Supporting the Journey Toward Community Reintegration

Beyond supporting livelihoods, preferential credit for people who have completed drug rehabilitation is becoming a vital foundation for many families to overcome stigma, stabilize their lives, and create sustainable opportunities for community reintegration.

Staff of the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office guide local residents in accessing policy credit

A Foundation Built on Preferential Credit

Following the issuance of Decision No. 08/2026/QD-TTg dated March 3, 2026 by the Prime Minister on credit support for people who have completed drug rehabilitation, the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office has implemented a range of coordinated measures to ensure that preferential loans reach eligible beneficiaries.

Immediately after the policy came into effect, the Transaction Office proactively coordinated with local Party committees, authorities, public security forces, and mass organizations to review and verify eligible borrowers. Communication and awareness-raising activities were also intensified to help local residents better understand the significance of the program and confidently access preferential credit.

Credit officers have regularly worked at the grassroots level, collaborating with entrusted mass organizations and Savings and Credit Groups to provide direct guidance to households, assist with loan applications, and facilitate timely and convenient access to preferential loans.

The family of Ms. N.T.V. (residing in Hamlet 18, Hien Luong Commune) was among the first beneficiaries of the program in Phu Tho Province. During more than ten years of marriage, she and her husband have raised a child who is currently in Grade 5. Their family began facing serious difficulties in 2017 when she discovered that her husband had become addicted to drugs. Since then, the financial burden largely fell on her shoulders, supported only by her monthly factory-worker income of approximately USD 230.

While she struggled to cover daily living expenses and support her child’s education, her husband was required to undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation. After completing a two-year rehabilitation program, he returned to the community in February 2025 with a strong determination to rebuild his life. However, he encountered significant challenges in finding employment and lacked the resources needed to develop a livelihood.

Rather than surrendering to these circumstances, Ms. V continuously encouraged her husband to overcome stigma and seek sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through the credit program for people who have completed drug rehabilitation, her family received a loan of USD 3,850 to invest in production activities. The loan has been used to convert two hectares of low-yield acacia plantations into sacred fig cultivation, which is expected to generate a more stable source of income in the future.

According to Ms. V, the preferential loan has not only provided her family with resources to develop their livelihood but has also served as a significant source of emotional encouragement, strengthening their confidence and determination to build a more stable future. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity provided by the Government to access this loan. Our family will make every effort to use this loan effectively to improve our economic situation”, she shared.

For her family, the loan represents more than financial support. It offers hope for a more secure future, where her husband can demonstrate his transformation through productive work and responsibility toward his family.

Supporting the Reintegration Journey

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Director of the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office, the lending program for people who have completed drug rehabilitation has delivered encouraging initial results since its implementation.

Policy credit has enabled borrowers to invest in production activities, create jobs, and increase household income. More importantly, it has helped restore confidence, empowering beneficiaries to move forward on their journey toward successful community reintegration.

However, several challenges remain. Many sobers continue to experience feelings of hesitation, stigma, and lack of self-confidence when seeking access to credit. In addition, some borrowers have limited capacity to develop viable production and business plans, while their families often continue to face difficult economic circumstances.

Preferential credit from the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office has served as a foundation for many local households to expand production, improve their livelihoods, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, Director of the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the program requires not only the efforts of borrowers themselves but also the continued support of local authorities, entrusted mass organizations, and the wider community in providing guidance, assistance, and favorable conditions for them to stabilize their lives.

“We view this not merely as a lending activity but as a mission with profound social significance. Every loan disbursed represents another opportunity for people who have completed drug rehabilitation to secure employment, pursue meaningful goals, and gradually rebuild their confidence and self-worth.

The VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office will continue to work closely with local authorities and mass organizations to ensure that loans reach the right beneficiaries and are used effectively, thereby helping reduce the risk of relapse and contributing to social security in the locality”, Mr. Hoa said.

In the coming period, the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office will strengthen coordination with public security forces, local authorities, and mass organizations to assess borrowing needs, monitor and supervise the use of loans for their intended purposes, and further promote communication activities to enhance public understanding of the program’s humanitarian significance.

Alongside the effective implementation of the lending program for people who are clean from the drug, policy credit activities managed by the VBSP Ha Hoa Transaction Office have remained stable. During the first four months of 2026, total loan disbursements exceeded USD 3.67 million, benefiting 1,768 borrowers. Total outstanding loans reached more than USD 26.1 million, an increase of nearly USD 2.26 million compared with the end of 2025. Credit quality across communes has generally been maintained at a good level.

Today’s preferential loans not only provide livelihood opportunities for people who have completed drug rehabilitation but also open new doors of hope. Every job created and every income-generating model established represents another chance for individuals who once made mistakes to regain confidence, build stable lives, and become productive members of society.

Behind every loan lies a vote of confidence. Behind every opportunity created is a reintegration journey strengthened by community responsibility, the support of local authorities, and the humane policies of the Party and the State.

Hoan Nguyen