Border guards of Cồn Cỏ Island, Quảng Trị Province, patrol the island. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — On their primary mission of safeguarding national sovereignty, border guard officers and soldiers are deeply involved in the socio-economic development of remote border communities.

Their contributions not only enhance the livelihoods of local people, but also reinforce national security, making them indispensable pillars of both defence and development.

Extending over 330 kilometres, Cao Bằng Province’s border faces an array of complex criminal activities. To counteract these threats, the Cao Bằng Border Guard Command has intensified patrols and bolstered crime prevention measures.

In 2024 alone, the province’s border guards conducted 1,615 patrols, deploying more than 18,360 personnel. Their efforts cleared over 392 kilometres of routes, while 17 joint patrols with international counterparts saw over 190 officers and soldiers working in unison.

Additionally, they executed 21 specialised plans targeting criminal activities and collaborated in four major anti-drug and human smuggling cases.

The Trà Lĩnh international border guard station, responsible for nearly 29 kilometres of boundary, remains vigilant against smuggling and illegal crossings.

Lieutenant Colonel Vũ Văn Dương, the station’s Political Commissar, underscored their commitment to fostering awareness among officers and residents alike, ensuring a seamless security apparatus that involves community participation in reporting illicit activities.

Border guard soldiers in Điện Biên Province assist residents in cleaning up their homes and restoring the environment after the devastating flash flood on July 25, 2024.

Fostering socio-economic growth

Embracing the spirit, “The station is home, the border is the homeland, and ethnic minorities are family,” border guard officers extend their role beyond security, actively assisting in local development. Their initiatives range from eliminating makeshift housing to encouraging hygienic livestock relocation, key changes that improve living conditions.

Chu Thị Cài, a resident of Bản Khâu Village in Hạ Lang District, exemplifies this transformation.

She voluntarily moved her livestock pen away from her stilt house after awareness campaigns by border guards and local authorities.

“Our home is cleaner now, my children are healthier and even my own well-being has improved,” she told Tin Tức (News) newspaper.

Cao Bằng Province successfully eradicated over 7,000 makeshift and dilapidated houses in 2024, with the border guard force playing a crucial role.

Major Nguyễn Vũ Lê, Deputy Political Commissar of the Tà Lùng International Border Gate Guard Station, highlighted their mobilisation of resources and personnel, raising funds to support four impoverished families with VNĐ44 million (US$1,720) each.

Among the beneficiaries was Đàm Thị Nguyệt from Na Sao Hamlet, Quảng Hòa District.

A widow raising two children in a deteriorated house, she was deeply moved when border guards and local authorities helped her build a new home, securing a brighter future for her family.

Nestled in Thanh Hóa Province’s western border, Na Mèo Commune hosts the province’s only international land border gate, linking Việt Nam and Laos.

Tasked with securing this crucial passage, the Na Mèo International border guard station employs a unique approach that blends security with community empowerment.

Through the "all people participate in protecting border security" movement, local residents have actively collaborated with border guards, providing 135 intelligence reports over the past decade. These contributions led to 113 administrative violations being addressed, impacting 166 individuals and recovering numerous contraband goods.

Furthermore, the community has participated in 35 joint patrols involving 400 personnel and nine dedicated individuals have voluntarily taken responsibility for protecting border markers.

Vi Văn Hợi, a resident of Cha Khót Village and a volunteer guardian of border markers, praised the guidance provided by border officers.

“Thanks to their training, we now understand the importance of border protection and take pride in our role in national security,” he said.

A soldier from Đắc Xú border guard station, Kon Tum Province guides locals on rubber tapping techniques.

Na Mèo’s border guards also spearhead agricultural development projects, such as introducing double-cropping wet rice cultivation.

This initiative has boosted yields in three Mông ethnic villages of Ché Lầu, Mùa Xuân and Xía Nọi, by over two tonnes per hectare.

Moreover, collaboration with Viengxay District in Laos has expanded dry-season wet rice farming across 60 hectares, enhancing food security on both sides of the border.

Lieutenant Colonel Trương Văn Hải, head of the Na Mèo border guard station, said: “By embedding ourselves in local communities, living and working alongside them, we help raise awareness, foster unity and contribute to lasting peace and development.”

Nurturing future generations

Border guards are not only security enforcers but also guardians of the next generation. Through initiatives such as adopting children and supporting students' education, they provide crucial assistance to disadvantaged youth, ensuring they have access to education and a stable upbringing.

Soldier officers support students in their education.

Trần Cát Nguyên Vũ, an eighth-grader at Hải An Secondary School in Quảng Trị Province, has found a second home at Hải An border guard station.

Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in under the "border guards adopting children" programme in 2019. Living under the care of Major Hồ Ngọc Việt, Head of Administrative Planning, Vũ has thrived academically and personally.

“At first, I was scared and uncertain, but thanks to the kindness of the border guards, especially ‘Dad Việt,’ I now feel safe and supported,” Vũ said.

His guardian, Major Việt, admitted: “I worry about him as much as I do about my own children. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s worth it.”

Similarly, Nguyễn Thị Hồng Ngọc, a sixth-grader from Hải Khê Primary and Secondary School, has received monthly support of VNĐ500,000 since 2019 through the supporting students' education initiative. This assistance has enabled her to continue her studies despite financial hardships.

Since 2016, Quảng Trị Border Guard Command has provided foster care for 24 children and financial aid for 71 students, with funding sourced from officers’ contributions and charitable donations.

Through their unwavering commitment to both security and socio-economic advancement, border guards have become an integral force in strengthening border communities. — VNS