Performing this mission at the Employment - Meritorious Service Center under the Department of Home Affairs, each cadre and public employee consistently pays attention to the smallest details, looking after the health, daily living conditions, and sentiments of every individual. Through this, each nursing day becomes a comfortable, joyful, and warm period of rest.

Following an afternoon nap, veteran Vũ Ngọc Ước (Thanh Nưa commune) walked down to the common lounge. Selecting a table, he played Chinese chess with fellow delegation members. Nearby, several persons relaxed on massage chairs, chatting comfortably. Conversations extended from family affairs and the education and careers of children and grandchildren to wartime memories and comrades of yesteryear.

“Coming here, I feel very comfortable. The dining and lodging quarters are spacious, clean, and living conditions are far better than before. The staff members are extremely attentive and enthusiastic. Being medically cared for and having opportunities to socialize with everyone makes my spirit much more upbeat,” Ước shared.

The second meritorious service nursing batch of 2026 at the Employment - Meritorious Service Center comprises 46 individuals from various communes and wards across the province; among them, 25 people are aged 71-80 and 10 are over 80 years old. Participating members include wounded soldiers, sick soldiers, resistance war participants exposed to toxic chemical agents, martyrs’ widows, and individuals who fostered martyrs.

Upon the delegation’s arrival at the Center, the initial priorities were reception, room settling, and health check-ups. Information regarding each person’s physical condition is recorded and monitored throughout the nursing course so medical personnel and service teams can tailor suitable care regimens. Through preliminary examinations, the Center identified 10 individuals with diabetes, six with high blood pressure, three with chronic lung disease, and one with gout. Consequently, meals are meticulously planned for each individual.

Giàng Thị Dương, Deputy Director of the Employment - Meritorious Service Center, stated: “As soon as the veterans arrive, the Center conducts physical check-ups and establishes monitoring dossiers to grasp each individual’s physical status. For those requiring dietary restrictions or fractional meals, medical and catering staff proactively adjust the menu. We strive to arrange living quarters, meals, and daily activities appropriately and conveniently so the veterans can rest with peace of mind and enjoy improved health when returning home.”

Material facilities serving nursing care receive focused attention and upgrades from the Center. Guest rooms have been refurbished into spacious, clean, and airy accommodations. Common living areas, meeting halls, and equipment serving physical exercise and recreational entertainment have been supplemented, allowing national contributors both to rest and participate in activities aligned with their physical endurance and health status.

Alongside medical care, the Center formulates nursing agendas with diverse suitable activities, creating spaces for national contributors to relax and socialize. Delegation members enjoy herbal medicine foot soaks, mineral spring baths, physical workouts, the class “Five Secrets to Healthy Living Past Age 70,” and cultural exchanges with the Dissemination and Cultural Troupe of the provincial Veterans Association. The itinerary includes paying homage at the A1 National Martyrs’ Cemetery, offering incense at the President Hồ Chí Minh Memorial House, touring historical relics, and taking souvenir photos - sharing moments of relaxation, camaraderie, and reminiscing about bygone days.

Wounded soldier Lò Văn Lanh, from Cáy village, Nà Tấu commune, clearly felt the shifts in this nursing session compared to earlier years. He noted: “Activities are quite varied, featuring many contents that facilitate rest while benefiting health. We receive thoughtful care, participate in social exchanges, and go sightseeing. Spending several days here, my spirit feels relaxed and joyful, and my health has improved.”

For wounded soldier Khoàng Văn Xóm, from Mới village, Mường Chà commune, returning to the Center brought renewed joy. “What makes me happiest is reuniting with comrades and old friends, some of whom served in the same unit and fought in the same era. Spending several days meeting, chatting, and participating in activities together makes my spirit very buoyant. Gatherings like this are deeply precious to us,” Xóm shared.

In 2026, Điện Biên province plans to organize four nursing batches for roughly 180 national contributors. Lê Đình Tuyên, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, affirmed: “National contributors have dedicated their lives and made sacrifices for the country. Caring for and nurturing them is not merely fulfilling statutory regimes and policies, but represents affection, responsibility, and deep gratitude. We will continue directing the Center to fulfill its duties with dedication, devotion, and thoroughness; listening to feedback from national contributors to steadily elevate service quality.”

From 2027, under the amended and supplemented Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution, certain categories will be eligible for annual nursing care instead of once every two years as previously practiced. This implies that national contributors can return to the Center more frequently, while establishing higher requirements for care and service quality. For those directly performing nursing duties, the simple aspiration is that each time national contributors return to the Center, they feel warmth and familiarity; resting with peace of mind, meeting friends and comrades, and savoring joyful, memorable days of recuperation.

Giàng Thị Dương, Deputy Director of the Employment - Meritorious Service Center, shared: “We hope the Center genuinely becomes a second home for the veterans. Each visit provides them with restorative rest, bringing greater cheer to their spirits and improvements to their health. We also hope they remember the Center and return again next year.”