The Transformative Impact of Preferential Credit in Tam Hai Commune, Da Nang: Final Part: Nurturing Green Dreams

At Tam Hai Commune in Da Nang City, preferential credit extends far beyond investments in fishing boats, nets and aquaculture. For many island families, it also supports something equally valuable - the education of their children. Through the Government's preferential credit programme, many students from the island have been able to continue their education despite financial hardship, giving them greater opportunities to pursue their aspirations and build a brighter future. From strengthening livelihoods to expanding access to education, VBSP's preferential credit programme is helping empower the next generation while laying the foundation for more inclusive and sustainable development in the island community.

A VBSP officer shares in Mr. Le Huynh Xuan Dai's success, reflecting VBSP's commitment to supporting borrowers in building sustainable livelihoods

Empowering the Next Generation

For many families in Tam Hai Commune, sending a child to university is never an easy decision. Household incomes depend largely on seasonal fishing, employment is often uncertain, and the cost of studying away from home continues to rise. For some families, a lack of financial resources can place a young person's education - and future - at risk.

Ms. Tran Thi Binh of Tho Village knows this challenge all too well. With three children pursuing higher education, she and her husband have worked tirelessly, borrowed where necessary and carefully managed every expense to keep their children in school. When the family's financial capacity was stretched to its limits, VBSP's Student Loan Programme became an essential source of support.

One of her children received a preferential student loan of VND 20 million (approximately USD 770) per academic year, while the amount disbursed during the final year was adjusted to around VND 15 million (approximately USD 580). Although the loan could not cover all education-related expenses, particularly for three children studying away from home, it provided timely financial assistance that enabled the family to continue investing in their children's education.

For Mrs. Binh, however, the true value of the programme cannot be measured by the size of the loan. "No matter how difficult life becomes, I never want my children to give up their education", she said. "If they graduate and secure stable jobs, their lives will be better than ours".

For island communities such as Tam Hai, student loans represent much more than educational financing. They are an investment in intergenerational opportunity. While parents may continue earning a living from the sea, their children are given the chance to pursue new careers, broaden their horizons and break the cycle of limited opportunities often associated with financial hardship.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Khoa, Head of a VBSP Savings and Credit Group in Thuan An Village, has witnessed this impact firsthand. "Many families in our group have two or even three children attending university at the same time. Relying solely on their parents' daily income would make it extremely difficult to cover those expenses. Student loans have enabled many young people to continue their studies. When they graduate and find stable employment, their parents are happy - and so are we".

Beyond supporting individual households, preferential student credit is also contributing to Da Nang's long-term human resource development strategy.

Commenting on the Government's preferential credit programme for students pursuing STEM disciplines, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Phuong Nam, Vice Rector of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology, noted that the policy plays an especially important role because STEM programmes typically require longer periods of study and involve higher tuition and practical training costs. According to him, financial barriers often discourage academically capable students from low-income families from choosing these fields. "The students receiving support today may become tomorrow's engineers, researchers and innovators who will contribute to technological advancement and industrial development", he said.

Viewed from this broader perspective, a preferential student loan that enables a young person from a disadvantaged island community to remain in school is not simply helping one family overcome immediate financial challenges - it is also investing in the skilled workforce needed for Viet Nam's future development.

Investing in People, Securing Tam Hai's Future

Across Tam Hai Commune, preferential credit is creating positive change in many aspects of community life. For fishing households, it provides capital to purchase fishing gear, repair boats, invest in aquaculture and expand production. For poor and near-poor families, it supports sustainable livelihoods and income generation. For parents, it offers an opportunity to keep their children in school. For young entrepreneurs returning home, it provides the financial foundation to start a business. For the local government, it serves as an effective policy instrument for sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development and social security.

The story of Mr. Le Huynh Xuan Dai illustrates this impact. After several years working away from home, he returned to Tam Hai and obtained a VND 100 million (approximately USD 3,850) preferential loan from VBSP to invest in HDPE fish cages for off-season aquaculture. Starting with this initial investment, he has gradually stabilized his family's income, repaid a significant portion of the loan and continued expanding his business.

Young entrepreneurs like Mr. Dai represent the kind of local human capital that Tam Hai needs for its next stage of development. With continued access to affordable finance, technical support, markets and improved infrastructure, they can become key drivers of the commune's marine economy, eco-tourism sector and modern aquaculture industry.

Despite its considerable potential, Tam Hai still faces a number of development challenges. Infrastructure remains incomplete in some areas, several investment projects have progressed slowly, tourism is still developing, investment resources are limited, digital transformation is ongoing, and many households continue to require support in improving their livelihoods.

Against this backdrop, improving people's well-being must remain at the centre of development efforts. A thriving island economy depends first and foremost on households with stable livelihoods. Building a highly skilled workforce begins by ensuring that children can remain in school. Sustainable development can only be achieved when local people are active participants in shaping their community's future.

Da Nang is committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. In Tam Hai, that vision begins with individual families: a mother who can afford to keep her child in university, a young entrepreneur who has the opportunity to return home and start a business, and a fisherman who can continue earning a living from the sea with safer equipment and more productive technologies.

Along this journey, the continued partnership of government agencies, local organizations and VBSP will remain essential in helping island communities build a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future.

Duy Nhi