Non-administrative decision

Amidst the days of torrential rain and floods in the highlands, two names were mentioned by the people with gratitude and respect: Mua A Thi and Ma Seo Chu. They were both village chiefs who proactively evacuated people before receiving instructions from their superiors. Without paperwork or administrative orders, their decisions saved the lives of 90 people in Hang Pu Xi (Dien Bien) and 115 people in Kho Vang (Lao Cai). Those were decisions that came from the heart, from responsibility and courage in the most dangerous moments.

Village Chief Mua A Thi.

On August 1, Mua A Thi, a 26-year-old man, rushed into the flood at night, called for people to flee, and carried an old man out of the flood. That night, only village chief Thi and the entire village survived. If it had been a few minutes later, Hang Pu Xi would have been a “black spot” on this year’s natural disaster map. Because Hang Pu Xi then only had 5 severely damaged houses, the rest were buried.

On another rainy night in September 2024, Ma Seo Chu, the head of Kho Vang village, also made a life-or-death decision: evacuate all 17 households with 115 people to the mountains. There was no phone signal, no way to contact superiors. But Ma Seo Chu did not hesitate. And that decision later made the whole society breathe a sigh of relief: more than 100 people were saved, even though the whole village was buried in floodwaters.

Both of these actions could be considered “overreach of authority” if viewed through a mechanical administrative mindset. But without those “reckless” decisions, more than 200 people today would most likely not exist. They did the right thing, at a time when no one told them to do so, only their hearts, experience and the dictates of their conscience guided them.

Why did they dare to make such a decision? Because they lived with the people, understood where the land could collapse, when the stream would change course. They knew what the villagers feared most, what they needed most in the rainy night. Without waiting for "policy", without citing the reason of "lack of direction", they chose to act, act to save people. That was not arbitrariness, but the highest expression of responsibility when attached to practice and morality.

The government has taken timely and worthy actions. Immediately after the incident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed to commend Mr. Mua A Thi, the brave village chief who risked his life to save people from the flood. Previously, Ma Seo Chu was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for his outstanding contributions in preventing and overcoming the consequences of storm No. 3.

Praising people like Mua A Thi and Ma Seo Chu should not stop at single events. It should become a consistent, strong message of the entire political system: Honoring, encouraging and protecting those who "dare to think, dare to do, dare to take responsibility" even if they are just a village chief in a remote area, or a simple union member in a remote area.

Spreading examples like Mua A Thi and Ma Seo Chu is not simply an act of inspiration. It is also a way to shape a new standard of cadres, those who know how to put the interests of the people above their own interests; those who act not for medals, but deserve the respect of the whole society. And, it is also the way we preserve the spirit and kindness, the core elements that create the strength of a nation.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202508/quyet-dinh-khong-hanh-chinh-7691415/