More Than 350 Homes, More Than 350 Foundations of Solidarity
Nearly VND21 billion has been mobilized over the past 5 years to build or repair more than 350 “Comradeship Homes,” providing hundreds of veterans across Lam Dong with safer, more stable places to live and a stronger foundation for improving their livelihoods.
Joining Hands to Build Homes
Nearly 5 months after moving into his new home, veteran Nguyen Van Cuoc, of Quang Ngai 1 Village, Cat Tien Commune, remains deeply moved.
For many years, his family lived in a deteriorating wooden house, worrying every rainy season about flooding and water damage. Today, they finally have a solid, permanent home, allowing them to settle down with greater peace of mind.
The house was built at a total cost of nearly VND500 million. Of that amount, the provincial Veterans Association's “Nghia Tinh Dong Doi” (Comradeship and Solidarity) Fund provided VND70 million, while the remainder came from the family's savings and support from relatives and local residents.
“With this new house, I have even more motivation to work, take care of my coffee and durian gardens, develop the family's economy and provide for my children and grandchildren,” Cuoc said.
His happiness is shared by hundreds of Veterans Association members who have received housing assistance in recent years.
To sustain the program, the “Comradeship” Fund is maintained through voluntary contributions from officials and association members, at VND20,000 per person each year.
Members in need of a new house can receive VND70 million in support, while those needing home repairs can receive VND30 million. Poor and near-poor members who need capital to develop their livelihoods may also borrow VND50 million interest-free from the association.
According to Vu Hoang Sam, Chairman of the Cat Tien Commune Veterans Association, the most valuable aspect of the fund is the collective contribution of a large number of officials and members.
“Each person contributes a small amount, but over time, those contributions have become a significant source of support for comrades who are still facing difficulties,” he said.
Leaving No Comrade Behind
That spirit of mutual support is clearly reflected in the campaign to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing.
From 2021 to 2026, Veterans Associations at all levels across Lam Dong supported the construction of 319 “Comradeship Homes” and the repair of 35 others, with total funding of nearly VND21 billion.
In addition to contributions from association members, Veterans Associations at all levels have mobilized support from businesses, benefactors and the wider community.
Thanks to these combined resources, many deteriorating homes have gradually been replaced with solid and secure houses, giving veterans better conditions to stabilize their lives, focus on earning a living and care for their families.
According to Duong Cong Hiep, Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial Veterans Association, improving the lives of association members is one of the organization's key responsibilities.
Alongside livelihood support, job creation and helping members access sources of capital, the association has identified the elimination of temporary and dilapidated housing as a major priority, particularly for veterans facing difficult housing conditions.
“Every completed home helps a member overcome housing difficulties and gives them better conditions to develop their livelihoods. It is also a practical way for Veterans Associations at all levels to uphold the spirit of solidarity and comradeship,” Hiep said.
By mid-2026, only 6 homes belonging to association members across the province remained in need of further support.
The Lam Dong Provincial Veterans Association will continue maintaining the “Comradeship” Fund while mobilizing additional social resources to assist the remaining households facing hardship. The effort is expected to further improve members' quality of life and strengthen the Veterans Association at all levels.
The campaign to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing is gradually nearing its goal, but the spirit of “comradeship and solidarity” continues.
For those who once served side by side, helping a fellow veteran secure a safe and sturdy home is also a meaningful way of preserving the enduring bonds of comradeship.