customs and traditions.

Hue shared: “The movement is aimed at the common good, for the collective, so it doesn’t interfere with the unique traditions of each family or lineage. That said, I always consult with the elders, respected figures, and educated members of the hamlet before carrying out any activity.”

The intersection of the alley near Sao Mai Kindergarten had already been paved with concrete, but a sunken patch of land nearby remained overgrown with weeds. Despite repeated cleaning efforts, the area continued to be used by some as a hidden spot for dumping household waste. In response, Hue proposed to the Hamlet Management Board and former leaders of Gia Canh Commune to allow the area to be transformed into a flower garden. Once approved by the commune, she quickly turned it into a small community park using her own funds, with support from her husband and residents in the locality.

From small, everyday acts like weeding and cleaning the alley, we encouraged Le Thi Hue to take part in community movements and assigned her specific responsibilities. Later, she was recommended for Party membership and entrusted with even greater duties.

NGUYEN TRONG DUNG, Party Cell Secretary, Head of Gia Canh 1 Hamlet

Nguyen Thi Van, a resident of Group 8, Gia Canh 1 Hamlet, shared: Hue has always earned the trust of women in the hamlet. From small domestic issues like marital or parenting conflicts to more serious matters such as land disputes, debts, or personal tensions, people turn to Hue for her voice of reason, helping both sides calm down, reconcile, and restore harmony.

By Doan Phu – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho