I was fortunate to join the delegation to Laos to visit, do research, and learn about a part of the Vietnamese Muong people in Don village. Among the people who received the delegation, I encountered an elegant face with a very gentle and kind smile, an intellectual face with glasses. It was Mr. Phu Son Visit Ma Vi Say, Former Deputy Governor of Hua Phan province. I was really impressed by his simplicity and friendliness.

In October of 2023, my group and I returned to Don village for the second time, with the main activities including presenting gifts, propandizing and teaching some traditional Vietnamese cultural activities that have been lost in oblivision as they have been away from home for many centuries. This time, I made two appointments with him but for the two times, I came to his house, he was not home. His wife said, "He is in the field."

For the third time, I came there at three o'clock in the afternoon when he had just had lunch. The rice tray is made from bamboo and rattan with legs, placed on the kitchen floor. The bran pot was still boiling over the stove. He was eating and occasionally, pushing firewood. His image is no different from a normal farmer ‘s in my hometown. I had a quick glance at the rice tray and saw that he was enjoying only a half-eaten sticky rice piece and a bowl of cham cheo (a familiar dish of people living in the Northwest region of Vietnam). He kindly said: "I just came back when I finished taking care of ducks, I'm just eating now." Putting away the rice tray, he invited me to sit down and have a drink. Entering many people's houses here, I notice that they often receive guests in the kitchen and do not invite them into their homes as we do. Although he didn't know much Vietnamese, I still understood 90% of his story.

The Muong people in Don village playing gongs

Phu Son Visit Ma Vi Say was born and grow up in Don village. His parents were farmers and had many children. His family suffered economic difficulties. His parents were both Muong people, gave birth to a total of 14 children including: 8 of them are dead prematurely, only 6 people are alive. He was born in 1962, the 4th child out of 6 remaining children. At this point, his eyes filled with tears. He said that due to poor medical conditions, economic difficulties, and harsh weather, his parents lost eight pieces of intestine.

The family was poor, but his parents could see that their son was studious. They created all conditions for him to study. In grade 1 and 2, he also studied in a village near his home; In grade 3 and 4, he had to go to Muong Doong to study (4 km from home). The road to school was difficult to walk and there were many wild animals. But he was still determined to finish school. His friends of the same age gradually quit schooling. After elementary school level, only 8 people remained in the village. At secondary school level, he had to go to Sam Nua (26 km from the village). Everyone left, only he continued to go to school. In 1975, when he studied secondary school  and high school levels in Sam Nua, he lived in lodgings there and only returned home once a month or every two months. Every time he returned home, he had to travel on foot only. His parents in the countryside sent rice to Sam Nua to feed him. In 1981, Phu Son finished high school. The government sent people with good academic records to the Soviet Union for vocational training so that they could later serve the country. He was sent to Uzbekistan to study the major in transportation.

In 1987, after completing his studies, he returned to work at Vientiane Capital Transport Company. After 2 years, he moved to Sam Nua to work at the Department of Traffic and Transport of Hua Phan province. After six years of effort, in 1993, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Department of Traffic and Transport of Hua Phan province and in charge of transportation affairs.

At this time, Laos had many opium addicts, causing negative impacts on the economy, politics, and social safety. The Lao State established the Department of Drug Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Phu Son was sent to this Department as Deputy Director from 1999 to 2002.

A corner of Don village (village of the Muong people, Vietnam) - Sam Nua district,

Hua Phan province, Laos

He became Chief of the District Office in 2002, Vice Chairman of Sam Nua district in 2005, and was transferred to become Secretary cum Chairman of Vieng Xay district in 2010. From 2016 to 2020, he worked as Vice Chairman of Hua Phan province and retired in Don village.

As a well-trained and dynamic person, he always completes the task excellently. I asked him how many emulation titles he was awarded by the Party and State. He said: "There are so many that I can't remember."

In 1989, he married his wife, Ms. Vat Xa Na, who works at the Provincial Health Department. They have two sons together. The eldest son was born in 1990. The second son was born in 2010. Both of them follow their father's profession and are all working at the Department of Traffic and Transport of Hua Phan province.

The Muong people in Don village came from Vietnam to Laos many centuries ago. We are currently in the process of researching the reasons for their emigration. According to information from the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism of Hua Phan province, this group of Muong people came here in the early years of the 18th century, living and existing in this area since then.

The Muong people in Don village have very difficult economic conditions, outdated infrastructure, and little education. From the 70s - 80s of the last century, there were few people both in the Muong community in Don village and in Laos who overcame difficulties and hardships to study and succeed like Phu Son Talking to me about Phu Son, the Muong people in Don village all said: "Phu Son is very kind and friendly to the people. We are very proud of him - a child of Muong people in Don village who became Deputy Governor of the province! ”