Nghe An was identified by the Central Government as a strategic and important area for national defense, security and foreign affairs, especially the western border area of the province. In response to the task of protecting political, economic and social targets inland, border security sovereignty and sea areas of Nghe An province, on April 23, 1959, the Ministry of Public Security issued Decision No. 183 on the establishment of the Nghe An People's Armed Police Force, now the Nghe An Border Guard with the task of managing and protecting more than 468,281 km of border, adjacent to 3 provinces (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bo Ly Kham Xay) of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and 82 km of coastline.
Aware of that noble responsibility, over the past 65 years, generations of officers and soldiers of Nghe An Border Guard have continuously overcome difficulties, stayed at the front line, united in heart and soul, closely attached to the people, closely coordinated with other sectors and forces, and firmly protected the sovereignty and security of the border.
During the times we followed the footsteps of border guards participating in border patrols and border markers in the border area, we truly admired the spirit of overcoming high mountains and deep streams for the peace of the border of the "steel shields" on the border. Like the recent patrol, at the end of February 2024 with the Border Guard Station and the army and people of Thong Thu commune (Que Phong district). The destination was marker 364 bordering Nam Tay village, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos).
Passing through the dense forest roads, arriving at the destination, witnessing the ceremony of saluting the milestone - the sovereignty of the Fatherland, solemnly performed by the soldiers of Thong Thu Border Post. At that moment, all the hardships and fatigue seemed to disappear, leaving only love and strong belief sparkling in the determined eyes of the soldiers in green uniforms.
Also marching, Lieutenant Colonel Ho Dang Thao - Deputy Political Commissar of Thong Thu Border Post said: The unit is assigned to manage and protect a 33.737 km long border section with 9 border markers (from marker 358 to marker 366). The area the Post is in charge of is Thong Thu commune, adjacent to 3 villages (Nam Tay, Pa Puc, Xop Pen) belonging to the Vieng Phan village cluster, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos). The terrain is rugged and mountainous, with many streams dividing the area, the climate and weather are harsh; people's lives are still difficult, the level of education is not uniform, awareness and understanding of the law and the country and national borders of a part of the masses is limited. Activities of all kinds of criminals and social evils pose a potential risk of causing instability in the border area. Therefore, in addition to patrolling and proactively managing the area and grasping the situation of the subjects, the Station also actively coordinates with local Party committees, authorities and functional forces to effectively fight against all types of crimes, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety in the area.
While on the land border, criminal activities, especially drug crimes, are still complicated; illegal border crossings still occur; at sea, foreign vessels still encroach on our country's waters to illegally fish; the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels encroaching on foreign waters to illegally exploit seafood still occurs.
Therefore, in addition to propaganda and dissemination of laws, the provincial Border Guard regularly directs border posts to step up reconnaissance work, fight against and prevent all types of crimes; and perform well the work of grasping the situation at home, abroad and at sea to serve professional work. Thereby, many major projects have been successfully fought. In the force, there have appeared examples of brave fighters, uncompromising with criminals. Typical examples are the heroes and martyrs: Nguyen Canh Dan (Nam Can Border Post); and Ba Giai (Tam Hop Border Post); Pham Xuan Phong (Muong Tip Border Post, now Muong Ai Post)...
Along with border management, protection and crime prevention, the provincial Border Guard also performs well in border gate management, maintains good inspection and control of entry and exit across the border, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.
With the motto "The station is home, the border is the homeland, the people of all ethnic groups are blood brothers", to consolidate the grassroots political system, help people develop the economy, culture, society, and eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in the border areas. The Nghe An Border Guard Party Committee has advised the Provincial Party Committee on the policy of deploying border guards to strengthen the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of border communes and transfer border guard party members to participate in activities at weak village and hamlet party cells, complex and important areas and religious areas.
Currently, the Provincial Border Guard is coordinating with localities to continue maintaining 06 border guard station officers participating in the Party Committees of border districts, 02 comrades participating in the People's Councils at the district level, 23 comrades participating in the People's Councils at the commune level; 27 cadres are strengthened to be Deputy Secretaries of the Party Committees of border communes; introducing 81 Border Guard Party members to temporarily transfer their activities to Party cells in villages, hamlets, complex and vulnerable areas and religious areas. The Provincial Party Committee and Border Guard also directed the assignment of 522 border guard party members to take charge of 2,387 households in border areas, focusing on building model villages, model communes and household economic models. In 2023, the border guard force advised on consolidating and perfecting 149 Party cells, 104 other political and social organizations and advised localities to admit 81 new Party members.
Units under the Nghe An Border Guard are maintaining and implementing well 60 "Skilled Civil Affairs" models, including 40 models in the economic field; 13 models in the cultural and social field; 04 models in the defense and security field; 03 models in the construction of the grassroots political system. Typical models are the models "Complex of charity houses", "Shelters for the poor in border areas", "Border lessons", "Border medicine cabinets", "Accompanying the border dormitories", "Charity houses", "Accompanying women in border areas", "Combined military-civilian medical program", "Helping children go to school - adopted children of border guards"...
In addition, with the determination that "when the people are at peace, the border is strong", in recent years, the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard has actively coordinated with localities to implement "3 sticking together, 4 together", "holding hands and showing work" associated with "skillful mass mobilization" to help and support people in the stationed areas to develop economic models, stabilize their lives, build new rural areas, and strengthen the close and lasting solidarity relationship between the army and the people. Along with the effective implementation of the plan to help 3 poor communes Keng Du (Ky Son), Nhon Mai (Tuong Duong), Thong Thu (Que Phong) associated with the movement of Border Guards joining hands to build new rural areas.
Nhon Mai Border Guard Station is one of the outstanding units in implementing models and activities for the community. It manages two areas of Nhon Mai and Mai Son - where there are 21 villages, 1,356 households/6,534 people with 4 ethnic groups (Kinh, Thai, Kho Mu, Mong) living together. Understanding the difficult circumstances of the people in the border area, in addition to building combined military-civilian economic models (cage fish farming, goat farming, buffalo farming, etc.), the Station also actively connects, mobilizes, and calls on benefactors and philanthropists to implement many social security projects in the stationed area, notably the construction of a school in Huoi Man village, ancillary works for the kindergarten in Pieng Coc village (Mai Son commune); drilling 6 clean water wells to donate to schools in the area; Building a bridge for people in Pha Mut village, Nhon Mai village, building a water tank for the military and civilians in Na Lot village (Nhon Mai commune)... with a total cost of over 2.1 billion VND.
Leading us to the sturdy military-civilian bridge across Khe Hy, which was just inaugurated in 2023, Mr. Vi Van Hung - Head of Nhon Mai village (Nhon Mai commune, Tuong Duong district) excitedly said: The village has 223 households, 1003 people with 4 ethnic groups living, people's lives are still difficult, the poverty rate is high, in recent years, the village has received a lot of help from Nhon Mai Border Guard Station. Especially since the Station called for funds from benefactors and directly constructed the bridge across Khe Hy to replace the previous bamboo and wooden bridge, people no longer have to worry about being isolated when it rains heavily, high water levels, from trading, traveling, transporting agricultural products to children's education is much more convenient. The villagers are excited and thank the Border Guard very much...
The practical and accompanying actions of green-uniformed party members, green-uniformed teachers, green-uniformed doctors, green-uniformed cultural propaganda soldiers, etc. have left a mark of pride on the border, leaving behind much love and trust in the hearts of the people of all ethnic groups.
An extremely important highlight contributing to the development of a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developing border between the border protection force of Nghe An province and the provinces of Laos is the work of border diplomacy and people's diplomacy. Over the years, the Nghe An Border Guard has always thoroughly grasped the spirit, viewpoints and guiding ideology of the Party and State and of superiors in foreign affairs activities in general and foreign affairs with the three provinces of Laos in particular.
Currently, the Provincial Border Guard has deployed 8 border posts to sign agreements with 8 border protection units of 3 Lao provinces and advised localities to organize the signing of agreements between 21 pairs (villages - villages) on both sides of the border. Thereby, creating favorable conditions for information exchange on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border, helping each other develop the economy, culture, society, and stabilize security and order in the border area. At the same time, Nghe An Border Guard also actively coordinates with local authorities and border protection forces on the opposite side to promptly and effectively resolve incidents related to both sides of the border; deploy and coordinate patrols, management, and protection of border lines, border markers, control of border gates and openings; combat and prevent illegal immigration activities, prevent and combat cross-border crimes, contributing to building a border of "peace, friendship, cooperation and development".
In the coming time, besides the advantages, the world, regional and domestic situation still has many unpredictable and complicated developments, posing higher and more difficult requirements and tasks for managing and protecting the national border in the province.
Therefore, according to Colonel Le Nhu Cuong - Party Secretary, Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard: To meet the requirements and tasks in the new period, Nghe An Border Guard focuses on implementing the goal: Building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite, and gradually modern Border Guard force. Continuing to innovate and improve the quality of training, qualifications, and combat capabilities to meet the requirements of tasks in all situations; promoting and improving the effectiveness of border diplomacy; strengthening defense diplomacy, focusing on the relationship with border protection forces and people in the border areas of the three provinces of Laos that share a border with Nghe An province. Building a people's border defense associated with the people's national defense posture and people's security posture; creating a "steel shield" to protect the territorial sovereignty and national border security.
