Top 7 Poorest Districts in Ha Giang That Need Urgent Assistance

Meo Vac is one of the poorest districts in Ha Giang Province. With over 80% of its population being ethnic minorities, nearly 17,000 households, and 86,000 people, Meo Vac has more than 7,000 poor households, and about 1,000 near-poor households. The terrain in Meo Vac is very complex, with 10 communes located in mountainous areas, 3 border communes, and 5 others in the foothill regions. Agricultural land is extremely limited, with only about 1,300 hectares of rice fields and over 7,000 hectares of corn grown annually. In recent years, the local government and residents have made efforts to improve the appearance of the rocky highlands. Meo Vac has received significant support from the central government and various programs like 135 and 30a, but most of the funding has been focused on infrastructure development, with only around 9-10 billion VND allocated for livelihoods support.

Once considered a place with potential for honey production, as well as for beef, horse meat, and soybeans, Meo Vac still struggles with poverty. More than 23% of households in the district are classified as poor, representing a large portion of the province’s poverty rate. The local people mostly rely on handcrafted tools in daily life, and the educational and healthcare facilities here are very underdeveloped. Children often attend school on a semi-boarding basis due to the difficult and hazardous travel conditions, carrying food and cooking for themselves. Due to the extreme poverty, children in Meo Vac often study in mixed-age classes, with little to no time for play. In their free time, they help their parents with farm work or stay home to look after younger siblings, cook, or tend to livestock. Life is marked by extreme scarcity, even in the smallest things.

Recently, according to Resolution 05 from the Provincial Party Committee on "Transforming gardens and developing household economies to create sustainable livelihoods for the people and reduce poverty from 2021 to 2025," positive signs have started to emerge. However, the area still faces many challenges ahead.

Located among the country's poorest districts, Yen Minh is a mountainous district in Ha Giang, situated 100 km from the city, consisting of 17 communes and 1 town. Of these, 15 communes are part of the poverty-stricken areas that annually require assistance from local authorities. Since the beginning of 2021, Yen Minh has seen about 72,000 households in need of both material and emotional support.

The terrain in Yen Minh consists of both high and low mountains, with hot, dry summers and frequent flash floods in the winter. The majority of the population here belongs to the Nung, Dao, Tay, and H'mong ethnic groups. Although the living standards may be somewhat better than in some other districts of Ha Giang, Yen Minh still has a high poverty rate.

Furthermore, Yen Minh is home to a large number of ethnic minorities with low literacy rates and small-scale, scattered farming practices. The people spend most of their time cultivating fields, brewing alcohol, and raising livestock. Both people and plants grow freely without adequate care. In some areas, outdated practices such as wife-stealing still exist. Despite efforts to promote awareness and investment, the quality of life remains low, and the district continues to rely on support from the local government and volunteers.

Quan Ba is one of the 62 poorest districts in the country, with 12 communes and 1 town. The economy is mainly based on agriculture and livestock. Despite a reduction in poverty, with over 30% of households still below the poverty line by the end of the 2016-2020 period, significant support is still needed.

The district has steep hills and is often hit by natural disasters, with sparse population and limited infrastructure. Transportation is difficult, and the education level remains low. Every winter, children here receive clothing and blankets from volunteer groups, and even basic needs like adequate food and warm clothing remain a challenge. Many families, especially those with multiple children, struggle to provide for their children. Some families have up to 4-5 children, with the oldest just 10 years old.

Most families in Quan Ba own little more than a few ears of corn and a few pigs, which are often supported by the local authorities. Over the years, the district has received regular donations of food and clothing from charitable organizations, which helps them get by day-to-day.

Added to the list of poor districts for the 2018–2020 period, Bac Me is now included in the group of 6 poor districts in Ha Giang benefiting from the government’s Resolution 30a policies. The district is home to 15 ethnic groups, including Tay, H'mong, Xuong, Giay, and Bo Y, with ethnic minorities making up 94.4% of the population. As of the end of last year, Bac Me's poverty rate had decreased from 38.73% to 25.89%, yet it remains a significant issue.

The district faces numerous challenges, including outdated customs, such as inter-family marriages within certain ethnic groups leading to inbreeding. Additionally, food is scarce, with local rice varieties yielding poorly. The area also struggles with steep, barren land unsuitable for farming, and water shortages further hinder production. The local people’s awareness of modern agricultural techniques is low, and farming practices are still underdeveloped. The district also suffers from a high birth rate, with many families having three or more children.

Since early 2021, the Social Policy Bank has continued to offer loans for 13 credit programs targeted at poor households, ethnic minorities, and vulnerable groups, with 14,066 clients receiving financial support. However, a portion of the poor population still relies on government aid and lacks the motivation to escape poverty, posing a challenge for local development.

Hoang Su Phi is one of the most impoverished mountainous border districts in Ha Giang. It is home to over 12,000 households from various ethnic groups, including Tay, Nung, Co Lao, and Na Chi. With nearly 100% of the population belonging to ethnic minorities, the district faces significant challenges in terms of education and living conditions. As of July 2021, the poverty rate in Hoang Su Phi accounted for 18.6% of the total poor households in Ha Giang. Many children are unable to attend school and instead stay home to care for younger siblings or help with farming and livestock.

Many schools in Hoang Su Phi, such as the Chiến Phố Secondary School, Chiến Phố Primary School, Hồ Thầu Secondary School, Hồ Thầu Primary School, Tân Tiến Secondary School, and Nam Sơn Secondary School, face numerous challenges in their educational efforts, including deteriorating infrastructure, a lack of classrooms, and insufficient textbooks. Furthermore, the area is plagued by difficult natural conditions, with steep hills and frequent flash floods and landslides during the rainy season. Every winter and during storms, volunteers from universities often visit to provide humanitarian aid, donate clothing and food, and offer free education to help the local population.

Xin Man is a district located in the northwest of Ha Giang, about 120 kilometers from the provincial capital. The region is characterized by high, rugged mountains that make transportation difficult. The local population primarily relies on agriculture for subsistence, with most residents belonging to ethnic minority groups, particularly the H'mong. They grow maize, raise livestock, and some even migrate to China for additional income. Many villages are perched on the mountainsides, isolated by difficult terrain, which contributes to the challenging living conditions.

Homes in Xin Man are typically made from mud, thatch, or other basic materials like bamboo and straw. The village houses are simple and poor, with few resources available. The district has only six schools, but most classrooms lack basic equipment, relying on donations and volunteer efforts from outside.

The district is home to 16 different ethnic groups, with a population of over 14,545 households. The Nung people make up the majority, accounting for 41.82% of the population. Around 90% of residents are rice farmers, living in remote mountain areas with limited access to transportation. Childbirth is still often handled at home, with medical help sought only in the most urgent cases. Despite annual government investment and support, Xin Man remains one of the poorest districts in the country.

Dong Van District, located in the northern mountainous region of Ha Giang, lies at the heart of the Dong Van Stone Plateau, one of the 62 poorest districts in the country. The district consists of 19 communes and towns, inhabited by 17 different ethnic groups, with the H'mong making up over 87% of the population. While the poverty rate decreased slightly in 2020, it remained high at 42%, and the impact of the pandemic in 2021 left the community's living conditions largely unchanged. The area's roads are underdeveloped, and many children, though of school age, are illiterate. Elderly people continue to work the fields, and families often survive on meals of cassava and wild vegetables. Many schools were established years ago, but their infrastructure is still inadequate. Students attend classes in poorly built, leaking rooms, and due to a shortage of classrooms, combined lessons and missed school days are common.

Some families only rely on a single rice crop each year and do not raise livestock. This chronic poverty and hunger persist, with families unable to afford medicines when illness strikes, and living conditions are marked by erratic meals. Despite significant investment and attention from the government, the people here continue to face significant challenges. Although the land is abundant, poor farming techniques in this remote region yield low results. In some villages, electricity is still a luxury or is extremely weak, leaving the community isolated from the outside world.