Throughout July, the communes of Sam Mứn, Thanh Nưa, and Pu Nhi have been bustling with activity as the green uniforms of Regiment 82 became a familiar sight. Undeterred by scorching heat, muddy ground, or steep terrain, officers and soldiers spread out to villages and households to help residents plant trees, care for crops, clear irrigation canals, and clean village roads and public areas. The sounds of hoes and shovels blended with cheerful conversations, creating a vivid picture of military-civilian solidarity in the border region.

As part of the first phase of its 2026 field exercise and community outreach program, the regiment first assessed local conditions before coordinating with local Party committees and authorities. Activities included disseminating Party guidelines and State policies and laws, encouraging residents to fulfill local defense responsibilities, supporting agricultural production, clearing irrigation canals, repairing rural roads, improving environmental sanitation, and raising awareness of disease prevention and healthcare.

In Sam Mứn commune, officers and soldiers from Battalion 3 worked alongside residents of Na Ư and Hua Thanh villages to plant 10 hectares of coffee and macadamia trees. They also weeded, fertilized, and cared for pineapple plantations in their growing season, cleaned village roads, and organized several free haircut events for local residents.

Sam Mứn is a border commune comprising 20 villages inhabited mainly by the Kinh, Thai, and Hmong ethnic groups. Many households still face economic hardship, particularly due to shortages of agricultural labor.

Phạm Thiết Chùy, Chairman of the Sam Mứn commune People’s Committee, said: “Sam Mứn shares more than 18 kilometers of border with Laos. The commune is focusing on developing high-value crops such as coffee, macadamia, and pineapples to improve local incomes. However, many poor households, near-poor households, and policy beneficiary families face difficulties in caring for their crops. The officers and soldiers of Regiment 82 arrived at exactly the right time and helped with the tasks our community needed most. Their support has not only eased the burden on local people but also encouraged them to continue developing production and improving their livelihoods.”

At the pineapple plantation of Vừ A Chía in Na Ư village, young soldiers worked energetically across the hillside. His family owns more than three hectares of pineapples currently in the growing stage but lacked sufficient labor to maintain the plantation. Under the command of Senior Captain Vàng A Huyền, Commander of Company 9, Battalion 3, the soldiers quickly divided into groups to weed, mound soil around the plants, and apply fertilizer. Within a single morning, they completed work that would otherwise have taken the family several days.

Vừ A Chía shared emotionally: “Our family has very few working members, so we could not care for the entire plantation on time. Thanks to the soldiers, the work was completed very quickly. They not only provided much-needed labor but also showed us more effective cultivation techniques. We are truly grateful.”

Beyond supporting agricultural production, the officers and soldiers also encouraged residents to protect the environment, adopt civilized lifestyles, and apply modern farming techniques. Informal conversations in pineapple fields, beneath forest canopies, and along village roads helped bring Party policies and State laws closer to people living in remote mountainous communities.

In Thanh Nưa Commune, Regiment 82 assigned nearly 30 ethnic minority officers and soldiers who are fluent in local languages and familiar with the customs of the Thai, Hmong, and Khmu communities to carry out community outreach work. Their linguistic and cultural advantages significantly enhanced communication and public awareness efforts.

Working alongside local residents, the soldiers cleared more than 15 kilometers of field irrigation canals within just the first three days of the campaign. They also cleaned roads in Hoong Lếch Cang and Bó villages. The cleaner roads and restored irrigation systems not only improve agricultural production but also promote environmental awareness and more civilized living standards among local communities.

Colonel Chu Đại Phong, Secretary of the Regiment’s Party Committee and Political Commissar of Regiment 82, Division 355, said: “All activities are designed around the actual needs of each locality, focusing on practical tasks that support economic development, new-style rural development, and environmental improvement. Community outreach not only provides valuable opportunities for officers and soldiers to strengthen their professional skills, working style, and sense of responsibility, but also reinforces the close bond between the military and the people, helping build an increasingly strong people’s defense posture in the area.”