The gratitude towards the border region and the dreams of a Khơ Mú ethnic minority female student.
From a young girl in a small, impoverished border village, Xeo Thi Hoa (a Khơ Mú ethnic minority from Huồi Phuôn 1 village, Keng Đu border commune) has become a university student thanks to the unwavering support of border guards. The story of this "border guard's adopted child" in the remote Keng Đu border region is not only a journey of overcoming hardship for a young woman, but also a vivid testament to the power of love and community responsibility of those who always consider "the border as their homeland, and the people of all ethnic groups as their brothers and sisters."
Khanh Ly /Present:Hong ToaiJune 14, 2026
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From a young girl in a small, impoverished border village, Xeo Thi Hoa (of the Khmu ethnic group) in Huoi Phuon 1 village, Keng Du border commune, has become a university student thanks to the unwavering support of border guards. The story of this "Adopted Child of Border Guards" in the remote Keng Du region is not only a journey of overcoming hardship for a young woman, but also a vivid testament to the power of love and community responsibility of those who always consider "the border as their homeland, and the people of all ethnic groups as their brothers and sisters"...
In early June, the Nghe An Border Guard's website featured heartfelt messages from a young woman to the border guard "foster fathers" who had accompanied her throughout her childhood and into adulthood.
Simple and unpretentious, yet each word is filled with profound gratitude, deeply moving many readers. The author of these words is Xeo Thi Hoa, born in 2005, of the Khơ Mú ethnic group, from Huồi Phuôn 1 village, Keng Đu commune. Currently, Hoa is a second-year student majoring in Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education (Vinh University).
"In everyone's life, there are unforgettable acts of kindness. For me, Keng Du Border Guard Post is not only a place that extended its loving arms to support me, but also a second home, a place that nurtured the seemingly unattainable dreams of a child in the border region," Hoa wrote.
Behind those words of gratitude lies a long journey of effort, of aspiration to overcome adversity, and of the quiet but enduring love from foster fathers in military uniform.
In the lush green campus of Vinh University, Hoa appeared before us with the confident, lively demeanor of a second-year student. Few knew that this girl with a gentle smile and radiant face had experienced a childhood full of hardships. Her parents separated when she was young. Her mother remarried and had to take care of her younger siblings. Hoa grew up in the care of her elderly and frail maternal grandparents in the border region. Hoa's childhood was not only difficult materially but also deprived of emotional support.
A turning point came for the girl from the highlands in 2014, when, while in the 4th grade at Keng Du 1 Primary School, she was adopted by the Keng Du Border Guard Station under the "Border Guard's Adopted Children" program.
Recalling her first time stepping into the police station, the young woman still felt a sense of excitement.
“I was very shy back then. The clean courtyard of the police station, the solemn atmosphere, made me even more anxious. But the officers all smiled kindly and asked me questions, which made me feel less nervous. That was also the first time I met my foster fathers,” Hoa recounted.
Because her home was near the unit, Hoa didn't stay in the barracks but continued to live with her maternal grandparents. However, from then on, the life of this little girl from the border region was enriched by people who always watched over her every step as she grew up.
New clothes for the new school year, books, school supplies, new sandals, and financial support for living expenses were all thoughtfully prepared by the officers and soldiers of the outpost. Besides providing material assistance, the officers and soldiers also regularly visited and encouraged Hoa's grandparents, showing concern for her studies and life.
Border guards also proactively coordinate with schools and homeroom teachers to monitor students' academic progress and provide timely encouragement when they encounter difficulties.
“From the days of hardship, I always received heartfelt care from the officers at Keng Du Border Guard Post. The most precious thing is not material things, but the love and trust they have given me. That is what has given me the strength to strive every day,” Hoa shared.
Living up to those expectations, throughout her years at Keng Du 1 Primary School and later at Keng Du Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Hoa consistently ranked among the top-performing students in the school.
But the path to knowledge for the Khơ Mú girl was not always smooth. In her final years of junior high school, her maternal grandfather – who had always loved her and been her greatest source of emotional support – passed away. Losing a loved one made the family's circumstances even more difficult.
After graduating from 9th grade in 2020, facing economic pressure and the worry of not being able to continue her education at high school in the former Muong Xen town, 70km away from her home, Hoa decided to enroll in vocational training at Con Cuong Vocational College with the hope of finding a job soon to help support her family.
Upon learning of this decision, her foster fathers at the Keng Du Border Guard Post persistently encouraged her to continue her education alongside vocational training. The person closest to Hoa during that period was Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Hanh, then Deputy Political Officer of the Keng Du Border Guard Post (now transferred to the Tam Hop Border Guard Post). He advised the young student not to give up her studies, because knowledge was the path to a better future.
Following that advice, Hoa simultaneously learned a trade and attended a supplementary education program. Two years later, she did an internship at a garment factory in Hai Phong before returning to complete her high school education at the Ky Son District Continuing Education Center. In 2023, Hoa applied for the first time to study education. However, luck was not on her side. Failing to get into university, the young woman decided to return to Hai Phong to work as a garment factory worker.
The days spent standing on the assembly line, the long overtime shifts, and the pressure of making a living made Hoa think many times that she might have to stay a factory worker for a long time. However, on the other end of the line, phone calls from her foster fathers in military uniforms regularly encouraged her.
“Hanh’s father often called to check on me and encouraged me to try the national high school graduation exam one more time. He said that if I wanted a better future, I shouldn’t give up on my dreams. Those words of encouragement made me think a lot,” Hoa recalled. After many sleepless nights, the young woman decided to give herself another chance.
Deciding to retake the exam while working as a factory worker was not easy. During the day, she worked, often doing overtime until late at night. When she returned to her rented room, Hoa would open her books, study online, and review on her own. She utilized every spare moment to prepare for the important exam.
Two weeks before the exam, Hoa quit her job to return to her hometown and focus on studying with 12th-grade students at the Ky Son (formerly) District Continuing Education Center. That summer, the young factory worker became a private candidate with all her determination.
My score of 24.75 opened the first door to university. However, for my chosen field of Early Childhood Education, the academic exam score is only a necessary condition. I still have to pass the aptitude test.
“There were times when I felt very insecure, because all my friends were supported by their families and received a proper education from a young age. I, on the other hand, was a private candidate from a remote border region. But I told myself that since I had made it this far, I couldn't give up,” Hoa recounted. Her perseverance and determination were finally rewarded.
In 2024, Xeo Thi Hoa was officially accepted into the Early Childhood Education program at the Faculty of Education, Vinh University. The first thing she did upon receiving her acceptance letter was call her family and her foster fathers at the Keng Du Border Guard Post to share the good news. This was not only a joy for Hoa herself, but also the culmination of a journey of companionship, support, and trust.
"Today's achievements are the result of the love, encouragement, and silent sacrifices of the border guard foster fathers. Without them, I probably wouldn't have had the confidence to continue," Hoa said emotionally.
One of the most memorable experiences for the young woman was the opportunity she received from the Nghe An Border Guard Command to participate in the program honoring outstanding students in the "Helping Children Go to School - Children Adopted by Border Guard Posts" program organized by the Border Guard Command in Hanoi in 2022. The trip not only broadened her understanding and allowed her to meet many young people with similar circumstances, but also instilled in her the confidence to boldly pursue bigger goals in the future.
Currently, Hoa is a second-year student with fairly good academic results. Outside of class, she actively participates in volunteer activities, supporting those in difficult circumstances through the Warm Dewdrop Club.
The Khơ Mú girl's biggest dream is to return to her hometown after graduation and become a preschool teacher in the highlands where she was born and raised.
"Children in mountainous areas still face many disadvantages. I hope that in the future I can contribute a small part to caring for and educating them. That is also a way for me to repay those who have helped me throughout my formative years," Hoa confided.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Hanh, what makes him and his colleagues most proud is not Hoa's academic achievements, but rather her determination to overcome difficulties and her grateful heart.
“Hoa is a girl with great determination; despite her difficult circumstances, she always strives to overcome them. The teaching profession is a noble journey, but it is also full of challenges. We hope she continues to maintain her passion, study and train well to become a dedicated and responsible teacher,” Mr. Hanh shared.
Xeo Thi Hoa's story today is also a vivid testament to the effectiveness of the humane welfare programs that the Nghe An Border Guard is implementing in border areas.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Political Officer of Keng Du Border Guard Station: Currently, Keng Du Border Guard Station is supporting 19 disadvantaged students through the programs "Helping Children Go to School," "Adopted Children of the Border Guard Station," and the project "Army Officers and Soldiers - Helping Children Go to School."
From the "seeds" of love sown through scholarships, books, notebooks, new clothes, or timely and appropriate words of encouragement... these efforts have been contributing to changing the destinies of many children in remote border areas. Like Xeo Thi Hoa, a Khơ Mú ethnic girl who grew up in poverty, now getting closer to her dream of becoming a teacher in her village.
That dream was nurtured by Hoa's own determination to overcome her circumstances, but also supported by the love and sharing from the special fathers in green uniforms stationed on the border of Nghe An province…
