Lieutenant Nguyễn Tiến Đua and his wife in one of their wedding photos.— Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Tiến Đua

HÀ NỘI — Many border soldiers are putting aside their personal lives and delaying their wedding day, to continue fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

Lê Thừa Văn, Captain of the Mobilisation Team under the Lao Bảo International Border Guard Station in the central province of Quảng Trị, is tasked with patrolling the border and disseminating pandemic prevention and control information to the Pa Cô and Vân Kiều ethnic groups. He has been in love with his partner Nguyễn Thị Thu Thùy for four years.

The families of both Văn and Thuỳ chose an auspicious day to organise their wedding ceremony, and the wedding invitation cards have already been sent to relatives and friends.

However, due to his responsibilities as a border soldier in the fight against the pandemic, Văn and Thuỳ decided to delay their wedding day.

"Our two families were very surprised with our decision at first, but with the agreement of both of us, the families accepted the postponement," Văn said

Thùy said, although it was a bit sad, the decision was the right one to make as the country struggled against the pandemic every single day.

“I know the task of my fiancé, I know his responsibility with the community,” she said.

Văn, 26, has served in the army for eight years. During this time, he has always been a shining example with many achievements in his work.

In 2016, he was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of National Defence for his excellent achievements in training. He was the valedictorian of the training course for divisional officers.

During his work, Văn always actively implements plans and disseminates the Party's guidelines and directions, the State's policies and laws and the economic development targets to local people.

He is also an exemplary union secretary and very active in union activities and youth movements.

Every month, Văn and other soldiers of the border guard station run the programme of "Border scissors", aiming to provide free haircuts for more than 500 children from the Pa Cô and Vân Kiều ethnic groups.

Besides, in the programme of "Border lessons", which is deployed in Lao Bảo Town every month, Văn has directly prepared lessons and introduced knowledge about national borders and territorial sovereignty to more than 1,200 students and teachers.

Văn isn't alone in his sacrifice. 

In the central province of Hà Tĩnh, Lieutenant Nguyễn Tiến Đua, head of the Drug Prevention and Control Team at the Phú Gia Border Station, postponed his wedding day twice in 2020 to fight against the pandemic.

Đua said he and his fiancée Nguyễn Bích Hồng Hoa had been in love for seven years.

“During our seven years of love, we have gone through many challenges, enough to understand and sympathise with each other. Loving and marrying me, she must suffer a lot”, he said.

Talking about his two wedding postponements, Đua said the first postponement was on April 12, 2020.

At that time, the pandemic showed complex developments. He received an order to return to the border station to fight against the pandemic, he said.

“Although my wife and I felt sad at the time, when the country was in need I decided to put aside my disappointment,” he said.

The second postponement was on August 2020, when social distancing had just ended. Đua and his wife chose August 15, 2020. 

“We were very eager for the day,” he said.

Unfortunately, the pandemic broke out again, several days before the wedding day, he said.

“I have to return to the unit to fulfil my tasks,” he added.

Đua still vividly remembers his wife's saying: “You can rest assured to do your duty. I can wait. When the pandemic is under control, we will hold the wedding ceremony later."

Finally, the two married on October 10, 2020. 

However, Đua said he had yet to visit his family for one year due to his duty.

“I miss my family and my wife very much, especially in the nights on my duty,” he said.

However, Đua had always put aside his personal life to fulfil the tasks he was assigned in the fight against the pandemic, he said.

During the past two years, Đua and his comrades have been on duty day and night, working hard at border checkpoints, both fighting against the pandemic and drug trafficking activities, as well as illegal border crossing activities.— VNS