Replacing dilapidated houses with hope

In the days leading up to the 2026 Lunar New Year of the Horse, as the pale peach blossoms began to bloom, officers and soldiers of Infantry Battalion 1, Regiment 741, under the provincial Military Command, conducted field maneuvers to protect the western frontier during the dry season while engaging in mass mobilization. Their destination was Xa Dung commune, a locality that has suffered significant damage from floods and landslides.

When the soldiers arrived to help build a new home, Và Sái Hua from Chua Ta village was overjoyed. After years of living in a leaky house where every rainy season brought constant anxiety, his family spent their first holiday in a sturdy and solid house. Và Sái Hua remarked that life used to be miserable in the dilapidated house, but with the soldiers’ help, they now have a dignified place to live, allowing the family to focus on working hard for the future.

The day the soldiers arrived in the village to assist the people was as vibrant as a festival. Beyond just observing, many villagers joined hands with the soldiers, as new roofs emerged throughout the village as living proof of the spirit that no one should be left behind. Everyone admired the soldiers’ sentiment and dedication, feeling the tangible changes unfolding around them.

Directly involved in the construction, Corporal Mùa A Chứ of Company 2, Infantry Battalion 1, expressed his excitement as a member of the Hmông ethnic group. He felt as though he were working on his own family’s home and noted that despite the sudden rain and bitter cold, the team pushed themselves to finish the work as quickly as possible so the villagers could have new homes before the holiday.

Throughout their stay from December 16, 2025, to January 15, 2026, the personnel of Infantry Battalion 1 directly built, repaired, and reinforced 17 houses for policy families and lonely individuals in particularly difficult circumstances. They also organized various practical activities that left a beautiful image of Uncle Hồ’s soldiers in the hearts of the Xa Dung residents.

Captain Thào A Lồng, Political Officer of the battalion, stated that beyond eliminating temporary housing, the unit provided health check-ups and free medicine to hundreds of residents. In Chua Ta A village, the unit moved 100 cubic meters of landslide soil at the cultural house, repaired 3km of roads, collected waste, and cleared 1km of irrigation canals for the village fields.

Strengthening “people’s heart” posture

This persistence was not limited to Xa Dung; the green uniforms were also a steady presence in the difficult villages of Nậm Kè and Mường Toong communes. Huổi Lích 2 village, located about 20km from the center of Nậm Kè commune, is home to over 70 Dao ethnic households. In addition to production shortages, transport is hindered by temporary dirt paths and trails.

Consequently, when implementing the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing, the local government faced many obstacles. In response, the provincial Military Command deployed nearly 40 personnel from the Mường Nhé Area 1 Defense Command and Regiment 741 to assist. These soldiers exerted themselves to transport materials from the commune center over the 20km distance to the village, carrying corrugated iron, steel, and cement on their backs before leveling foundations and erecting frames.

Sùng A Sinh, head of Huổi Lích village, noted that the soldiers accompanied the people from digging foundations to the final roofing, and after a month, 19 households had new, solid homes, which has tightened the bond between the military and the people. Implementing the program to eliminate temporary housing is not just about providing shelter; it is part of a broader policy to stabilize the population and ensure security, especially in highland and border areas. Responding effectively to movements such as “The military joins hands to build new rural areas” and “The whole country joins hands for the poor,” the provincial Military Command supported the construction of 305 houses for poor households with 8,540 workdays between 2021 and 2025.

In 2025 alone, the command coordinated with the Department of Construction to effectively implement the housing program across the province, mobilizing 131 personnel for over 2,100 workdays to complete 76 houses in Nậm Kè, Mường Toong, and Na Sang communes. The sweat and effort of these soldiers today will serve as a sustainable foundation for the future of the people at the nation’s frontier. On every path of building the homeland, the image of Uncle Ho’s soldiers continues to shine as a steady anchor of trust and motivation, helping the people build a prosperous and sustainable life at the nation’s gateway.