Amidst the vast border forest, border guards not only keep the land and markers but also persistently cultivate military-civilian affection, making the spring at the border warmer and more peaceful.

On a late winter morning, Tả Ló San village, Sín Thầu commune, is still shrouded in lingering fog. In a house still smelling of fresh rammed earth, Lỳ Phu Cà’s family is busy cleaning and preparing to welcome their first Lunar New Year (Tết) in the new home, built according to the traditional living style of the Hà Nhì people. The house was erected with the joint efforts of officers and soldiers from the Sen Thượng, A Pa Chải, and Leng Su Sìn Border Posts, along with the militia and villagers.

During the construction days, soldiers and people mixed soil, set up molds, and rammed each layer of the wall amidst fog and cold rain. On some days, when work was unfinished due to weather, the brothers only had time to hurriedly eat cold rice before continuing, wishing to complete the house before Tết so Cà’s family would have a place to welcome the new spring. Village head Pờ Xuân Mười was moved, saying: “Making rammed-earth houses is very hard work. Thanks to the soldiers working together, the people saved a lot of effort. With a new house, everyone feels more secure; this Tet, the village is very happy.”

The familiar footsteps of officers and soldiers of the Si Pha Phìn Border Post have left their marks on the trails leading to highland villages. Major Giàng A Chớ, Head of the Mass Mobilization Team, and his teammates carry bags of rice through the forest to families in especially difficult circumstances.

Stationed in a remote area where people’s lives still face many shortages, officers and soldiers in the unit have maintained the “Soldier’s rice jar” program for many years. Every year, the unit coordinates with local authorities to review lonely and frequently hungry households to provide timely support. On average, each household is supported with 20kg of rice/month.

Every time border guard officers come to visit, Giàng Thị Sua in Nậm Đích village, Mường Chà commune, rejoices as if welcoming relatives. Her husband went to work far away and lost contact; for the past seven years, she has raised eight children alone amidst piling difficulties. “Since the day the soldiers supported us with rice, my children are no longer hungry. Not only helping with rice, the brothers also support farming, repairing the house, and encouraging the children to go to school. Whenever needed, the soldiers are present,” Sua shared emotionally.

In many border villages, border guard soldiers have long become a reliance for the people. Big or small affairs of the village, from building roads and houses, taking children to class, to the happy and sad days of each family, all have the presence of the green soldier’s uniform. It is that closeness and sincerity that have cultivated increasingly tight military-civilian affection.

When new roofs are completed in time for Tet and roads into the village bustle with laughter, along the Thanh Nưa border route, the atmosphere of welcoming the new year is also present in every patrol shift and every footstep of soldiers at the frontier of the Fatherland. Thanh Luông Border Post currently manages a section of the Vietnam - Laos border nearly 39km long, with 17 national border markers from marker 90 to marker 106. The border commune of Thanh Nưa is home to over 29,000 people belonging to 6 ethnic brotherly groups.

Lieutenant Colonel Đoàn Thanh Tuấn, Political Officer of the Thanh Luông Border Post, affirmed: “To hold the border firmly, first of all, we must hold the people’s heart firmly. Each officer and soldier must not only perform the task of protecting the border line and markers but must also be truly close to the people, understand the people, and join the people in removing difficulties in life.”

Trusting and following the border guards, people proactively remind each other to cultivate on the correct land portion, avoiding encroachment on cultivation or residence. Preserving the border line and markers has gradually become a self-conscious habit, stemming from the awareness and responsibility of each citizen. To achieve that change, border guard officers and soldiers have persistently disseminated and mobilized through many close and easy-to-understand forms. Instead of formal meetings, officers go down to people’s homes, chatting by the fire to explain to the people about border regulations, responsibilities, and benefits when participating in protecting sovereignty.

Senior Colonel Lê Đức Nghĩa, Deputy Political Commissar of the provincial Border Guard Command, said: “We determine that the Border Guard is the core force in dissemination work, helping people clearly understand the task of managing and protecting national border sovereignty as well as their responsibilities when participating in preserving the border line and national markers. On that basis, mobilizing the strength of the entire people and strengthening close coordination between the people and the Border Guard force to ensure security and order in the border area.”

Recently, many self-management models have been formed and promoted effectively. People not only participate in patrols with soldiers but also proactively provide information when detecting signs of violations. Timely reports help functional forces handle issues early, preventing complex developments. To date, the whole province has thousands of households and individuals registered for self-management of border lines and national markers; hundreds of self-management teams for security and order operate effectively, contributing to maintaining peace in the area.

From practical and persistent actions, the “people’s heart posture” is increasingly consolidated, keeping the Fatherland’s border always firm and peaceful.