Hà Giang - The highest upland of Vietnam

We are going to have a field trip to Ha Giang for 3 weeks and work on a minor project about the development of this area. My interest when applying to this course is about the non-farming activities of the residents here and their roles in contributing to the living standards of the residents. I also want to explore about the crafts in Ha Giang and their potential to develop. I've search something about Ha Giang and the Meo Vac district where we will spend almost the time there and do research. And I find those things are quite interesting and helpful to reveal a whole picture of Ha Giang:


Hà Giang is a highly mountainous region, and travel around the province can be difficult. Much of the province is too mountainous for agriculture, leaving much of the land covered by forests. Hà Giang’s central plateau is good for growing plums, peaches, and persimmons, which the province exports. Tea is also grown.  Farming economy is also getting a boost with growing oranges and mandarin trees as its sustains many households with the income in the range of VND 150 to 200 million a year. Cultivated area of soybean cultivation (high yield type with yield of 750 kg per ha) has increased to 7,900 hectares (20,000 acres).

Hà Giang is one of the poorest provinces of Vietnam. Traditionally, the vast majority of its economic activity revolved around agriculture and forestry. However, in recent years, there have been attempts to establish a manufacturing industry. Infrastructure in Hà Giang has seen improvement, but remains poor - roads, schools, and health services are less developed than in many other parts of Vietnam.

Ha Giang Province also has large areas of green tea, apart from terraced rice fields. The Province has particularly assisted people in developing tea industry with financial (soft loans) and technical support in operations (sowing, tending, gathering and processing). This has resulted in increase in the yield from 9,625 tonnes in 1995 to 20,394 tonnes in 2002. Particular tea plantations of quality tea are the Shan Tuyet strain in the Lung Phin in Dong Van District and Nam La in Yen Minh District. Ha Giang tea is not only popular in domestic market but also in foreign markets

The province is rich minerals; 149 mines with 28 categories of minerals are spread in all districts of the province. Mineral deposits explored in the province are: Antimony, iron ore, manganese, ferrite, zinc, tin, copper, bauxite, gold, gemstones, kaolin and mineral water. These are contributing to industrial development in the province. Plans have been put in place, with appropriate policies to attract direct foreign investments in the province; China, South Korea, Thailand and other countries have already chipped in with investments in the mining and processing industries and the anticipated growth rate of achievement is pegged at 20%. Asian Development Bank also provided loans of USD 3 million to promote tea industry in the province.

As Hà Giang is a mountainous region, the population is not large, and the majority of inhabitants are ethnic Vietnamese. The remainder are Thổ, Hmong, Tay, Dao, Mán, Nung, Giấy and Lô Lô. The majority engage in ancestor and spirit worship.

Some of the economic indicators, according to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam are: The population of Yên Bái province as on 2008 was 705,100 with a density of 89 persons per sqkm over a total land area of 7,945.8 square kilometres (3,067.9 sq mi) of the province. It is one of the least populated provinces in the Northern midlands and mountain areas of Vietnam. The male population during this period was 346,900 with females accounting for 358200. The rural population was 625,500 against an urban population of 79,600 (about 7% of the rural population).

As against the national figure of 273 Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery cooperatives there are 32 cooperatives in the province, of which 22 are agricultural cooperatives and eight are fisheries cooperatives. The number of cooperatives is 32 as against 7592 cooperatives in the country. There are only 169 farms in the province as against the national number of 120699.

The Output value of agriculture produce at constant 1994 prices in the province was 838.4 billion đồngs against the national value of 156681.9 bill. dongs. The province produced 280,300 tonnes of cereals as against the national production of 43.58 million tonnes.

The per capita production of cereals in the district was 397.5 kg as against the national figure of 501.8 kg. in 2007. In 2007, the industrial output of the province was a meagre 526.1 bill. dongs against the national output of 1.47 million Bhilldongs. However, there is cement plant with capacity of 300,000 tons per year that was established recently.

What makes people happy???

In a common sense, MONEY is often the main driver creating people’s happiness. We often assume that once we are rich, we can buy everything we want, enjoy every kind of entertainment, go everywhere we like and be respected by others, which make us comfortable and proud. Happiness is sometimes simply conditional: Money. Probably.

However, it seems to be a fun fact that rich people do not often smile so fresh as some poorer ones.

Even in disaster

And in between Death and Life

In Famine

In War

In garbage

These pose on me a question: What is real happiness?

Is that a dilemma for rich people: Transform time to money and run out of time for simple joyness?

Is that an inevitable tradeoff in life?

Each one must find an answer for himself!

Rice harvesting in Dong Anh

It was a sunny Sunday with cool wind - an ideal day to go to the field!

I came a little bit late, so I couldn't get the bus with others, then I and Yen had to take another bus, then called a "xe om" to go to the village, around 30 minutes late. A little bit tired and difficult, but it was over when we stepped on the field with others and started harvesting (or destroying the field???LOL)

That was the first time I ever stepped down the field and stayed so close to the rice like that. It was so excited and different feeling! Everybody worked so hard and industrious without expressing any tiredness. It made me feel like we are authentic farmers!! It was sunny but still cool and comfortable, thanks God!

Everyone wanted to try every step of harvesting, from cutting, to bringing the piles to the dry place. It was hard to walk in mud but I found out that I can do it easier than others because I'm thinner than them. HAHA. We did have much fun when harvesting together, laugh and motivate each other, talk to friends and learn from each other.

NICE EXPERIENCE then!!!

Finishing such works still made us a little bit tired. Then we went to the village central pond to wash our hands and feet, and enjoyed ice-cream while waiting for lunch. A group of wonderful cook, led  by Chi Moc, promised to give us a fantastic meal. I couldn't wait, actually! So hungry after work, haha!

Yeah, we did have a nice meal ever, we just looked like a family. Love to having such a nice day with them!

After lunch and a short time relax, we started come into the village and talk to the residents about their life - a rural life very close to our Hanoi. Finding out a lot of fun facts and a story of life here. People tend not to be farmers at all, trying to find another job, both inside and outside their village with the wish to earn more money. It was just like the subsistence crop, not much for sale. Almost the earnings were from other jobs and sources.  The life here is more quiet than the central Hanoi, but fresh and convenient. It is also more and more modernized in terms of living standards here. I can see a lot of big houses and so glad to see the village big gate and the pool still there, and there are a lot of trees and "traditional things" which indicate "traditional culture" in this village. I really expect a development in this area but still want to keep all those nice things - fresh air, cool pond, traditional architect village gate, trees and the atmosphere of a typical village of Vietnam.

It was a nice and peaceful time I had in Dong Anh. I love all of my friends who shared with me such moments - Tina, Peter, Yen, Ngan, John, Andrew, Son, Mary, Kathy, Jenifer, Miki, Duong, Giang, Hien, Thao, Lan Anh, Nancy, Chi Moc, Father Gerard, Jesse, An, Phuong, Jeremy, anh Vi, me Mai....Oh,you guys made me so happy that day!

Once upon a time

When UCHANU class was off and my folks went to the Central Vietnam, I went away from the Central Hanoi to the National Ecological Garden in Ba Vi mountainous area to attend the ASEAN Youth Forum in 4 days. It was a long and interesting story to tell with lots of memories and wonderful time there...

We, 50 youths from 8 ASEAN countries (except for Singapore and Myanmar), gathered in Lenin Square and started our promise journey to Ba Vi. We started to know each other from that moment, but seemed to understand each other for a long time before, cuz we found a lot of similar interests, characteristics, conceptions and culture. It made me the first impression of fun in the next 4 days living, working and playing together with those friends! So eager to go!

On the first day (20/9), we just tried to settle down and share the room with others. 6 of us shared a room, with air conditional and warm water, 3 double beds and a bathroom. Small but warm and interesting! My roommates are from Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City, then we did have 3 accents and lots of fun. It was so easy to be friends and share things from the first moments like that. Until now, I still wish to have another day with them and miss them a lot!!!!:(((

Then we prepared for the Forum and the Cultural Night in the next day.

21/9 was a long and busy day, with a lot of work and an ever fantastic Cultural Night which lasted until 12pm - Everybody just sang, danced and played games in the music. Everybody just held each other's hands and shared the most wonderful things without hesitation and thought of work . Same time, same space, same nationality, same culture, same thought and fun, same dance. We were just there, all are ASEAN youths, no matter where we come from. It was the most awesome time I've ever had. I'll never forget that night and those folks.

And this song was written in 6 different languages: Vietnamese, Thai, Laos, Cambodian, Philippines, English.

"ASEAN youth, wherever we come
No problem, with different cultures
We hold hands and we say hello
Then we share whatever we have"

It still goes around my head now!

The next day was an effective working day. We discussed freely about ASEAN concerning issues as the voice of ASEAN youths to participate in the decision making process of ASEAN government and people. We drafted a Youth Statement to raise our recommendations towards those issues and finalized it to hand in to the ASEAN President this year. We also prepared for the ASEAN People forum in 24-26/09/2010 in Tay Ho Hotel, Hanoi. Working together and thinking critically together were so exciting cuz we could share our diverse knowledge, skills, conceptions and the creativity of the youths from different nations and cultures. We did a good job!!

That night was also the Mid-autumn festival, we worked hard to finalize the statement until 10.30pm, but still stayed up later to celebrate a small party, playing games and enjoyed the very last night in Ba Vi.... Another fantastic night!!!

We left Ba Vi to the Vietnam Friendship Village in Hoai Duc to meet the unlucky children there. They are almost the victims of Dioxin agent in the war or disable children. But I learned from them a lot - their creativity, ability, their will and their determination to learn how to live in harmony with others and to earn their own life with a vocational career. They may be disable physically, but never in their mind. That's what we should learn and imitate.

Then we came back to Hanoi and were ready for the ASEAN People Forum 2010. It was another fairy tale to be continued.

I think that when UC students learned a lot from their field trip, I also gained much memories and knowledge and many things else during that week. It was a meaningful week then!Bravo all of us!

Hanoi in my eyes and my heart

I walked slowly along Hoan Kiem lake with my friend in a late afternoon, right before the sunset and felt a peaceful and windy Hanoi in autumn like this: 

Then I recalled a Hanoi in my mind like this:

Those two things are only 3km far from each other, but life seems to end in this world and open to another world when people come from this place to the other.

And I saw this in the aniversary of 1000 years old Hanoi

and this:

All those things together make a full Hanoi in my mind. Sometimes it's really beautiful, fantastic, shining and wonderful. In the other times, it might be quiet, peaceful, and sometimes, it reveals another life - poor and challenging to survive... I love that diversity in Hanoi, all seasons have a different view and each corner has a small community, small ways of life, small culture in a bigger Hanoi life...

Who is poorer? What is "poor"?

People often say they are poor! Me too, you too, so are we!!!!

Ever think about having no rice to eat, no where to live, no warm clothes in winter, no chance to learn, no money to buy a simple thing??? NO

Ever think of a little child who shines our shoes, sells newspapers on street or begs for a small penny from us? MAY BE

Ever think of a day without 3 meals, TV, electricity, water, and even allowance to survive? PROBABLY NOT

Coz we were born not really in poverty. That is "poor", in normal sense. YES

However, I recently realize another "poverty" - you are poor because you think you are poor. And we complain. And we are sad. While actual poor people still smile. And happy. And optimistic.

I saw lots of people like that. Their life dreams might be our education or healthcare service we take for granted today. Their happiness might be a full meal without worry about the next meal - which we even never think of. their life is more simple than us to some extents, just strive to survive and enjoy what the fate gave them. Is that "rich" in "poverty"???

Let's smile and make it a rich world of happiness and strive for work to change our life.

Two jobs – two life stories. What about me???

We did interview on a normal day after class.

A shoe repairer was working industriously from 8am until 12.30 pm when we finished interviewing and even continued after that. He was very willing to talk to us about his life and his work. A long life story with difficulties, attempts, willpower and various feelings about that. He has been trying to survive in such a harsh life and support his housewife as well as 2 little children studying at a primary school.
A key keeper of Building C who has strived for work and was promoted from a room cleaner to a manager of those cleaners and has her own room in the building. She is still trying to work, make it better, establishing relationship with others, and even study by her own way about business administration. She is not an official student, but should be the most industrious student who wants to learn with her whole heart.

Both of them are adorable for their attempts and will in life. The future of the key keeper should be brighter because she has willingness, determination, enthusiasm, youth and especially knowledge but that of the shoe repairer may be the same. Whatever it is, they still strive for living and being happy with their job.
As a normal people, I am luckier than them absolutely. What about my attitude of life?? I don’t have much time to answer!