Across the territory of 15 border communes reside more than 42,600 households comprising over 212,000 residents from 17 coexisting ethnic groups. Unleashing the strength of solidarity, border guard officers and soldiers alongside ethnic minority residents of frontier areas consistently take the initiative to maintain security and order, protect boundary lines and national landmarks, and construct a solid all-people border defense posture, ready to respond to any unexpected, contingencies that may arise.

In 1999, 13 Hà Nhì ethnic households departed their native villages to settle in Tả Ló San under a population decentralization program aimed at reinforcing the frontiers. Arriving in an area marked by hardship, villagers received support from local Party committees, authorities, and officers and soldiers of Sen Thượng Border Post to erect dwellings, establish the hamlet, clear land to expand production, and step by step establish roots in their new home.

To ensure residents feel secure in staying attached to the frontiers, various administrative levels, sectors, and the Provincial Border Guard have implemented numerous practical social welfare and livelihood support activities. Over VND 1.6 billion from the Fund for the Poor and socialized sources was mobilized to repair 16 houses, construct 27 livestock sheds, and build essential infrastructure; concurrently, assistance was provided to develop livestock breeding models, grow medicinal herbs, and keep bees for honey. As living standards steadily stabilized, residents developed a deepening commitment to their new settlement; they have actively joined hands to preserve every inch of sacred soil, serving as steadfast “living boundary markers” on the Fatherland’s ramparts. Today, Tả Ló San has 27 households with 104 residents living in unity, securely clinging to the village and preserving the land. Lỳ Phu Cà, Secretary of the Tả Ló San Village Party Cell, Sín Thầu commune, stated that local authorities and border guards consistently assist villagers across all aspects, providing great peace of mind. Cadres and residents in the village actively join the border guards in patrolling and firmly defending national border sovereignty.

Providing timely care for living standards and proactively establishing livelihoods so Tả Ló San residents remain dedicated to their village and land represents one of the crucial measures to construct a resilient all-people border defense posture from the grassroots-level. Over nearly three decades, the Sen Thượng Border Post coordinated with local Party committees and administrations to provide 2,700 amomum plants, hand over 6 breeding cows valued at over VND 90 million, and plant 1,000 peach trees, contributing to creating a green, clean, and beautiful living space. When residents achieve a prosperous livelihood and feel secure in remaining in the village, their consciousness and responsibility to participate in guarding boundary lines and national markers are elevated, creating a firm basis to consolidate and reinforce the all-people border defense posture.

Major Phùng Trọng Lâm, Deputy Political Officer of the Sen Thượng Border Post, Sín Thầu commune, shared that the unit consistently takes the initiative to coordinate with local Party committees, authorities, and socio-political organizations to deploy livelihood models tailored to village conditions. Alongside assisting economic development, officers and soldiers regularly carry out outreach and mobilization to raise villagers’ voluntary awareness and sense of duty, actively joining the Border Guard to firmly protect the sacred border sovereignty of the Fatherland.

Along the 28.102km border line adjoining the friendly nation of Laos managed and protected by the Border Post of the Tây Trang International Border Gate, each household living in border-adjacent hamlets serves as a sturdy anchor for border soldiers to grasp territorial developments and maintain peace along the frontline of the Fatherland. From close, bonded ties with the villagers, officers and soldiers gain reliable “eyes and ears” directly at the grassroots level. Residents proactively provide information regarding territorial situations and abnormal signs, helping functional forces promptly detect and handle incidents, and sustaining security and order across border areas.

Supported by the people’s partnership, the Border Post of the Tây Trang International Border Gate maintains patrols and surveillance over boundary lines and border stones, coordinates bilateral patrols, holds meetings and discussions with Lao border protection forces, and proactively prevents and combats crimes of various types. From the beginning of 2026 to date, the unit has presided over and coordinated combat operations in 12 cases involving 12 suspects related to narcotics, seizing 10 cakes and 16 grams of heroin, 775 synthetic drug pills, 20 ecstasy pills, and 9.33 grams of ketamine. These results demonstrate the efficacy of coordination rooted directly at the grassroots-level: when citizens place their trust and proactively walk alongside authorities, every piece of timely intelligence can help avert risks, preserve village peace, and firmly protect national territorial integrity.

Colonel Bùi Xuân Kiều, Head of the Border Post of the Tây Trang International Border Gate, stated that border residents constitute a vital force in the posture of safeguarding sovereignty from the grassroots-level. The people thoroughly understand the terrain, maintain direct attachments to the boundary line, and are often the first to detect anomalies. When the sense of duty to protect the border becomes an organic action for each citizen, the strength to safeguard sovereignty is multiplied across every household and border community.

Senior Colonel Phan Văn Hóa, Commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, affirmed that for the posture based on the people’s hearts and minds to grow increasingly unshakeable, border guard officers and soldiers must stay close to the people, remain grounded in the field, and accompany residents in their daily lives. Currently, 82 Party members participate in activities at village Party branches, and 326 Party members are in charge of 1,188 households across border areas. Programs such as “Paving the way for children to school,” “Adopted children of Border Posts,” “Border Guard Spring warming the hearts of villagers,” and “Soldier’s rice jar” are sustained, contributing to nurturing trust and tightening the bonds between the military and civilians. From these efforts, each village gains an additional anchor, and each resident gains heightened consciousness and responsibility to join the Border Guard in maintaining peaceful borders and firmly safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.