Tan Loi people and a beautiful story from the patriotic emulation movement

Anyone who visited Tan Loi a decade ago likely still remembers its narrow, dirt roads, which were muddy in the rainy season and thick with dust during the dry months. Today, however, Tan Loi has transformed: paved roads stretch across the area, electric lights shine each night brightly, and socio-economic conditions continue to improve. These achievements are not only the result of government investment but also the quiet sacrifices of ordinary residents. Among them, La Van Sanh and Dam Van Doong, both born in Cao Bang and later moving south to build their lives in Dong Xe Hamlet, have become exemplary figures, helping to spread a persistent and far-reaching spirit of patriotic emulation throughout Tan Loi.

The two farmers have more in common than their drive to improve their livelihoods. Meanwhile, they also share a genuine willingness to help and contribute to their community. From donating land for road construction to helping neighbors with their production activities, they have chosen the most practical ways to support their hometown’s development. Both were recognized at the first Tan Loi commune Conference honoring outstanding typical models for the 2025–2030 period.

Donating nearly 1.7 hectares of land for road construction

In 2021, when the former Binh Phuoc province began building Road No. 4, one of five routes linking DT.741 with the Dong Phu Residential and Industrial Complex, the project passed through more than 1.42 hectares of land owned by La Van Sanh. He did not hesitate. He donated the entire area and asked for no compensation. To him, a new road meant broader opportunities and shared benefits for the whole community. That same spirit was evident again in early 2023, when he voluntarily gave another 2.4 sao (about 0.12 hectares) of land to widen the road connecting Tan Hoa and Tan Loi communes. “The biggest benefits always go to the people. When a road opens, the economy grows, and our next generations are the first to enjoy it,” Sanh said.

La Van Sanh (in the middle) stands on the part of his donated land. Photo: Minh Hien

Sanh was born in 1968 in Cao Bang. In 1988, he moved with his parents to Tan Loi to start a new life. With hard work and perseverance, he and his family gradually built their livelihood from scratch. Over the course of more than 30 years, through diligence and a readiness to adopt modern agricultural techniques, he has now acquired over 18 hectares of land, comprising 12 hectares of rubber, 2.5 hectares of pepper, and 3.5 hectares of cashew, all of which are carefully managed using advanced methods. Thanks to this approach, his family’s plantations consistently achieve stable yields.

Le Van Sanh (the second from the left) stands on the part of his donated land. Photo: Minh Hien

Sanh is not only a successful farmer but also runs an agricultural purchasing agency, earning over one billion VND annually and providing regular employment for 12 workers, along with approximately 15 seasonal laborers, most of whom are local residents. Even more admirably, he is always willing to offer interest-free loans to struggling households, helping many families overcome hardship. In the past, while serving as the hamlet head, he also took the lead in mobilizing residents to donate land for the expansion of village roads and alleys. His exemplary actions have fostered strong community consensus, inspiring others to grow their family businesses and contributing to the transformation of the rural landscape.

Continuing to spread the patriotic emulation movement

If Sanh pioneered the land-donation-for-road movement in Dong Xe Hamlet, Dam Van Doong has carried forward that spirit through practical and meaningful actions.

Dam Van Doong (on the left) shares and exchanges about how to take care of cashew with Tan Loi commune cadre. Photo: Minh Hien

Born in 1982, Doong moved south with his family at a young age. They endured many years of hardship due to limited capital and farming experience. Through determination and hard work, he gradually built a livelihood and now owns 13 hectares of land planted with cashew, pepper, and rubber. What is especially commendable is that he not only succeeds economically but also regularly shares his expertise, organizing training sessions and guiding locals on pest control, proper fertilizer use, and scientific cultivation methods.

As Head of a Farmers’ sub-association, Doong has had more opportunities to promote his role in connecting and mobilizing members. When the locality launched the construction of Highway No. 4, a major arterial road that cut through nearly eight sao of his land and over 1,000 pepper plants in harvest season, valued at more than 2.5 billion VND and representing years of hard work and dedication, he still chose to donate the entire plot.

"The common good matters more. The road benefits the whole community, including my family” – Doong shared.

Dam Van Doong (on the right) donates nearly eight sao with more than 1.000 pepper plants in harvest season to make way for the No. 4 route in Tan Loi commune. Photo: Minh Hien

Not only did he donate his own land, but Doong also took the initiative to mobilize neighboring households to reach a consensus and voluntarily dismantle structures and remove crops to clear the site. His exemplary conduct played a key role in ensuring that land clearance for the road proceeded smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, Doong remains actively involved in local social welfare initiatives. Each year, his family donates between 5 and 10 million VND to charity, offers interest-free loans of 50 million VND, and provides fertilizer support to members in need.

Nguyen Van Tinh, Chairman of the Tan Loi Farmers’ Association, noted: “La Van Sanh and Dam Van Doong are exemplary individuals, representing the new generation of farmers in Tan Loi, hardworking, responsible, and always ready to contribute to the community. What is most admirable is not only their economic success but also their pioneering spirit in the land-donation-for-road movement, as they join hands to build a modern rural community. Their exemplary actions have had a profound ripple effect, helping the local patriotic emulation movement flourish and earn the support and participation of a large number of farmers.”

In today’s fast-paced life, these humble individuals continue to quietly sow kindness, inspire those around them, and reinforce belief in the power of community solidarity. They are helping shape a Tan Loi that is changing for the better, day by day.

By Minh Hien, Hai Chau – Translated by Thu Hien, Minho