Border guards are present at village meetings, in residents’ fields, beside the homes of struggling families and amid days of torrential rain and flooding. This close bond has been built through simple, everyday acts of support, gradually becoming a source of trust and a strong connection between local people and those serving on the country’s frontline.

Fifteen years have passed since Huổi Khon village in Nậm Kè commune became a “hotspot” of security and public order. At the time, thousands of people from different places converged there, influenced by misleading claims and vague notions of a so-called “Hmông State.” The lives of many families were thrown into turmoil, while bonds of solidarity within the community were at risk of breaking down.

During those difficult days, alongside the leadership of Party committees and local authorities and the involvement of the relevant forces, border guard officers and soldiers remained steadfastly in the village, visiting families one by one, listening to residents’ concerns and explaining the true nature of the situation. Some persuasion efforts continued for days, with officers returning repeatedly to families who remained uncertain or worried. Their persistence and sincerity gradually helped resolve the doubts and concerns in people’s minds.

Inside his sturdy wooden house, Giàng A Sỳ of Huổi Khon village still remembers the period when he lost his way. He recalled: “At that time, I also listened to bad people and thought that following them would make life better. But then my family suffered and people in the village became divided. Commune officials, police officers and border guards regularly came to talk to us and explain things. That helped me realize that I was wrong and return to a normal life.”

After those upheavals, what Sỳ values most is the peaceful life he enjoys today. He and his wife work hard in the fields and raise pigs and chickens. Their children go to school and grow up in the peace of their village. Once someone who had been swept up by false promises, Sỳ has now become an active worker who takes care of his family and encourages fellow villagers to preserve community solidarity.

Điện Biên has more than 455km of border with neighboring countries. In many areas, people still face difficult living conditions, limited production resources and challenging transportation. Guided by the principle of “three stays and four togethers,” border guard officers and soldiers not only protect national sovereignty and border security but also remain close to local communities: staying close to the area and the people, while eating together, living together, working together and speaking the local ethnic languages.

As a result, the green-uniformed soldiers have become a familiar presence along village paths, in cornfields and rice paddies. They teach residents production techniques, help build houses and roads, clear irrigation channels and clean up villages. Such practical support has helped lay a solid foundation for life in border communities.

Over the past three years, officers and soldiers of the provincial Border Guard Force have contributed nearly 10,000 workdays to helping local people with agricultural production. They have also coordinated the construction and repair of more than 100km of village roads and over 500km of irrigation canals. The force has helped plant, tend and harvest hundreds of hectares of crops and supported the repair and construction of numerous homes for poor households and families facing hardship.

Thào A Hồ, a respected community member in Mường Nhé village, Mường Nhé commune, said: “The border guards are very close to the people. Sometimes they teach us how to make a living; sometimes they provide livestock or seedlings. When the soldiers work alongside us, everyone becomes more united.”

In these challenging border areas, border guards stand side by side with local communities. Through different stages of development, the provincial Border Guard Force has consistently worked with other frontline forces to respond quickly at vulnerable locations, helping residents prevent and cope with natural disasters and disease outbreaks, as well as carrying out rescue and emergency response operations.

When floodwaters recede, they work alongside Party committees and local authorities to help residents clean their homes, repair damaged infrastructure and restore production.

Nguyễn Văn Lương, Chairman of the Mường Pồn commune People’s Committee, said: “The border guards always work closely with Party committees and local authorities, especially when unexpected situations arise. Whenever people face difficulties, officers and soldiers are there very quickly, working with other forces to support them. Over time, these practical actions, together with their closeness and sense of responsibility, have earned the trust of the people. Residents understand, trust and actively cooperate with the border guards in maintaining security and public order, protecting the border and building a peaceful and stable life in the area.”

Following President Hồ Chí Minh’s teaching that “when mass mobilization is done well, every task can succeed,” the provincial Border Guard force has consistently carried out effective mass-mobilization work throughout its history of service and development.

A range of meaningful initiatives have been launched and gained widespread support, including “A lesson from Uncle Ho each week,” “Border guard foster children,” “Great solidarity homes,” and “Compassionate hands, comradeship and warmth.”

Through practical and meaningful efforts, these initiatives have strengthened the bond between soldiers and the people, awakened the strength of national unity and contributed to building a strong “people’s border defense posture” along the country’s frontier.