Throughout its development, fully recognising the role and significance of the great national unity bloc and the People’s trust in Party committees and authorities at all levels, the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee has concentrated on leading and directing the comprehensive implementation of policies and measures aimed at building a strong “people’s hearts and minds posture”. This has been regarded as a strategic task of decisive importance to maintaining political stability, strengthening national defence and security, and creating a foundation for the Province’s green, smart, and sustainable development.

Located in the far west of the country, Dien Bien is a strategically important area in terms of national defence and security. The Province covers more than 9,548 square kilometres and shares nearly 456 kilometres of land border with Laos and China. It comprises 45 commune-level administrative units (three wards and 42 communes), 1,446 villages, hamlets, and residential groups, and has a population of approximately 670,000 people representing 19 ethnic groups living together. These characteristics necessitate the continuous consolidation of the great national unity bloc and the building of a strong people’s hearts and minds posture from the grassroots level.

Thoroughly grasping and effectively implementing the principle that “the People are the root”, the Party organisations, authorities, armed forces, and the People of the Province have consistently prioritised the building of a strong “people’s hearts and minds posture”, harnessing the strength of the great national unity bloc and affirming Dien Bien’s role as a national frontier stronghold. This principle has been translated into resolutions, programmes, and projects closely linked to the responsibilities of each level and sector, with public satisfaction and trust serving as key measures of effectiveness. As a result, a high degree of consensus in both awareness and action has been fostered throughout the political system.

Exitement of local cadres, officers and People at the transfer of house in Hang Pu Xi village, Xa Dung commune, Dien Bien province

In recent years, the “people’s hearts and minds posture” across the Province has been continuously strengthened, providing an important foundation for its overall development. Party building and rectification efforts have been carried out comprehensively, while the leadership capacity and combativeness of Party organisations at all levels have steadily improved. Particular attention has been devoted to Party membership development among ethnic minority communities, religious followers, and residents in border areas. The study and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style have also achieved positive results, thereby reinforcing the People’s confidence in Party committees and authorities at all levels.

Socio-economic development has remained stable, with the Province’s average gross regional product growth rate reaching 8.35 per cent per year during the 2021–2025 period, while per capita income has steadily increased. National target programmes have been implemented in a coordinated manner, particularly those aimed at sustainable poverty reduction, ethnic minority development, and narrowing development gaps among regions and ethnic groups. Social welfare policies have been effectively carried out, including support for the elimination of temporary and dilapidated housing, the expansion of health insurance coverage, and improved access to essential services. These efforts have gradually enhanced the material and spiritual well-being of the People, strengthened public trust, and provided a solid foundation for building and consolidating the “people’s hearts and minds posture” from the grassroots level.

At the same time, the Province has focused on building the all-people national defence posture in close association with the people’s security posture, the all-people border defence posture, and a strong “people’s hearts and minds posture”. Socio-economic development and external relations have been closely integrated with the strengthening of national defence and security. Functional forces maintain close coordination, proactively monitor, assess, and effectively address emerging issues at the grassroots level. The Province has also sustained the effective operation of 34 self-governance models for security and public order, comprising 4,261 model community security sites, thereby contributing to the political stability, social order and safety, and the firm protection of national border sovereignty.

Particular attention has been devoted to strengthening the great national unity bloc and promoting the People’s role as the central actor in building and safeguarding local communities. Patriotic emulation movements, campaigns to promote cultural life, new-style rural development, and civilised urban development have been implemented extensively throughout the Province. Mass mobilisation efforts and the implementation of grassroots democracy regulations have continued to be renewed in a manner that is closer to the People, more responsive to their needs, and more focused on the grassroots level. The roles of the armed forces, village elders, village heads, and reputable community figures have been effectively utilised in public communication and mobilisation activities, particularly among ethnic minority communities, border residents, and religious groups. As a result, the People’s trust in the Party and the State has continued to be strengthened, social consensus has been further enhanced, and a solid foundation has been established for building an increasingly robust “people’s hearts and minds posture” across the Province.

Comrade Mua A Vang and leader of Dien Bien province have a look at training equipment of the provincial military forces

Entering a new stage of development, characterised by both opportunities and challenges, the Province recognises the need to continuously strengthen the “people’s hearts and minds posture” from the grassroots level, ensuring that it is both substantive and sustainable. To this end, the Province has focused on several key measures:

First, strengthening the Provincial Party Organisation so that it remains politically, ideologically, morally, organisationally, and institutionally strong. Priority is given to enhancing the leadership capacity and combat effectiveness of Party committees and Party organisations at all levels, particularly in grassroots, remote, and border areas, ensuring that Party organisations truly serve as the leadership core and as a vital bridge connecting the Party closely with the People. Efforts will continue to be made to renew leadership methods in a more scientific, democratic, and practical manner; improve the quality of drafting and implementing resolutions; and further promote the role of steering committees in carrying out key tasks and strategic breakthroughs.

Attention is also focused on building a contingent of cadres and Party members possessing the necessary qualities, competence, and prestige to meet mission requirements, with particular emphasis on those serving at the grassroots level. The appointment and utilisation of officials must adhere to the principle of being “close to the People, attentive to the People, understanding the People, and respectful of the People”, while public and business satisfaction, together with work performance, serve as important criteria for evaluation. Determined efforts are being made to overcome any dependence or passivity, while fostering self-reliance, resilience, and the aspiration to advance, thereby promoting the enduring spirit and values of Dien Bien Phu in peacetime.

At the same time, efforts are directed towards improving leadership effectiveness in socio-economic and cultural development, strengthening national defence and security, and enhancing the effectiveness of external relations. Inspection and supervision are intensified to promptly identify and address issues arising at the grassroots level. Particular attention is paid to the effective implementation of anti-corruption, anti-wastefulness, and anti-negative practices measures, while firmly addressing manifestations of ideological degradation, “self-evolution”, and “self-transformation”. Party discipline and order throughout the political system are strictly maintained. Concurrently, leadership is strengthened to enhance the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations, and core grassroots forces in public communication and mobilisation activities, thereby reinforcing the great national unity bloc and contributing to the building of a strong “people’s hearts and minds posture” across the Province.

Second, building a streamlined, effective, and efficient local government that remains close and responsive to the People and is dedicated to serving them. Efforts continue to improve governance mechanisms in line with the principle of “clear responsibilities, clear tasks, clear authority, clear accountability, clear timelines, and clear outcomes”, reducing intermediate layers and increasing the direct provision of services to citizens. Advance decentralisation and empowerment in line with the specific conditions of mountainous and border areas, while enhancing inspection, supervision, and power-control mechanisms.

Priority is being given to the effective implementation of Action Plan No. 216-KH/TU, dated 28 April 2025, on implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of 22 December 2024 concerning breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation in Dien Bien Province; and Resolution No. 17-NQ/TU, dated 27 February 2026, issued by the Provincial Party Committee on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation for the 2026–2030 period, with a vision towards 2035. Administrative reform is being accelerated substantively with citizens placed at the centre, focusing on simplifying procedures and shortening processing times. Administrative reform is closely integrated with the development of digital government in line with local conditions, while online public services are expanded, data connectivity enhanced, and transparency in public administration further improved.

Attention is also devoted to establishing effective mechanisms for receiving, engaging in dialogue on, and promptly addressing the People’s feedback and recommendations. The quality of public service delivery at the grassroots level is being enhanced, particularly in sensitive areas such as land administration, ethnic minority policies, religious affairs, and social welfare. Through these efforts, the Province aims to build a local government that is genuinely close to and responsive to the People, operates effectively and efficiently, and meets the demands of governance under new circumstances.

The provincial military forces help local People building new houses after flood in 2025

Third, achieving breakthroughs in rapid and sustainable economic development while ensuring social progress, equity, and social welfare. Based on its potential, advantages, and practical conditions, the Province is focusing on rationally restructuring the economy. This includes gradually reducing the proportion of agriculture and forestry to an appropriate level while increasing the share of industry, construction, trade, and services. The emphasis is placed on improving the quality of growth and ensuring sustainability, while closely integrating economic development with social progress, social equity, social welfare, social security, and human security. These efforts aim to establish a stable material foundation for long-term development.

The Province will further accelerate economic restructuring in conjunction with renewing its growth model and effectively implementing the Provincial Master Plan for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Efforts will focus on developing the economic landscape based on the model of “four growth corridors, three economic zones, and four growth poles”. Priority will be given to developing a low-altitude economy that capitalises on agricultural advantages and the potential of speciality products from the Northwest region, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for highland communities. The Province aims to achieve an annual economic growth rate of 10–11 per cent. At the same time, it will promote the synchronous development of socio-economic infrastructure, prioritising inter-regional transport networks, rural infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, and digital infrastructure in order to expand development space and attract investment.

Trade, services, and tourism will be developed along sustainable lines. National target programmes will continue to be implemented effectively. Particular attention will be devoted to advancing education, healthcare, and cultural development; expanding social welfare coverage; and ensuring that citizens have access to essential public services, thereby progressively improving quality of life. The overarching and enduring objective is to ensure that the People directly benefit from the fruits of development.

Fourth, fundamentally renewing mass mobilisation work and promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc. Efforts will focus on making mass mobilisation activities more grassroots-oriented, attentive to the People’s views, closely aligned with local realities, and firmly directed towards villages and hamlets, with tangible effectiveness serving as the principal measure of success. Mass mobilisation work will be closely linked to the political tasks of each locality and agency. More officials will be assigned to grassroots areas, particularly remote, mountainous, and border regions, enabling them to work directly with local communities, understand their concerns, resolve difficulties, and strengthen public trust.

Effective mass mobilisation will also be ensured throughout the implementation of development programmes and projects, with an emphasis on transparency, openness, and enhanced dialogue. Issues directly affecting the legitimate rights and interests of the People, particularly those related to land, ethnic affairs, religion, and social welfare, will be addressed promptly so as to prevent the emergence of social “hotspots” or prolonged complex cases. At the same time, proactive measures will be taken to counter and defeat attempts to exploit issues relating to ethnicity, religion, democracy, and human rights in order to undermine the great national unity bloc. Through these efforts, solidarity among all ethnic communities will be further strengthened, providing a stable and sustainable social foundation for long-term development.

Fifth, strengthening national defence and security while building a robust “people’s hearts and minds posture”. Thoroughly grasping the principle of safeguarding the Fatherland proactively, from an early stage, from afar, and from the grassroots level, as well as the Party’s policy of building a strong and modern national defence, as set forth by the 14th National Party Congress, the Province is focusing on developing a proactive and resilient defensive zone. The core role of the provincial armed forces is being fully utilised in advising on the development of defensive potential, force disposition, and the organisation of defensive-zone forces. At the same time, they actively propose and effectively handle emerging situations, ensuring that no circumstances arise in which the Province is caught off guard. Greater emphasis is being placed on training and defensive-zone exercises, as well as disaster prevention, response, and search-and-rescue exercises. Coordination and close cooperation among forces are continuously strengthened, particularly in border, remote, and isolated areas.

The Province is also closely integrating the all-people national defence posture with the people’s security posture while implementing comprehensive preventive measures to maintain political stability and ensure social order and safety. The People’s role in safeguarding local communities is actively promoted, while self-governance models in villages and hamlets are strengthened and expanded, thereby establishing a solid security foundation from the grassroots level. Close coordination is maintained between the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations at all levels, and the Border Guard Force in conducting public communication and mobilisation activities among border residents, encouraging their participation in movements to safeguard the Fatherland and build border areas that are secure, safe, prosperous, and happy.

Building and consolidating the “people’s hearts and minds posture” is both an objective and a driving force behind the cause of national construction and defence. With strong political determination and coordinated action across the entire political system, the “people’s hearts and minds posture” in Dien Bien Province will continue to be strengthened, providing a firm foundation for maintaining a stable environment in which the Province can pursue green, smart, and sustainable development. These efforts will contribute to improving the well-being and happiness of the People, firmly safeguarding national border sovereignty, and meeting the requirements of the new situation. By 2030, Dien Bien strives to become a relatively well-developed province within the region.

MUA A VANG, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee; Deputy Secretary of the Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee; Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dien Bien Province