Officials of Doan Ket commune visit fourth-class wounded soldier Dinh Van Khoi in Na Muong hamlet.

Fourth-class wounded soldier Dinh Van Khoi, from Na Muong hamlet, used to worry whenever the rainy season arrived because his old wooden house had deteriorated. In late 2025, his family received 60 million VND (2,284 USD) in financial support. Combined with the family's savings and assistance from relatives and neighbours, the funding enabled them to build a new 30-sq.m brick house.

“I fought in Laos from 1971 to 1974 and was discharged with a disability rate of over 21%. After returning home, I have always received support under the State’s policies. The local authorities regularly visit and encourage my family, and now they have also helped us build a new house. This gives us greater confidence to overcome difficulties and continue contributing to our community,” Khoi said.

Staff of the Doan Ket commune Public Administrative Service Centre process administrative procedures for people with meritorious service to the revolution and policy beneficiary families.

Doan Ket commune is home to 62 people with contributions to the nation and policy beneficiary families, including eight wounded soldiers, two sick soldiers, 10 relatives of martyrs, one former revolutionary prisoner, one Agent Orange victim, and 40 caring for martyrs’ altars. Over the past years, the commune has fully implemented policies for people with meritorious service; paid regular visits, supported livelihoods, and repaired houses for policy beneficiary families. It has also promoted the “Paying Gratitude” movement, mobilising local organisations and residents to taking care of martyrs’ cemeteries and help beneficiary families with workdays, while advocating for the establishment of a Gratitude Fund to support those in difficulties.

According to Lo Viet Bac, Chairman of the Doan Ket commune People’s Committee, more than 686 million VND in monthly allowances has been disbursed to eligible revolution contributors and policy beneficiary families since the beginning of the year. Six beneficiaries have received more than 15 million VND in home-based convalescence support. Thanks to the joint efforts of the political system and the community, about 90% of households with members who rendered meritorious service to the nation now enjoy living standards equal to or higher than the commune average.

Officials of Doan Ket commune conduct a site survey for housing repair assistance for the family of Bui Van Toan in Doan Ket hamlet, the son of a revolutionary exposed to Agent Orange.

To mark the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27, 1947–2026), the commune is organising various gratitude activities, including visits and gifts to all wounded and sick soldiers, martyrs’ families and other beneficiaries, youth volunteer campaigns to clean and renovate memorial sites, participation in the nationwide campaign to search for and identify martyrs’ remains, and mobilisation of resources for tribute programmes. Each gift presented to policy beneficiaries is valued at no less than 300,000 VND.

On this occasion, the family of Bui Van Toan in Doan Ket hamlet, whose father was exposed to Agent Orange during the resistance war, received 50 million VND to repair their home under Son La province’s housing support programme. “Our old house had seriously deteriorated. The timely support means my family will soon have a safer and more secure home. It is a great source of encouragement for us to continue striving for a better life,” Toan said.

These practical activities have provided meaningful support to policy beneficiary families and people with meritorious service while helping preserve the tradition of gratitude and inspiring patriotism among younger generations./.