The Điện Biên and Laos Border Guards help educate a Laos family living in the border area of the two countries. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tư

ĐIỆN BIÊN — Thanks to a campaign to 'twin' towns and villages along the Việt Nam-Laos border over the past ten years, the Điện Biên Border Guards have been helping residents across the border thanks to increased cooperation with the Laos Party Committee. 

They also educate people on both sides of the border about socio-economic development, poverty reduction and building a border of peace, friendship, stability and mutual development.

Điện Biên has a 414km border with Laos.

The Na Son Village in Phon Thoong District, Luang Prabang Province in Laos borders Mường Lói Commune of Điện Biên District, Điện Biên Province.

This is one of the remote villages in Laos.

Located about 10km from the Huổi Puốc Border Gate with Việt Nam, the village receives help from the Điện Biên provincial Border Guard.

The Na Son Village's better appearance today is attributed to the Điện Biên Border Guards.

Bun Tha Vi Say Bun Kham, deputy head of the Na Son Village, said that residents lives had been improved. Everyone has access to electricity, and nobody goes hungry. Security and social order are guaranteed. As a result, people feel secure about settling down and developing the household economy.

The Điện Biên Border Guards have become relatives for people in the Na Son Village. The soldiers often visit, encourage and teach people how to grow rice and raise livestock and prevent diseases, he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Tô Văn Cường, head of the Huổi Puốc Border Guard Station, said that recently, the station had organised the twinning between the Na Chén Village in Việt Nam with the Na Son Village in Laos.

They built special solidarity and friendship between the two countries' authorities, people and border guard forces, raising ' awareness about sovereignty protection, border security and socio-economic development.

They support economic development models such as rice cultivation, large-scale cattle husbandry, disease prevention and control, medical and education system for people in the border villages, and improve people's lives.

Border guard diplomacy is also regularly organised by the two countries to maintain border security sovereignty, creating peace of mind and stability for the locals.

The Điện Biên Border Guards give free medical examinations, distribute medicine for over 2,500 people, and support COVID-19 prevention and control for officials and people in border villages.

They also sponsor seven Laos students with difficult circumstances, providing them with better conditions to study.

The twinning villages have registered to self-protect dozens of kilometres of borders and landmarks, upholding their sense of responsibility in fighting crimes and ensuring border security.

Colonel Lê Đức Nghĩa, Deputy Political Commissar of the Điện Biên Border Guards Command, said that with the mindset that helping others is helping ourselves, the border guards' work has reduced poverty, stabilised life, and created strength in firmly protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security.

He said that in the future, the border guards would continue to support Laos border guards and residents, promote the effectiveness of military medical clinics, provide medical examination and treatment for local people and effectively support students.

They will strengthen border exchange activities to tighten solidarity and friendship between the two countries. — VNS