From the center of Nậm Kè commune, we joined a working group of commune officials and officers and soldiers from the Nậm Kè Border Post to transport construction materials to Tàng Phon Hamlet. The long, winding, slippery dirt road made the journey difficult. Motorbikes could only cover two-thirds of the way before being forced to stop at the Nậm Chà Stream, unable to go further. The group had to unload the materials, hurriedly stack them onto shaky bamboo rafts, and cross the stream.

At this time of year, the Nậm Chà Stream flows swiftly. Bamboo rafts, tied tightly with ropes and carrying sheets of corrugated iron, steel bars, and sacks of cement, swayed across the rushing water. Because each raft carried heavy loads of materials and people, 3-4 people had to pull the rope to get it across. Once ashore, the working group carried the materials another 2km on foot along muddy roads to the house construction site in Tàng Phon hamlet.

Lieutenant Colonel Vũ Văn Cảnh, Head of the Nậm Kè Border Post, said: “The program to eradicate temporary and dilapidated houses is a major policy of the Party and State to help poor and near-poor households have solid homes, enabling them to settle down and develop production. We see this as a political task linked to the responsibility of our officers and soldiers. Therefore, no matter how rainy or difficult it gets, we must bring the materials into the hamlet on time to build houses for people. Every completed house means one more family has a place to live and one more source of support to help them overcome immediate difficulties and gradually improve their lives.”

Tàng Phon is a highland and remote hamlet of Nậm Kè commune, where people’s lives remain very difficult. In 2025, as part of the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses, the Nậm Kè commune People’s Committee worked with the village development board to review, select, and list households needing housing support. The hamlet has six poor and near-poor households receiving assistance to build new homes, three under the temporary and dilapidated house eradication program, and three funded by the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas.

According to Mr. Vũ Đức Thiệp, Vice Chairman of the Nậm Kè commune People’s Committee, to complete all six houses in August, the commune coordinated with the Nậm Kè Border Post to form working groups to stay in the hamlet and support construction from the very beginning. Due to the rugged terrain, no motorized vehicles could enter the hamlet, so all materials had to be carried on foot, waded across streams, and ferried on rafts. Without the help of the border guards, it would have been difficult to meet the schedule. So far, three of the six houses in Tàng Phon hamlet have been basically completed. It is expected that the remaining houses will be finished and put into use by the end of August.

Building houses during the rainy season is never easy, and in the highlands, it is even more challenging. From the very first days, the working groups have been carrying materials, corrugated iron, steel, cement, over 20km from the commune center into the hamlet. After carrying the materials, they continued leveling the ground, building frames, and roofing. The “green-uniformed” soldiers acted as porters, builders, and assistants, participating in nearly every stage of construction, becoming a firm source of support for people.

“The villagers are still poor and lacking in many ways, so we help with whatever we can. Some days it rained all day, yet we still carried corrugated iron and moved bricks with people. It was tiring, but as long as the villagers soon have new homes, all the hardships are worth it,” said Major Vũ Đức Toàn, Deputy Political Commissar of Nậm Kè Border Post.

The program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses is not only about providing shelter but is also part of the policy to stabilize settlements and ensure people’s lives, especially in highland border areas. In particular, the border guard’s companionship strengthens people’s trust in the Party, the State, and functional forces.

Looking at the completed house frame, Mr. Thào A Tính of Tàng Phon hamlet emotionally shared: “Building a new, solid house has been my family’s dream for many years. This year, thanks to State support, I was very happy and prepared everything to start construction right away. With the help of the border guards and commune officials, the new house is almost complete. With this new home, we can feel secure, settle down, and focus on working to escape poverty.”

Not far from Mr. Thào A Tính’s house, Mr. Kháng A Lừ’s new home is nearing completion. The sounds of sawing and hammering echoed in the mountains, mingling with the cheerful voices and laughter of border guards and villagers.

Mr. Lừ said: “From each sack of cement and sheet of corrugated iron to every wooden beam and brick, there has been the helping hand of the border guards. They didn’t mind the rain, the distance, and worked with me to level the ground, build the frame, and roof the house. Without their help, my family would have taken much longer to finish the house.”

As the afternoon fell and cooking smoke rose along the mountain slopes, the working group left the hamlet. The happy smiles and the shouts of children seemed to dispel some of the day’s fatigue.

Life in the border area is still lacking in many ways, but with these new houses, people of Tàng Phon will feel secure to settle down, develop production, and gradually stabilize their lives. The steady footsteps and sweat-soaked shirts of the officers and soldiers of the Nậm Kè Border Post have written a beautiful story of military-civilian solidarity in the borderlands.