In the 1975-1985 period, Ha Nam and the whole country implemented the second 5-year plan (1975-1980), protected the national border, gradually overcame difficulties and developed the economy, culture and society (1981-1985). The 1975-1985 period was the difficult stage for the country in general and for Ha Nam in particular in case that the world had many complicated changes. Although society and economy got many severe difficulties, people's life was so poor, many negative events happened; Ha Nam still gained some important achievements.
In the field of industrial production focusing on food, Ha Nam concentrated forces to complete irrigation system, rearranged co-operatives, widened the area of growing crops, developed cattle raising and applied technical science advances on intensive cultivation. The result was hundreds of co-operatives in the province reached 5 tons per ha by the year 1987, districts supplied ten thousands tons of food for the State. Industry and handicraft remained developing speed in both quantity and quality. Basic education developed quickly and equally. Activities of information culture, medical and sports were opened and intensified to the grassroots.
Northern border war in February 1979 had a direct influence on socioeconomic situation in the nation in general and in Ha Nam in particular. Ha Nam people once again raised struggling movement. The province's soldier enrolments were over the plan. The local military force was assisted defense and security plans and methodologies suitable for the situation of ready struggling and struggling serving.
At the beginning years of the 1980s, Ha Nam and the whole country carried out the third 5-year plan in case the world had many changes. Our people faced to difficulties in raw materials, food, price instability, high-speed inflation and natural disasters. Decree 100/CT/TW released on January 13th 1981 was the effective measure to boost the activeness and creation in producing and delivering, bringing agriculture to escape from the standstill situation.
From 1981 to 1985, Ha Nam's land using coefficient increased 1.76 times from 1.5 times. Food productivity also rose from previous year to following year. Industry and small handicraft at this time created enough jobs for laborers. However, localities paid much attention to exporting such goods as jute, groundnut, garlic and sesame. Education was maintained and followed the objective of education reform. The campaign on 5 medical completions was maintained and promoted. Oriental medicine and Western medicine were integrated effectively in examining and treating. Information cultural activities, literature, broadcasting and press gained access to new things and met political tasks in the province.
In, 1986, the country stepped into renovation process. The administrative subsidy mechanism was erased, creating favorable conditions for developing multi-sector economy. Economic and investment structure focused on 4 socio-economic programs. Social-cultural activities, technical science and medical were intensified. Agriculture increased remarkably. Industry and small handicraft had many positive changes despite new things. Private economy had the first development, attracting many laborers. Banking and financial operation started moving to new mechanism.
In late 1966, Ha Nam's agricultural production gained the total productivity value of VND 960.84 billion, of which food production achieved 319.435 tons. The average food was 402 kg per head. Besides rice, other crops such as maize, groundnut, peanut... also grew strongly. Cattle and poultry rose 3-5% on-year. Water surface areas were used to develop aquatic products. The work against storms and flood was much cared. Thousands of bamboo trees were planted to protect dykes, millions m3 of lands were dug, covered and dredged and tens thousands m3 of stones were covered the channels.
In the field of industry and small handicraft production, in the 1991-1996 period, in spite of many difficulties in materials, some products still remained and more and more developed such as Thanh Ha embroider, Kien Khe stone, An Do smoothing, Dong Son knitting and Dai Thanh weaving...
Industry production value in 1996 was VND286.75 billion, including VND19.11billion of the central industry and VND267.64 of the local industry. At this time, a private enterprise consisting of 9 bases was set up and attracted nearly 400 laborers.
