Fourteen years ago, Huổi Khon village in Nậm Kè commune (Điện Biên province) was a “hot spot” with thousands of ethnic Mông gathering to demand the creation of a “separate state”. Political security was at stake, threatening stability along the frontier. Thanks to decisive action by local Party committees, authorities, and security forces, especially the border guard, the crisis was soon defused.

In his sturdy wooden home, Giàng A Sỳ recalls the time he was misled by hostile rhetoric. “Back then, I was deceived into believing life would change if I followed them. Instead, it only brought hardship, my family lived in fear, neighbors lost trust in one another. Without the patient support of commune officials, Party leaders, and above all the border guards, I might never have escaped those mistakes”, he says.

After weathering those storms, Sỳ treasures his present life all the more, placing his trust in the Party and the State while focusing on farming. He and his wife now grow corn and raise livestock, their children attend school, and hunger no longer shadows the household. Once a man led astray, Sỳ has become a symbol of change along the Nậm Kè border.

With more than 455 kilometers of border stretching across many communes, life for people in these remote areas remains difficult. Stationed in the region, border guard officers and soldiers uphold the motto “three closenesses, four togethers”: close to their unit, the area, and the people; eating, living, working, and speaking the language alongside them. They help families improve incomes, fight poverty, build rural roads, protect the environment, and gradually raise living standards on the frontier.

In just over two years, the provincial border guard has contributed more than 5,000 workdays to farming and production; joined in building and repairing over 100 kilometers of village roads and 500 kilometers of irrigation canals; planted and harvested hundreds of hectares of crops and forests; and helped repair or construct hundreds of homes for poor and disadvantaged households. They also work with Party committees, local authorities, and social organizations to visit, support, and give gifts to village elders, respected figures, policy-beneficiary families, and ordinary residents, amounting to tens of billions of VND in aid.

“Border guards are always by our side”, says Lường Văn Dọn, a respected villager in Hua Pe, Thanh Nưa commune. “Sometimes they teach us new farming techniques, sometimes they give us livestock and seedlings. Their kindness has earned our trust and affection, strengthening unity to safeguard our homeland’s border.”

Wherever there are hardships or dangers, there are border guards standing with the people. At every critical moment, they join frontline forces to help residents confront and overcome natural disasters, epidemics, and emergencies.

During recent flash floods in Xa Dung, Mường Luân, and Na Son communes, images of border guards wading through driving rain and torrents to rescue villagers touched many hearts. When the waters receded, they marched into the villages to help repair homes, restore fields, and rebuild lives.

From sleepless nights guiding people across raging streams to silent days helping rebuild houses, schools, and roads, the image of the green-uniformed soldier has become etched in local memory as a symbol of trust, attachment, and respect.

“The timely, responsible, and heartfelt presence of border guards and other armed forces has reduced the damage from natural disasters and strengthened villagers’ confidence”, says Giàng Trọng Bình, Party Secretary of Xa Dung commune. “It has made everyone more aware of their duty to unite and work together for a prosperous and happy life.”

Following President Hồ Chí Minh’s teaching: “Poor mass mobilization means poor results; good mass mobilization means success”, the provincial border guard has always prioritized outreach alongside training and combat readiness. Many creative models have spread widely, such as “one of Uncle Hồ’s teachings each week”, “great unity homes”, and “compassionate arms, comradeship warmth”. Through such practical efforts, the bond between soldiers and people has deepened, strengthening national solidarity and building a firm people’s defense at the nation’s frontiers.