The Sen Thượng Border Post is responsible for managing and protecting a 24-kilometer stretch of the national border between Vietnam and China, which includes eight boundary markers. In recent times, officers and soldiers at the post have made great efforts to effectively conduct public mobilization work, encouraging local people to follow the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, contributing to building prosperous and stable border communities.

According to Political Officer Lò Văn Ván of the Sen Thượng Border Post, the post has implemented many coordinated measures to build great national unity and support people in production. To make public outreach more effective, the unit emphasizes practical and specific activities and adheres to the motto of “three stays, four togethers” with the people.

The Tả Ló San Border Post is located in Tả Ló San village, over 20 kilometers from the commune center. Here, officers and soldiers not only protect the border and maintain security and order but also actively accompany local people in economic development and poverty reduction.

Pờ Xuân Mười, head of Tả Ló San village, shared: “Border guards have become like family to us. Whatever the people need, the officers are there to help. They teach us how to monitor the weather to plan farming activities and avoid natural disasters. Beyond just providing knowledge, the border guards also help households reinforce homes and livestock shelters and assist in protecting people and property.”

As the rainy season peaks, the border forces must intensify their presence and grasp of local conditions to quickly detect and respond to emergencies.

At the Tả Ló San Border Post, officer Trần Quang Đăng noted that the team is actively educating and assisting villagers in disaster prevention. This ranges from monitoring weather patterns for optimal farming to bringing livestock home from fields and forests and reinforcing pens and barns. Parents are also advised to supervise their children carefully and not let them go out during storms.

Educating ethnic minorities about the law is a key solution that the Border Guard Force actively promotes at the grassroots level, not only helping maintain public order but also gradually raising legal awareness among local communities.

Đinh Công Điện, Political Officer of the Mường Mươn Border Post, explained: “Although legal education efforts have been strengthened by Party committees, authorities, and mass organizations, violations still occur. Most cases involve forest law violations, illegal use of fireworks during Tết, domestic violence, and consanguineous marriage, all stemming from a lack of awareness. Some bad actors have exploited the gullibility of ethnic minority communities, using direct messaging or the internet to lure and convince 19 households with 130 people in Huổi Nhả village, Mường Pồn commune, to abandon state-recognized religions and follow the heretical ‘Giê Sùa’ sect, causing political and social instability. That’s why standard methods of ‘reading-copying-listening’ don’t work. We have to learn the local languages, understand customs, and speak in ways that are relatable and relevant to the villagers’ concerns.”

In response, models like “Community Security Self-Management Teams” and “Border Loudspeakers,” as well as mobile film screenings and visual leaflets in Thái and Hmông languages, have made complex laws easier to grasp. For example: Why is it illegal to store fireworks? What are the consequences of illegal border crossings? How can people avoid online scams?

One of the most effective models has been the formation of “village-level security self-management teams” and “community reconciliation groups,” which include both locals and border guards. These practical initiatives have sparked trust in the law and gradually spread the spirit of “living and working according to the Constitution and laws” throughout border communities.

From 2020 to 2025, the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard has deployed 23 missions with 178 officers to key areas, persuaded 26 individuals to renounce the Tâm linh Hồ Chí Minh cult, handled six cases involving eight offenders, and secured commitments from five individuals not to promote Falun Gong. In border areas, border guards contributed 15,625 workdays to support local production and mobilized 4,750 officers and 250 vehicles to help overcome natural disasters.

Through concrete actions and the “three stays, four togethers” approach, the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard’s troops have strengthened the bond between the military and the people, solidifying the all-people border defense posture and contributing to the firm protection of national sovereignty and border security.