Enduring dedication to profession

On an early summer morning in 2026, as the intense sunlight began to cast over the mountain slopes, Thẩm Thị Oanh, an officer of the Thanh An forest protection force, along with the forest management and protection team of Cói Bánh village (Thanh An commune), set out on a patrol. The area under her charge is vast, spanning over 1,200 hectares of forestry land scattered across nearly 60 teams and villages. Having been attached to the profession for nearly 20 years, she knows every corner of the forests in her assigned area by heart.

Enforcing the law at the grassroots level sometimes places female forest rangers in situations that test their mettle. Thẩm Thị Oanh confided: “Whenever an incident occurs at the grassroots, regardless of day or night, we must quickly head down to the area. As a woman facing work pressure, I cannot avoid anxiety. Yet, due to my responsibility toward the professional uniform, I choose to patiently listen and explain thoroughly so that local people understand correctly. When we dialogue with sincerity and mutual understanding, every knot can be untied.”

While Thẩm Thị Oanh represents a dedicated female forest ranger at the grassroots, Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu, Head of the Tuần Giáo forest protection force, embodies a female ranger officer who has matured from practice, always ready to accept and complete missions in the most difficult and complex areas during official duties.

Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu used to spend many years attached to the vast forests in the two districts of Mường Tè (Lai Châu province) and Mường Nhé (Điện Biên province) in the past. This working period helped her thoroughly understand the culture and language of the indigenous people to effectively apply them to mobilizing the public to strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Forestry.

The Hạt Kiểm lâm Tuần Giáo currently manages nearly 3,800 hectares of border forests adjacent to five communes of Sơn La province. This is an area with a large acreage of forestry land, requiring the ranger force to regularly stick close to the field. Avoiding rigid methods, Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu always proactively maintains close relationships with forest owners, sustains a smooth coordination mechanism with local authorities, and actively shares information with the ranger force of the neighboring province to detect and prevent forest violations from early on and from afar.

Nguyễn Thị Hà Thu shared: “The only thing women lack in this profession is physical strength, but in return, they possess patience and gentleness to defuse tense situations. Although the ranger profession is arduous, when one considers the forest as home, any difficulty can be overcome. Passing through many years attached to the profession, I love the forests even more. Deeply sympathizing with female colleagues in the industry, I always pay attention, create favorable conditions, and build a friendly working environment so that women can work with peace of mind and successfully complete their assigned duties.”

The ranger profession is inherently full of hardships, and for female officers, the difficulties are multiplied. Going down to localities year-round, facing the scorching sun of the dry season or the biting cold of the winter, having skin darkened by the sun and wind, and having feet exhausted after wading through dozens of kilometers across the forest have become highly distinct marks of female ranger officers.

Their greatest concern is ensuring a balance between professional duties and their sacred callings as mothers, wives, and daughters. During peak periods of the dry season when the risk of forest fires is constantly lurking, they must stay on duty overnight at the unit or stay in villages for extended periods. Each woman suppresses her personal concerns to protect the safety of the forests. Through their love for the profession, they have made active contributions to shifting public perception from spontaneous farming habits to proactively receiving forest protection contracts, viewing the forest as a long-term livelihood for local residents.

Fruitful results from silent sacrifices

According to statistics, out of a total of more than 200 forest rangers in Điện Biên province currently, nearly 30% are female cadres. This is a relatively high ratio for a specialized sector full of hardships. To stand firm in the profession, these women have to exert efforts many times greater than their male colleagues.

Evaluating the role and contributions of the team of female officers in the industry, Hà Lương Hồng, Head of the Điện Biên Forest Protection Division, proudly stated that due to the specific nature of the job being attached to localities and forests, female cadres in the industry suffer many disadvantages regarding health and physical appearance. Nevertheless, rising above everything, many comrades have asserted their capacity and mettle in executing official duties, while seven comrades have been appointed to key leadership positions and recognized and rewarded by various levels and sectors. This is a well-deserved reward for the silent sacrifices of female officers in the industry.

The telling figures from the beginning of 2026 to present serve as the clearest evidence of the non-stop efforts of the Điện Biên ranger force, featuring a bold imprint of the female forest rangers across the entire industry.

Under the scorching sun of summer days or the biting cold of freezing winter days, female ranger officers are still silently dedicating themselves. There is no glittering aura, only the green color of the uniform blending into the green color of the forest. Through their mettle, wisdom, and ironclad love for the profession, each female ranger officer stands as a solid shield, contributing to protecting and fully preserving the green for the forests at the sacred westernmost tip of the Fatherland.