The promotion of spiritual and cultural strength has been identified as a key mission, serving as an essential internal force in consolidating the country’s defense posture in this strategically vital frontier. As a mountainous border province, Điện Biên holds a particularly important position in terms of national defense and security. It is not only a historic location but also a living symbol of Vietnam’s comprehensive defense strategy.

The land of Điện Biên has witnessed glorious victories, most notably the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, which “resounded across the five continents and shook the world.” It is home to 19 ethnic groups, forming a diverse cultural tapestry rich in revolutionary tradition. Building spiritual and cultural strength from the legacy of Điện Biên Phủ nurtures patriotism, unity, and resilience, thereby reinforcing national defense potential and transforming historical memory into contemporary strength.

For the provincial armed forces, cultural and spiritual strength is not only rooted in the heroic tradition of Điện Biên’s military and civilian resistance but also shaped through the process of development, combat, and growth during the era of renewal and integration. Over 76 years of construction and struggle, the provincial armed forces have remained a loyal and reliable force of the Party, government, and people, acting as a steadfast pillar in safeguarding territorial sovereignty and border security.

In the current context of implementing a two-tier local government structure to enhance governance efficiency, the provincial armed forces are also undergoing restructuring to streamline and strengthen their organizational apparatus. This reform poses several challenges, requiring the downsizing of the force while increasing coordination between the military and local political systems. Meanwhile, the demands of extensive, sparsely populated, and demographically diverse terrain remain unchanged.

Under the direction of the Party Committee and High Command of Military Region 2, and directly guided by the Điện Biên provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, with support from departments, agencies, and political-social organizations, as well as active involvement from local authorities, the provincial armed forces have shown strong responsibility and proactivity. Despite difficulties, they have maintained training quality, combat readiness, civil affairs work, and consolidated the all-people national defense system integrated with an increasingly solid people’s security posture.

In 2024 and the first six months of 2025, the provincial Military Command, in coordination with other units, organized 44 training courses on national defense and security for 2,484 participants, including 179 from group 3 and 2,305 from group 4. One additional course was held for 64 village elders, heads of villages, and respected ethnic minority figures. The units trained 25 commune-level military officers and sent 41 officers from group 2 for further training at the Military School of Military Region 2. A total of 28 drills at various levels were conducted, including two district-level defensive area drills in Nậm Pồ and Tủa Chùa, one district-level civil defense drill in Mường Lay town, and 25 commune/ward-level defensive combat drills, incorporating flood and wildfire response scenarios, with nearly 5,000 officers, soldiers, and civilians participating. These exercises improved organizational and command capabilities, enhanced real-time problem-solving, and effectively demonstrated the leadership of the Party, the administration of local authorities, and the coordination among involved forces.

The most prominent expression of spiritual and cultural strength is reflected in the firm political stance, strong will, and absolute loyalty of officers and soldiers. The effective implementation of Directive No.05 and Resolution of the 13th Party Central Committee on Party-building, along with emulation movements for excellence, has created powerful motivation throughout the force. Innovative initiatives and practices in tradition education such as “A Story of Tradition Each Week,” “Model Military Party Cell - Peaceful Village,” and “Political and Cultural-Spiritual Days in the Unit” have become effective, regular activities.

A notable example was during the floods in Mường Pồn commune in July 2024, when the armed forces mobilized over 10,000 officers and soldiers, including active duty, reserves, and militias, to engage in search and rescue, transport and burial of victims, dismantling 27 houses, building six temporary shelters, cleaning and disinfecting 30,000 square meters, providing medical care and free medicine to 124 people, delivering food and essentials to the affected commune, and transporting nearly 11 tons of relief supplies. The forces also helped rebuild and repair homes for residents to restore their lives after the disaster.

In conjunction with the task of building a defensive area, the provincial armed forces have also actively contributed to socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and new-style rural development, thereby improving the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic communities. Many social projects and programs supporting the poor, education, and mobile healthcare conducted by affiliated units have left a deep impression on the people. Through close ties, support, and companionship, the image of “Uncle Hồ’s Soldiers” continues to shine in peacetime. The provincial armed forces, together with other military units and local authorities, have built 96 gratitude and solidarity houses worth VND 7.44 billion for policy beneficiaries, poor households, and struggling servicemen.

They have effectively implemented the “Stepping Stones to School” program, sponsoring and supporting the education of 29 ethnic minority students in difficult circumstances with an annual budget of VND 120 million. They also provided gifts to underprivileged students and disadvantaged women in border communes such as Nậm Vì, Mường Toong, and Huổi Lếch, valued at nearly VND 100 million. They organized “United Spring - Military-People Love” programs, “Green Chưng Cake Festival,” and donated 890 gifts and 2,800 bánh chưng worth a total of VND 870 million to residents in difficult areas. In addition, they supported the construction of four semi-boarding facilities for students in Tủa Chùa, Điện Biên, Nậm Pồ, and Mường Nhé, valued at nearly VND 2 billion.

In the current context, building the defensive area in Điện Biên cannot be separated from strengthening and promoting the spiritual and cultural strength of local armed forces. This is an invisible yet unbreakable stronghold, a flame that fuels determination, and a driving force that inspires officers and soldiers to overcome every challenge. Moving forward, the provincial armed forces of Điện Biên are determined to continue fostering spiritual and cultural strength while improving political quality across the force. This will serve as the foundation for successfully achieving defense and military objectives and for developing a strong all-people national defense in synergy with people’s security and border defense, thus maintaining political stability, social order, and firmly safeguarding national sovereignty over the border areas.

This is also the result of upholding the proud tradition of the provincial armed forces: “Loyalty - Self-reliance - Solidarity - Creativity - Victory,” contributing to building an increasingly solid defensive area in every situation, worthy of the trust and love of the Party, government, and people of Điện Biên province.

Senior Colonel Trịnh Đức Thiêm

Commander of the Điện Biên provincial Military Command