During the resistance war against the American invaders, the Border Guard Force made significant contributions to the historic Great Spring Victory of 1975 that unified the nation. In peacetime, the challenge of protecting national sovereignty became even more complex.

In the era of renovation, facing a turbulent regional and global landscape, border guards tirelessly carry out the mission of “watching the gates of the country.” In strategic areas such as Điện Biên province, a frontier province with more than 455km of borders shared with Laos and China, the mission of defending every inch of land carries critical importance.

Post-unification, each stretch of the border, each landmark and gate, continues to face threats from drug trafficking, illegal border crossings, smuggling, and transnational crime. Amid these silent dangers, border guards are the frontline defenders, engaging in a boundaryless battle that requires intelligence, courage, and sacrifice, even in peacetime.

“We understand that peace came at a great cost. Every patrol step, every border marker, carries the legacy of our forefathers’ blood and sacrifice,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Văn Trường, Commander of the Sen Thượng Border Post, as he stood solemnly among the rugged mountains of Mường Nhé district, where the post oversees a 24km border section marked by eight landmarks.

Despite harsh terrain and scattered Hà Nhì ethnic communities across seven villages, the border post remains unwavering. In the first months of 2025 alone, the unit conducted seven full patrol rounds with 58 officers and maintained daily checks at Marker 15(1). Even through torrential rain and landslides, with blistered feet and cold rice in their packs, the soldiers press on with unwavering resolve.

Lt. Col. Trường shared: “The terrain is harsh, the weather unpredictable, and resources are scarce. But when we see the red flag with a gold star flying high, we feel proud to be entrusted with defending the shape and spirit of our nation.”

In the defense of the border, guns alone are not enough. What matters more is building a “people’s defense front”, where border guards become teachers, medics, and trusted companions to the people. In Sen Thượng commune, programs like “Stepping to School,” “Adopted Children of Border Posts,” “Soldiers’ Rice Jar”, and livelihood support for women in need have created deep bonds between soldiers and communities, worth hundreds of millions of VND annually.

Pờ Xuân Mười, head of Tả Ló San hamlet, said with emotion: “The border soldiers don’t just guard the land, they care for our hearts. They help build houses, open roads, teach farming and livestock skills, and even fix rooftops and give medicine to our elders. They are like our own children.”

In Na Cô Sa, a border commune with over 70% of households living in poverty and challenging security conditions, Captain Đỗ Xuân Điềm, Deputy Political Officer of the Na Cô Sa Border Post, inspires trust through his youth and dedication.

Sharing about his first Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday with locals, Captain Điềm said: “The villagers welcomed me as family. That year-end meal helped me truly understand what it means to say: The post is our home, the border is our homeland, and the ethnic communities are our family.”

Beyond their core duties of patrol and combat readiness, the Na Cô Sa Border Post has led innovative bilingual outreach campaigns. Their “Border loudspeakers” reach deep into remote mountains, strengthening trust in the Party, State, and military.

From October 1, 2024, to date, the provincial Border Guard force’s anti-drug and crime unit has handled 33 cases involving 37 suspects, seizing 1.2kg of heroin and over 126,000 synthetic drug pills. These invisible battles, where enemies hide behind facades, demand utmost vigilance and courage from those who guard the frontier.

Fifty years after the historic 1975 victory, while the country flourishes in peace, each inch of the border continues to be defended through the sweat, blood, and patriotism of the border guards. For them, victory today is waking up to a flying national flag, seeing villagers at peace, and knowing the frontier is secure.

Defending the border is more than protecting a line on the map, it is safeguarding the soul of the nation. It is continuing the glory of yesterday in a new form: peace, development, and integration, without complacency.

From the Great Spring Victory of April 30, 1975, to this very moment, the nation has gained full independence and unity. But to ensure the flag forever flies over every marker in the deep forest and high mountains, the green-uniformed soldiers continue, silently and resolutely, to write the next verses in the eternal epic of homeland defense.