The local people in Truong Ha village, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province – the starting point of Ho Chi Minh highway, are very happy to see the road being upgraded. Nong Thai Hoc, chairman of the communal People’s Committee, says that the local people are very honoured that the highway starts in their village. Thanks to the Party and Uncle Ho, the local people there have had a life of comfort, so they are willing to hand over land to enlarge the highway. Its upgrading work also makes it easier for them to travel and do business.

Nong Van Khiem, a resident in Truong Ha village says that Truong Ha is a famous tourist site in Pac Po, where Uncle Ho took his first steps after more than 30 years of traveling around the world to find ways to achieve national independence. Thanks to the Ho Chi Minh Highway running through the village, the local people will get a face-lift and their economy will develop further.

A Highway portion from Pac Po to Cao Bang town will be 45km long and at least 8m wide. Therefore nearly 70ha of land and several houses in 30 communes in Ha Quang district have to be cleared soon. To carry out the land clearance, Cao Bang province established a sub-committee to control and encourage the local people to do a good job.

Nong Van Ngoc, vice chairman of the Ha Quang district People’s Committee and head of the Land Clearance Sub-Committee, says that the district has handed over the road to the contractors to do the upgrading job.

To ensure the project is finished on time, the builders are doing three shifts per day. In addition, district leaders have provided information to help local people understand the importance of the highway and the compensation paid for each different plot of land.

Cao Bang province has decided to upgrade historical site at Pac Po and finish a new exhibition hall for the Pac Po Museum and the infrastructure, especially for transport services.

Nguyen Thi Thuc, a director from the historical sites management board says that the province has invested more than VND500 million in upgrading the museum and the monument building.

The Ho Chi Minh Highway portion from Pac Po to Cao Bang town plays an important role in the socio-economic development of Ha Quang district and Cao Bang province in general. The project has been warmly welcomed by the local people.