For the first time escaping the label of a poor district, the people of A Luoi joyfully participate in festival activities, embracing solidarity and sharing. Along with preserving cultural values, the local authorities are striving to reduce the number of impoverished households, develop livelihood models, and improve residents' quality of life.

Hong Thai is a commune located near the Vietnam - Laos border, recognized as one of the most economically disadvantaged areas in A Luoi. Over 91% of the population here is of Ta Oi ethnic group, with livelihoods primarily center on agriculture and forestry.

Eating products of the forest, tears welling up. Climbing to the highest hilltops, and trudging under dark forest canopies, mushroom hunters always face many hidden risks, such as being stung by forest bees, bitten by snakes, fallen off motorcycles, or falling into holes..., and often have to endure sudden thunderstorms in the forest. In return, along with the joy and excitement that mushroom hunting brings, many people can earn millions of dong each day to improve their livelihoods.

On July 20th, the provincial Red Cross Society, Oxfam in Vietnam, and the New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi organized a summary workshop for the project “Post-COVID-19 livelihood recovery for female farmers in particularly difficult and for difficult communes in Thua Thien Hue.” The event was attended by Ms. Caroline Rachel Beresford, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam.