Although still in the early stages of implementation with a limited number of devices, the initial effectiveness of this model in the province demonstrates a path suited to practical requirements, contributing to the improvement of state management over security and order and maintaining peace from the grassroots level.

Sam Mứn is a basin commune with high population density situated on a major traffic axis connecting multiple localities. In the past, the security and traffic safety situation held many potential complexities. In 2024, the provincial Police coordinated with local authorities to pilot a security camera model featuring 14 cameras across 12 locations. These cameras were strategically placed on main roads, intersections, and points with high security risks. According to local government representatives, these cameras do not just assist the police in detecting violations but also serve as a significant deterrent. Knowing their actions are recorded, residents have begun to self-adjust their behavior, from following traffic laws to conducting themselves properly in community life.

Lê Ngọc Hoàn, Vice Chairman of the Sam Mứn commune People’s Committee, noted that verifying traffic accidents or small local disputes used to be time-consuming and relied heavily on witness accounts. Now, images extracted from cameras clarify events quickly and objectively, minimizing prolonged arguments or complaints. Since the system became operational, petty theft and traffic violations have decreased significantly. Lường Văn Xiên, head of Thanh Xuân village in Sam Mứn commune, shared that the surveillance system has raised public awareness of the law, allowing residents to feel more secure, particularly as nighttime thefts have ceased.

Similarly, Mường Phăng commune recently activated a system of 32 security cameras installed at 27 key locations. These devices operate continuously, with images transmitted directly to the specialized smartphones of commune police officers for monitoring and data extraction. Major Đặng Ngọc Cương, Deputy Head of the Mường Phăng commune Police, affirmed that the system allows authorities to be much more proactive in monitoring situations and preventing violations early. In areas with cameras, instances of residents not wearing helmets or gathering to drink and cause public disorder have dropped noticeably. Within a short period, the Mường Phăng system helped clarify two social order cases and prevented numerous other violations.

Across Điện Biên province, the smart security camera system was officially deployed by the provincial People’s Committee in August 2024. The network includes 11 high-altitude observation cameras on key routes, 34 facial recognition and crowd detection cameras in public areas, and 74 security cameras for residential streets. The system also integrates 68 cameras shared from various local districts. This represents a major step forward in applying AI technology to security work.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, Deputy Head of the Team for Communication, Investigation, and Handling of Traffic Violations under the provincial Police, explained that the cameras assist in tracing accidents and investigating complex security cases. Since the system’s launch, it has detected many instances of public disorder, including serious cases involving teenagers carrying weapons or illegal racing. A prominent example occurred in July 2025 in Điện Biên Phủ ward, where a group of youths rode motorcycles without license plates, wore masks, and carried weapons while challenging authorities. By extracting camera footage, the police quickly identified 12 involved individuals and seized motorcycles and weapons, effectively reassuring the public and restoring order.

The “Camera for Security and Order” model has proven to be the “ears and eyes” and an “extended arm” of the police force. Beyond its technical role, it has fundamentally changed the perception of local authorities and the public regarding the role of science and technology in safety. However, equipping hundreds of cameras at complex points is a financial challenge. This requires the police force to play a core role in advising local governments to mobilize social organizations and households to invest in their own cameras.

Many families have proactively installed personal cameras facing the streets and are ready to share data when necessary, forming a widespread surveillance network. The provincial Police are currently expanding this model in conjunction with “New Rural Development” programs. Alongside investing in technical infrastructure, the force is stepping up communication efforts in every residential area, business, and school to harness the collective strength of society in the movement to protect national security.