Actively responding to the festival

On the morning of February 3 (the 6th day of the 2025 Lunar New Year), hundreds of officers and soldiers gathered at Regiment 82, Division 355, Military Region 2 to take part in the “Forever Grateful to Uncle Hồ” tree planting festival.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Bùi Ngọc Tuyến, Commander of Regiment 82, this has been an annual tradition organized by the unit every Lunar New Year. The festival not only preserves a valuable national tradition but also boosts morale and fosters enthusiasm in completing assigned tasks.

This year, the regiment aims to plant over 1,000 trees, including timber trees, fruit trees, and shade trees, contributing to a green, clean, and beautiful environment. Thanks to effective political and ideological education, all officers and soldiers fully understood their responsibilities and actively participated in the festival.

Lieutenant Lò Văn Trường, Deputy Political Officer of Company 8, Battalion 2, Regiment 82, held that through this activity, each officer and soldier gains a deeper understanding of Uncle Hồ’s teachings on the importance of tree planting and forest protection. Every tree planted helps purify the air and prevent soil erosion, reinforcing their love for green spaces and natural resources.

With the same spirit of forest restoration, on February 4, at Nậm Nhừ Border Commune (Nậm Pồ District), hundreds of young saplings were planted by local officials, residents, and soldiers from the Nậm Nhừ Border Post under the Điện Biên Provincial Border Guard Command.

Major Nguyễn Đình Hùng, Political Commissar of the Nậm Nhừ Border Post, underlined that for a long time, many ethnic minority communities have been accustomed to “slash-and-burn farming” rather than “planting trees to restore forests.” Thus, the active participation of local people in this year’s tree planting festival event reflects a positive change.

He further emphasized the unit’s commitment to long-term environmental education, adding that they would continue to raise the public’s awareness of environmental protection, tree planting, and forest conservation, ensuring a greener future for border communities.

To further promote this meaningful tradition among younger generations, many schools across the province have actively maintained tree planting activities at the beginning of each year.

At Lương Thế Vinh High School (Điện Biên Phủ City), the tree planting festival coincided with the first day teachers and students returned to school after the 2025 Tết holiday. Beyond cultural exchanges and tree planting, students also learned about the history and significance of this tradition.

“For me, this is truly a festival where teachers and students work together to plant and care for trees. We now understand the importance of every green sapling we plant - it helps protect the environment and improve human life. This experience deepens our appreciation for nature and strengthens our commitment to environmental protection”, shared Lữ Ngọc Phương Anh, an 8th-grade student.

Greening barren land and hills

Điện Biên Province has vast forestry land, but nearly 280,000 hectares remain treeless. Over the pát years, the provincial People’s Committee has directed localities to actively reforest and restore barren hills. Various long-term tree species have been introduced to mountainous areas under reforestation projects. To protect existing forests and restore lost green spaces, the province has developed a three-category forest zoning plan and allocated forest land to local communities for conservation and reforestation efforts.

Each year, localities across the province plant 400 - 500 hectares of forests, funded by the State budget or reforestation projects. Since 2015, hundreds of hectares of barren land have been greened through these projects. In 2024 alone, the province planted 946.16 hectares of concentrated forest, reaching 209.8% of the annual target; nearly 297.8 million scattered trees, achieving 930.47% of the annual target; and increased the forest coverage rate to 44.5%.

In Điện Biên District, as part of the One Billion Trees Project (2021-2025), local authorities and residents have actively and proactively participated in tree planting efforts. This initiative contributes to sustainable local development and helps maintain a green, clean, and beautiful environment.

The district emphasizes planting the right trees in the right locations to ensure practical and effective results. Local authorities have also enhanced forest care and protection efforts, improving the quality and sustainability of afforestation projects.

Mr. Lò Văn Chựa, a resident of Thanh Xương Commune, Điện Biên District, said that this year’s Tết holiday was even more joyful as his village roads have become cleaner and more beautiful. His family also contributed by planting flowers in front of the house. Though a small act, it helps improve their living environment.

This year, the tree planting festival began on February 3 and has been actively observed across various localities and organizations. The festival aligns with government initiatives, including the One Billion Trees Project, the Sustainable Forestry Development Program (2021-2025), and directives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In order to ensure high survival rates and healthy tree growth, planting efforts focus on selecting species suitable for local soil and climate conditions, such as bauhinia and cherry blossom trees, timber trees, fruit trees, and shade trees. Additionally, responsibilities for tree care are clearly assigned.

“Spring is the time for planting trees; Making the country all the more dazzling as eternal springtime.” Following beloved President Hồ Chí Minh’s call in 1959, the tree planting festival has now become a cherished national tradition, marking the beginning of annual afforestation efforts across Điện Biên Province.