The motto “The station is home, the border is the homeland, the people of all ethnic groups are blood brothers” has been deeply internalized by every soldier, serving as a guiding light that strengthens the bond between the military and the local community. It seems these soldiers have figured out that the best way to guard a border is to build a home.

The Mường Nhé Border Post manages nearly 490km2 including 39 villages and more than 23,000 residents from 11 ethnic groups, with the Mông people making up 63.73% and the Hà Nhì people 10.83%. Before 2015, life was difficult with high poverty rates and outdated farming practices, posing security risks. Tasked with protecting 42.158km of the Vietnam-Laos border and 15 national markers, the officers and soldiers of the Mường Nhé Border Post realized that defending the frontier must begin with caring for the people. Based on surveys, the unit has implemented suitable livelihood, education, and health models for each specific group.

On the winding roads into the border villages of Mường Nhé commune, one can find the mass mobilization team coordinating with the head of Nà Pán 1 village to review lists of households in need for the “Soldier’s Rice Pot” model. For over eight years, soldiers have shared a portion of their daily rice, contributing over 3 tons and hundreds of gifts to help poor households and the elderly. In Nà Pán 1 village, Khoàng Văn Ninh showed guests his livestock area and explained that his family was supported with seedlings and techniques by the station, leading to a stable economy. He shared that beyond initial help, the soldiers frequently visit to guide new production methods, earning the trust and love of everyone in the village.

Long-term programs such as “Stepping Stones to School” and “Border Guard Foster Children” have been maintained since 2016, with the unit supporting 12 students and adopting 6 foster children. Many of these students have graduated from university and found stable jobs, becoming the pride of their communities. Lieutenant Colonel Phạm Văn Bắc, the post’s Political Officer, emphasized that helping the people must be practical and thorough, as a stable life and strong trust are the foundations for a sustainable national security movement.

In addition to economic support, the station has coordinated over 75 cultural and sports exchanges, repaired 76 houses, and built 11 Great Solidarity houses. Programs like “Border Spring” and “Border Lessons” have improved the material and spiritual lives of the people while raising awareness of border protection responsibilities. Currently, 42 security groups and many families have registered to self-manage the border markers in the commune.

Following the policy of strengthening personnel for the grassroots, the role of the station in building the local political system is evident, with the political officer joining the Mường Nhé commune party executive committee and 21 officers directly assisting 71 border households. Tạ Văn Sơn, the secretary of the Mường Nhé commune Party Committee, noted that the soldiers stay very close to the people and their models have consolidated the political system and maintained order. As evening falls over Mường Nhé, the most valuable achievement remains the solid “people’s heart position” built through persistent effort, changing the face of the border region.