The movement contributes to strengthening the special friendship between the two countries, while also creating a solid foundation for the border residents to jointly protect sovereignty, security, and order, and build a border of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

The Vietnam-Laos border line in Điện Biên province is over 400km long, and the lives of people in the border area are still difficult. However, in these lands, the spirit of unity and connection between the armies and peoples on both sides of the border is clearly depicted through twinning programs, exchanges, and mutual support activities between adjoining villages.

Over the years, the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard force has coordinated closely with local party committees, authorities, and the border protection forces of Laos to organize communication and mobilize people on both sides to participate in protecting the border line and markers. They provide guidance on production, animal husbandry, crop and livestock conversion, socio-economic development, and poverty reduction. This contributes to building a stable, secure border brimming with friendship.

One typical model is the Na Son village cluster (Phonthong district, Luang Prabang province, Lao PDR) twinned with Mường Nhà commune (Điện Biên province). About 10km from the Huổi Puốc border gate, Na Son village previously faced many difficulties, lacking infrastructure, and its people endured hardships. Since receiving regular help from the Border Post of Huổi Puốc Border Gate, the village’s appearance has gradually changed. Officers and soldiers from the post have supported with seeds, breeding stock, and technical guidance on planting upland and wet rice, accompanying the people through every crop season and small project.

Colonel Nguyễn Văn Ngô, Head of the Border Post of Huổi Puốc Border Gate, said: “The village-to-village twinning model has helped strengthen trust, enhance understanding, and tighten the bond between the governments, peoples, and border protection forces of the two countries. Because when the people understand, trust, and voluntarily participate in protecting the border, that is the strongest foundation for national security.”

To date, 8 twinned village pairs have been formed along the Vietnam-Laos border in Điện Biên province, becoming bright spots in building a border of peace and friendship. Responding to the movement for all people to join in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security, many collectives, households, and individuals in the area have proactively registered to participate in self-management models, contributing to maintaining political security and social order. Along with the mission of border protection, the Điện Biên Border Guard force’s units also coordinate many social security activities: medical check-ups, free medicine distribution, support with materials, and medical and educational equipment, and disease prevention, helping people on both sides improve their lives, strengthen trust, and bond more closely.

Recently, a twinning ceremony was held between the Tây Trang International Border Gate, Thanh Luông, and Pa Thơm Border Posts (under the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard Command of the provincial Military Command) and Border Guard Company 119 of the Phongsaly provincial Military Command (Laos). The two sides agreed to coordinate closely in exchanging information, managing people and vehicles crossing the border, and fighting crime, especially drug, human trafficking, and illegal immigration. At the same time, they will organize cultural and sports exchanges and visits on traditional holidays, helping to tighten the special Vietnam-Laos solidarity.

Along with political-defense activities, the border residential cluster twinning movement also holds deep humanitarian value, spreading the spirit of sharing and the bond of comradeship and kinship. The new houses being built, the border children going to school, the roads to the border becoming busier and brighter... all bear the imprint of the hands and hearts of the Điện Biên Border Guard soldiers.

Phạm Hồng Giang, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the provincial Border Guard Command, affirmed: “With the view that helping friends is helping ourselves, the twinning and support activities of the Điện Biên Border Guard have contributed to consolidating the special Vietnam-Laos solidarity, while also helping people on both sides of the border stabilize their lives, develop their economies, and reduce poverty. In the time to come, the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard will continue to promote twinning activities, friendly exchanges, and material and technical support for the people and border protection forces of Laos; maintain the village-to-village and residential cluster twinning models, strengthen communication to raise legal awareness, and organize medical examinations and sponsor disadvantaged border students.”

Through these concrete, practical actions, the “Twinning of border residential clusters” movement is spreading widely, contributing to strengthening the solidarity and close bond between the two nations of Vietnam and Laos. On the Điện Biên border today, that friendship is nurtured daily by the responsibility and steadfast hearts of the people at the nation’s frontier, creating a solid foundation for a border region of peace, stability, and development.