New path for Can Tho commune’s rural future

From practical actions to confidence in development

On the afternoon of March 26, Thanh Hoa commune (Can Tho City) held a ceremony at its People’s Committee headquarters to sign a media cooperation agreement with the Mekong Delta Office of the Viet Nam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper (VAN News). Though modest in scale, the event offered a glimpse into a distinctive approach taking shape in this farming community.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Le Hoang Men, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Hoa commune People’s Committee, said the commune has pushed forward crop restructuring in recent years. Despite some early progress, agricultural products from the area still struggle to reach wider markets and face hurdles in marketing and brand building. Meanwhile, the current production model has yet to create strong momentum for rural entrepreneurship, making it harder to stimulate the broader rural economy.

In response, local leaders have identified stronger cooperation as a key solution. They plan to strengthen links among farmers, businesses, and media organizations to better promote agricultural products from the area. At the same time, efforts will focus on improving product quality and gradually bringing these goods to a wider market.

Mr. Le Hoang Men also affirmed that the commune authorities will facilitate media coverage by providing information and supporting journalists in accessing on-the-ground materials. The press is expected to help highlight efforts to promote modern and sustainable agriculture, improve livelihoods and support local socio-economic growth in the years ahead.

Sharing his observations at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Head of the Mekong Delta Office of VAN News, noted: “What stands out about Thanh Hoa commune today is not the number on paper, but the way things are being done in practice”.

A closer look suggests that this approach did not emerge by chance. One factor behind it is a shift in the way the commune is organized and led.

The current Party Secretary of Thanh Hoa commune, Mr. Ngo Minh Long, has many years of experience in the agricultural sector. He previously served as Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hau Giang province (prior to administrative restructuring). In early 2025, he was appointed Secretary of the Long My District Party Committee, and later took up the position of Party Secretary of Thanh Hoa commune after the district-level administration was dissolved.

His experience in managing the agricultural sector has shaped a more practical approach to development - one that focuses on clear priorities, concrete tasks and consistent follow-through. As Mr. Thang noted, “It is not about stopping at policy direction, but turning it into concrete actions and visible results”.

Thanh Hoa commune has chosen agriculture as its central pillar for development, but not in the conventional way. Instead of fragmented production, the commune is gradually reorganizing the farming sector toward stronger cooperation and linkages.

Businesses have begun to participate, forming new links in the value chain. Their presence at the signing ceremony also reflected the growing potential for practical cooperation in the locality.

When rural transformation begins with concrete actions

At the event, Mr. Ngo Minh Long emphasized that the commune aims for comprehensive development. Agriculture will remain its foundation, alongside efforts to promote innovation and highlight distinctive local strengths. The priority is to restructure agricultural production to improve quality and create more distinctive products. At the same time, the commune is expanding the use of digital technology in farm management, cultivation and product traceability. It is also working to improve public administrative services through digital transformation. Alongside these efforts, Thanh Hoa commune is developing OCOP products to raise the value of local agricultural goods and expand their market reach.

One strategic idea that particularly interests him is the development of a distinctive “fruit road” linking local production areas, creating spaces for visitors to experience rural life and attracting eco-agricultural tourism. At the same time, the commune continues to improve rural transport infrastructure, enhance the landscape and raise environmental awareness among residents.

In governance, Thanh Hoa commune is also pushing administrative reform and digitalization to improve the efficiency of its public service center and better serve residents and businesses. At the same time, it is mobilizing resources for key development projects aimed at creating new momentum for local socio-economic growth, with the long-term goal of becoming a modern new-style rural commune.

Recent visitors to Thanh Hoa can easily notice changes in the rural landscape. During the Lunar New Year 2026, roads and public spaces appeared tidier, brighter and more orderly than before. These improvements are not the result of short-term campaigns, but of steady and consistent efforts over time.

More broadly, agriculture in Thanh Hoa is also undergoing a gradual shift in thinking. The focus is no longer simply on production, but on organizing production more effectively and creating greater value from agricultural products. This shift reflects a growing emphasis on linkages, moving away from reliance on individual households alone. Several early models have already shown encouraging results. Although still modest in scale, they suggest potential for wider replication.

The cooperation agreement between the Thanh Hoa commune People’s Committee and VAN News, represented by its Mekong Delta Office, aims to highlight real-life production models, the daily lives of local residents and the gradual changes taking place in the countryside.

The communication effort will focus on telling concrete stories with real people and real experiences, rather than simply presenting general information. The goal is to share Thanh Hoa’s practical lessons and local values in a way that is accessible and engaging to a wider audience.

Thanh Hoa commune may not yet represent a fully developed model, but what is emerging here suggests a direction that could offer useful lessons for other rural communities.