The committee of Ethnic Minorities is now building a socio-economic development project for four ethnic groups including the Mang, the La Hu, the Cong and the Co Lao in the three northern mountain provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Ha Giang. Under the project, scheduled to be implemented during the 2010-2015 period, local ethnic people will have access to motor roads and 70% of those under 40 years old will become literate and fluent in the standard Vietnamese. Speaking at a conference on the project in Hanoi on Jan. 8, Vice chairman of the Lai Chau provincial People’s Committee Bui Tu Thien expressed the hope that the government will help them to build roads, schools, healthcare centers and irrigation works.
