On this occasion, Lầu Thị Xanh from Trên Nương village brought her two young sons, Giàng A Minh (born in 2021) and Giàng Xuân Trường (born in 2022), to visit her husband, private soldier Giàng A Lầu, who is currently serving here. Seeing their father, the two boys immediately ran up demanding to be held and carried, making up for the long period of only seeing him through a phone screen. Xanh recalled that when Lầu was still at home, the children were deeply attached to him. Ever since he enlisted in February 2025, every time they heard his voice over the phone, they would cry and ask to see him. Though their home is less than 40 km from the unit, the journey is inconvenient and relies primarily on motorbikes.

Even on weekends, Lầu heads out on duty early in the morning as usual. Throughout the day, Xanh cares for their two children. Only in the evening, when soldier Lầu finishes his duties, does the family gather for a brief, precious time together. Lacking access to the national power grid, as night falls, light gleams faintly from an old solar lamp. In the small room, after a day of activity, the toddlers quickly drift into sleep wrapped in their father’s arms.

During these days, the Nậm Nhừ Border Post also welcomes another “little guest” - Trần Đức Nam Phong, the youngest son of Lieutenant Colonel Trần Đức Thạnh, Commander of the Nậm Nhừ Border Post. This marks the boy’s first visit to his father’s unit during summer break. By the third day, Nam Phong has grown familiar with every corner of the yard, vegetable bed, and walkway across the unit. During the day while his father and comrades carry out their duties, he follows the logistics staff to water vegetables, feed fish and chickens, sweep the yard, and assist in the kitchen. What Nam Phong looks forward to most each day is for the rain to stop so he can bring his fishing rod to the pond.

Nam Phong excitedly boasted: “I really love fishing! Since coming here to visit my dad, I’ve caught eleven fish.”

Born and raised in rural Hưng Yên province, life inside the border guard barracks feels both novel and thrilling to Nam Phong, especially after long periods of his father being away from home. Every time his father’s leave ended and he returned to the unit, it resulted in a fond, reluctant farewell.

Lieutenant Colonel Thạnh shared: “This trip is the reward I promised him after a year of good academic performance.”

A week at the border station is not long, but it is enough time for Nam Phong to learn how to fold blankets into neat, square shapes just like border guard soldiers.

Phong excitedly shared: “I’ve learned how to fold blankets like my dad! At first, I found it very difficult, but now I can do it.”

Also during this summer break, young Lâm Minh Quang (born in 2014) is spending over a week living with his father, Major Lâm Hồng Văn, a staff member of the Mass Mobilization Team. Over more than 20 years of service across five different border guard units, his family has always arranged to visit him at least once a year.

Major Lâm Hồng Văn proudly recalled: “No matter which the border post I am assigned to, my wife and children make the effort to visit me at least once a year.”

Since childhood, Minh Quang has visited his father many times alongside his mother and older brother, but those trips usually lasted only two or three days because the family had to return home at year-end to prepare for Tết. This is the first time he has had extended time to stay by his father’s side.

Minh Quang happily shared: “This is the first summer break where I can stay at the Border Post to play with my dad and the uncles.”

Following days filled with exciting border experiences, the children will return home carrying impressions of majestic forests, the familiar wake-up gong echoing through the barracks, and the image of green-striped soldiers setting out on duty daily. Those memories serve as simple yet meaningful gifts, bridging distances with love and pride for their fathers who safeguard the Fatherland’s frontiers day and night.