Eastern Province men protect the country's borders

Standing tall in the mountains and forests

The road to Muong Khuong district is no longer as difficult as before, but it is still winding and dangerous. From Lao Cai city to here, only about 50 km, it is also a challenge for those who get carsick easily. Muong Khuong Border Guard Station leans against the mountain, with the task of protecting nearly 90 km of the Vietnam-China border. This is where the ethnic minorities of Pa Di, Mong, and Phu La live. In the mountains and forests, there are hills of ripe, golden tangerines.

Leading us on a tour of the unit and the villages, Major Leng Van Trai, Deputy Political Commissar of Muong Khuong Border Guard Station, gave us an overview of the results achieved in the past year. Remembering many figures, Major Trai said that in 2023, the unit deployed 192 rounds to grasp the situation in the border area; coordinated the arrest of 3 cases with 4 subjects, seized 16 heroin cakes... The station also maintained many social security activities well, ensuring security and order.

Visiting the famous Ho Chi Minh Hall at Muong Khuong Border Post, knowing that we were from Hai Duong, Major Trai proudly introduced many pictures of the unit's activities, including pictures of the son of the Eastern land holding a gun firmly, protecting the border day and night.

We met the first fellow countryman in the border area. That was professional military Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Thoan, Head of the Tung Chung Pho Border Guard Working Group. Thoan was born in 1971, in Tan Phong commune (Ninh Giang), and has been attached to the border area for more than 20 years. He is tasked with mobilizing the masses, supporting the people in socio-economic development, and building new rural areas. The place where he works is a difficult border commune, with poor living conditions and harsh weather. However, Thoan and his teammates have never neglected their duties, still persistently staying in the village, being the support of the people. He knows by heart the information and circumstances of 512 households, 2,613 people in 18 villages here. He even speaks Mong and Pa Di fluently to be closer and more intimate with the people.

Having trained and grown up in a remote border area, where fog covers the way all year round, Thoan is strong and courageous. His team has 5 people. In addition to guarding and ensuring security and order in the border area, the soldiers also work hard to build a new lifestyle and push back backward customs. "To protect the border, we must rely on the people. That's why I always try to encourage people to change their way of thinking," Thoan said.

Professional military major Bui Huu Tu, born in 1970, in Van Hoi commune (Ninh Giang) is a military doctor. Before stopping in Muong Khuong, he worked in many other stations such as Ban Lau, Y Ty, Bat Xat... so he fully understands the difficulties and hardships in the highlands. In addition to taking care of the health of officers and soldiers in the station, Tu also actively participates in local health programs, providing advice and support to improve medical examination and treatment skills for mountainous health stations.

According to Mr. Tu, the medicine distribution has basically stabilized, but in remote areas, each pill is precious. In the highlands, people's awareness of healthcare is limited, so Mr. Tu has to walk, climb mountains, and cross hills to reach people's homes to propagate and encourage vaccination. "On rainy days, the roads are muddy and slippery. On non-rainy days, the fog is thick, but I am not discouraged. Thanks to perseverance, persistence in persuasion and propaganda, people have gradually abandoned bad customs, trusted border guards, and no longer treated diseases based on superstition," Mr. Tu shared.

Put away your personal feelings

Hai Duong soldiers in the border area are like cypress and pine trees, always steadfast and upright, not yielding to difficult and arduous conditions despite having their own worries.

The wife of professional military Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Truong Khuong (born in 1974) works at the De Chu Thang Border Guard Working Group, still in Cam Phuc Commune (Cam Giang). Ms. Bui Thi Sim is a teacher at Cam Phuc Primary School. Due to the long distance, Mr. Khuong is always concerned about his duty as a husband and father. It is even harder when his first son is unfortunately severely disabled. "To make Mr. Khuong feel secure at work, I try to take care of all the work on both sides of his family. Every year, he only comes home on vacation, and all the rest of the information and family situation is through the unstable phone signal in the remote village. Sometimes the child is sick or there is something at home, but I don't dare tell him so he can feel secure at work," Ms. Sim shared.

However, the soldier's will has never wavered. The more he loves his wife and children, the more determined Mr. Khuong is to complete his assigned mission. He keeps his personal feelings hidden to complete his sacred mission of protecting the border. "My wife and I always encourage each other to try to overcome difficulties. Therefore, for the past 20 years, both the front and the rear have looked in the same direction," Mr. Khuong confided.

His wife and children have moved to Lao Cai, but Thoan still has parents in their 80s in his hometown of Hai Duong. Every year, he tries to visit his parents and relatives. Thoan said that as a border guard, he is always brave but still has moments of contemplation. That is not weakness, but thinking about loved ones to firmly protect the border. "There are still many hardships ahead, but overcoming difficulties, border guards are always optimistic and love life," Thoan shared.

According to the investigation of Hai Duong Newspaper reporter, more than 20 Hai Duong people working at Lao Cai Border Guard are working day and night to protect the northern border of the Fatherland. Not only do they do their duty well, they are also always close to and support the local people in developing the economy - culture - society.