A 60-square-metre house funded by more than VND 188 million (about USD 7,400) has been inaugurated and handed over to the family of Lau Y Xia in Na Ngoi Commune, Nghe An Province.
The house was officially handed over on January 25 by Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper in coordination with local authorities. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Na Ngoi Commune Fatherland Front Committee, local police, the Nam Can Border Guard Station and commune-level agencies and mass organisations.
The project cost more than VND 188 million, including over VND 138 million (about USD 5,400) donated by Dantri readers and VND 50 million (about USD 2,000) provided by the Nghe An Red Cross Society. Construction was directly implemented and supervised by the Na Ngoi Commune Police.
Built with solid brick walls and tiled floors, the house includes a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a restroom. Remaining funds after construction allowed Xia to buy a bed for herself and her children.
Major Cu Ba Co, deputy head of the Na Ngoi Commune Police, said construction was repeatedly delayed by rain and storms, while high material, transport and labour costs in the border area also posed challenges.
“The biggest difficulty was the construction site,” he said. “The land initially selected by local authorities was not accepted by Xia, and there was no alternative. When the situation seemed impossible, Xong Ba Cha, then chairman of the Nam Can Commune Fatherland Front, donated part of his family’s land so the house could be built.”
After marital upheaval, Xia returned to her hometown with four young children. With no land or fields, she relied on forest labour to support her family. Owning a house to shelter from the sun and rain had long been an unattainable dream.
The Hmong woman, who does not speak Vietnamese and has never travelled beyond the surrounding mountains, was overwhelmed at the handover. “Thank you very much. I thought I was dreaming. I never imagined I would be given such a beautiful house,” she said, through a translation by Major Cu Ba Co.
At the ceremony, the Na Ngoi Commune Party Committee, authorities and Fatherland Front presented the family with a blanket and VND 1 million (about USD 39). Local police also donated an electric rice cooker, rice and basic necessities.
Xong Ba Lau, chairman of the Na Ngoi Commune Fatherland Front Committee, said the project was “extremely meaningful”, helping Xia and her children secure safe and stable housing while contributing to local social welfare efforts.
“On behalf of the local authorities, we sincerely thank Dantri Newspaper and its readers for their practical and compassionate support,” he said.
