Seventy-nine years ago, on July 12, 1946, under the direct leadership of the Party, with close coordination among forces and tremendous support from the people, the Vietnamese People’s Security Force successfully crushed a counter-revolutionary plot based at No.7 on Ôn Như Hầu Street, Hanoi. This was a hub of enemy activities aiming to carry out a coup in alliance with the French colonialists.

This historic victory marked a glorious milestone in the revolutionary journey and the founding of the People’s Security Force. In recognition of its significance, July 12 was designated the Traditional Day of the Heroic People’s Security Force of Vietnam.

In its early days, the security force of the former Lai Châu provincial Police Department (now Điện Biên provincial Police Department) demonstrated great bravery and resourcefulness in identifying and dismantling fledgling reactionary and espionage organizations, as well as disrupting riots and disturbances backed by the enemy. They closely cooperated with armed forces to suppress hundreds of counter-revolutionaries and traitors, protecting key Party and government institutions, guerrilla bases, and vital transportation routes.

As one of the first units in the country to implement the policy of strengthening grassroots presence, the Provincial Police annually organized deployments under the “three togethers” principle: living, working, and sharing with the people. The security force collaborated with various sectors to advise Party committees and authorities at all levels, developing practical and comprehensive strategies to effectively promote socio-economic development alongside ensuring local security and order.

In recent years, hostile forces have escalated activities exploiting ethnic and religious issues, particularly in ethnic minority areas, to sabotage the Party and the State. As the core force in this struggle, the People’s Security Force has excelled in preventing the spread of heretical sects. Since 2018, seven such groups have emerged in the province: Giê Sùa, Bà Cô Dợ, Ân điển cứu rỗi, Đức Chúa Trời Toàn Năng, Hội thánh Đức Chúa Trời Mẹ, Pháp Luân Công, and Pháp môn Diệu Âm.

Guided by the principle of proactive security, the provincial Security Force focuses on closely monitoring the situation, from the grassroots and from afar, to proactively thwart the “peaceful evolution” schemes of hostile forces. Hundreds of psychological warfare documents and materials aimed at ideological sabotage have been detected and neutralized. Emerging complex issues have been promptly resolved at the grassroots level. They have creatively applied operational tactics to dismantle reactionary organizations and counter subversive political elements connected to extremist petitioners and disaffected individuals.

From 2018 to 2024, security forces prosecuted 20 individuals for “activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s government,” persuaded 8 individuals to surrender, and neutralized 20 related subjects. They have regularly advised authorities to meet with, educate, and guide 77 individuals who had completed their prison sentences to reintegrate into society and adhere to Party policies and State law. The police also met, identified, and educated 418 individuals with ties to the “Mông Kingdom” movement residing locally. In parallel, public awareness campaigns have helped communities resist harmful influences through various engaging formats and content.

As the core force in state management of religion, the security force has played a vital role in combating illegal religious activities, confiscating thousands of unauthorized religious materials and items smuggled into the province and assisting in resolving heretical sects. They organized 39 community meetings, including film screenings, to educate over 3,000 attendees about the prevention of illegal activities such as the creation of a “Mông Kingdom” and the spread of the Giê Sùa sect.

At the grassroots level, the security force has supported the construction of over 1,700 houses for poor households, helping to stabilize people’s lives, strengthen local control, and maintain security and order. They also mobilized community participation in the “All People Protect National Security” movement, especially in border areas, developing 18 models replicated in 535 locations across border communes.

In the first half of 2025, security in ethnic minority areas and religious affairs remained stable and under control. Cultural, rural, cyber, and internal political security were also generally maintained. Although regular religious activities continued, some potential risks to religious security persisted.

Looking ahead, the provincial Security Force will continue to rigorously implement the Party’s directions and State policies on national security protection. They will focus on building a clean, law-abiding, professional, and technologically adept force, capable of monitoring, researching, and forecasting situations to advise Party committees and authorities with timely and effective solutions for safeguarding security and serving the province’s socio-economic development goals.