They lead the way, tackle arduous tasks, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people through every stage of village development. From those quiet steps, trust is cultivated, public strength is assembled, and the aspiration to rise is ignited, allowing Sín Thầu - the land where the sun sets latest across the S-shaped strip of land - to don a new, prosperous, and vibrant appearance day by day.

Part 1: Kindling the Party’s flame at the westernmost frontier of the Fatherland

From the first Party seeds sown on border soil, the flame of faith has sprouted, taken root, and spread through the years. Tempered by ideals, responsibility, and attachment to their villages, those seeds have matured in succession, producing generations of steadfast Party members at the westernmost frontier of the Fatherland. Following in the footsteps of their predecessors, they quietly keep the flame alive, guiding fellow countrymen through revolutionary stages, nurturing trust, consolidating great solidarity, helping build the homeland, and firmly defending the Fatherland’s borderlands.

The planter of the first seed for the Party

Tracing history back more than 70 years to 1953, Pờ Pố Chừ, a young Hà Nhì man from Tả Ló San village, Xính Phình commune, the former Mường Tè district of Lai Châu province (now part of Sín Thầu commune, Điện Biên province), was enlightened by the revolution early on, becoming one of the first to kindle the flame of patriotism in the border region. From that initial spark, the revolutionary spirit steadily spread and took root within ethnic communities at the westernmost tip of the Fatherland.

In 1954, Mường Tè was liberated. In 1959, the Armed Public Security Team - the predecessor of the Leng Su Sìn Border Post - was established, opening a new chapter in building and consolidating the border area. Amidst years of poverty, deprivation, and countless hardships, revolutionary seeds were quietly sown, taking root in the hearts of the people. Among those pioneers was the young man Pờ Pố Chừ. Together with five other Hà Nhì youths, he established the first Party cell in Xính Phình - the Trung Thầu Party cell - laying the foundation for Party-building work in the westernmost region of the Fatherland.

With a revolutionary spirit forged through difficult years, Party member Pờ Pố Chừ consistently upheld a high sense of responsibility, taking the lead alongside soldiers in suppressing bandits, eliminating traitors, guiding routes, and recording numerous exploits. That dedication, mettle, and prestige led the organization to entrust him with many important duties, including the position of Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Sín Thầu commune. Beyond serving as a grassroots leader, Pờ Pố Chừ became a bright example of revolutionary spirit, willpower, and responsibility, trusted and emulated by generations of Hà Nhì youth.

Continuing the revolutionary flame nurtured by their father Pờ Pố Chừ, 7 out of his 11 children continually strove, matured, and earned the honor of joining the ranks of the Party. From villages at the westernmost frontier, they continued carrying forward family tradition, becoming exemplary cores who helped build the homeland and consolidate the people’s trust in the Party.

Pờ Diệp Sàng, the fifth child of Pờ Pố Chừ, shared that in continuing the glorious family tradition, every generation of descendants of the Pờ lineage constantly reminds themselves to train diligently and live responsibly toward their homeland and village. His father dedicated his entire life to the revolution, always acting as a pioneer, setting an example, remaining devoted to public duties, and serving the people wholeheartedly. The legacy left by his father is not only a source of pride, but also a motivation for children and grandchildren to follow, continuing to dedicate themselves, contributing to the transformation of the westernmost homeland, and ensuring good family values are passed down through generations.

From the first person who sowed the seed, generations of ethnic minorities in westernmost Sín Thầu have relentlessly persevered, trained, matured, and strove to stand within the ranks of the Party.

The flame keepers

From the first torches lit in the borderlands, the light of faith in the Party has been transmitted across generations. Generations of residents in Sín Thầu have diligently studied, trained, stood ready to march off to battle to protect every sacred inch of the Fatherland’s soil, and constantly strove to enter the ranks of the Party. For them, becoming a Party member is not only an honor, but a voluntary commitment and a responsibility to live and dedicate themselves to the homeland, villages, and border territory. From these unassuming individuals, revolutionary traditions are carried forward, faith is built up, and the Party’s flame burns ever brighter in the westernmost Fatherland.

Village elder Lỳ Xuyến Phù of A Pa Chải village was among those honored to join the ranks of the Party when he turned 19. From that moment, he harbored a deep awareness of a Party member’s responsibility. In 1979, during the fierce border defense war, as the commune Military Commander of Sín Thầu, he joined residents in transporting firearms, ammunition, and food supplies to serve the fighting; he directly commanded nearly 60 Sín Thầu militia members taking up arms in combat, coordinating with border guards at High Point 1,296 in A Pa Chải village and border outposts to prevent enemy forces from encroaching deep into the territory, safeguarding villages, borderlines, and sacred national border markers.

Village elder Lỳ Xuyến Phù shared that the years of fighting to defend the border remain an unforgettable memory. At that time, his sole wish was to protect the village, preserve every inch of the native land, and never let borderlines or markers be violated. Now advanced in age, he hopes the younger generation, particularly young Party members, will continue preserving traditions, live responsibly, and unite with the people to build the homeland and firmly defend the Fatherland’s border.

From the initial Trung Thầu Party cell, that flame has now multiplied strongly. The Party Committee of Sín Thầu commune currently has 33 subordinate Party cells and committees with 572 Party members. Pờ Mý Lế, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Sín Thầu commune, shared that through each stage, the commune’s contingent of Party members has grown steadily in both quantity and quality. From the pioneers who laid the foundation, today’s generations of Party members inherit and promote traditions, staying close to the villages, living among the people, understanding the people, speaking so the people listen, and acting so the people trust. Through exemplary conduct, dedication, and responsibility, each Party member becomes a political core at the grassroots, closely attached to the people, leading the village through progressive changes while helping firmly maintain sovereignty and border security at the westernmost frontier.

The imprint of a young Party Secretary

Amidst days of heavy July rains, Secretary of the commune Party Committee and Chairman of the commune People’s Council Đặng Thành Huy, alongside the leadership collective of Sín Thầu commune, directly visited every hamlet and village to stand alongside residents in deploying coffee and macadamia farming models. Footsteps toward the grassroots and conversations held in border villages demonstrated a pioneering spirit, closeness to the people, and the accountability of a cadre who constantly reflects and acts for the prosperity of the people.

Secretary of the Party Cell and Head of Sen Thượng village Chang Chùy Cà stated that the Secretary of the commune Party Committee always follows each locality closely, frequently visits the grassroots, and directly holds dialogues with residents to grasp aspirations and resolve difficulties arising during mission execution. Thanks to this, many guidelines and resolutions receive consensus and active responses from the people upon implementation.

With a spirit of commitment and the dedication of youth, when the two-tier local governance model was implemented, Đặng Thành Huy, former Secretary of the provincial Youth Union, was mobilized and assigned as Secretary of the Party Committee of Sín Thầu commune. From youth movements to grave responsibilities at the headland of the Fatherland, he brought along enthusiasm, dynamism, and a spirit unafraid of hardship or distance, continuing to place himself in challenging locations alongside cadres, Party members, and the people to identify new directions, awaken potential, and create momentum for Sín Thầu to rise.

Đặng Thành Huy expressed that his greatest reflection is how to awaken internal resources among the people and promote the pioneering, exemplary role of cadres and Party members, joining residents to transform the potentials and advantages of the border region into livelihoods and development opportunities. He believes that when cadres share thoughts and deeds and the people consent, even the greatest difficulties can be overcome step by step, enabling Sín Thầu to develop and local living standards to become increasingly prosperous.

After more than a year of assuming duties, Đặng Thành Huy has gradually built trust and affection among cadres, Party members, and the people. In his role as head of the Party committee, he upholds an exemplary spirit, stays close to the grassroots, remains attuned to the people, listens to thoughts and aspirations, and regards caring for people’s lives and generating livelihoods as a vital task. Together with the Party committee collective and local authorities, he focuses on building a clean and strong Party and political system, promoting solidarity, organizing practical movements tailored to each area, awakening local internal strength, and opening suitable and sustainable economic development paths.

From the first Party seeds across more than seven decades, Sín Thầu has nurtured generations of Party members who know how to lead the way, act first, and remain attached to and mature alongside the people’s lives. For them, the oath before the Party does not merely lie on curriculum vitae pages, but is written through every deed across villages, forests, mountains, and borderlines. In that frontier outpost, Party members gradually become living landmarks, helping defend every sacred inch of the Fatherland’s soil and preserving the green of the great forests.

Thanks to the resolute engagement of the head of the Party committee and the pioneering, exemplary spirit of Party members, to date, the entire Sín Thầu commune has planted 252ha of new coffee, 252ha of macadamia, and 35ha of sugarcane. The forest coverage rate has reached 71.05%, ranking among the highest in the province; the poverty rate has dropped by 4.67% compared to 2025; and average income has surpassed VND 35 million per person per year.