The imprint of border soldiers on the frontiers

(Baonghean) - In the vastness of the open sea or the deep forests and mountains, border soldiers are like shining lights, lighting up courage, faith, and determination to hold their guns firmly and steadfastly, protecting the sovereignty of the homeland's borders and territorial waters.

Meeting Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Hop - Border Guard Station of Nam Can International Border Gate (Ky Son), every time I see him busy and hurried. "That's what a border guard is like!" - Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Hop explained. After working in many different positions and areas, in 2012, he transferred to the Border Guard Station of Nam Can International Border Gate and took on the position of Deputy Captain of the Drug Crime Prevention Team. Taking on a new task in a special area, it is impossible to count the difficulties and dangers with long weeks of soaking in the rain and jungle to ambush drug criminals, months of disguise, blending in with the flow of people entering and leaving the country to search for clues and evidence...

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Hop said: “Many years ago, Nam Can and Ta Ca were two hot spots in Ky Son district for drug crimes and illegal immigration issues along the 22.5 km border with Laos, which is separated by rivers and mountains. Faced with that reality, officers and soldiers of the Nam Can International Border Guard Station are always flexible and creative with the motto of building a people's heart position, relying on the strength and love of the people. Along with that, it is to strengthen the close relationship between the Vietnam - Laos border guards, helping the border protection work to be more favorable”. In mid-November 2014, the Nam Can International Border Guard Station and the Nam Can - Xieng Khouang International Border Guard Station (Lao PDR) held a twinning ceremony…

Officers and soldiers of the Nam Can International Border Gate Border Guard Station (Ky Son) salute the flag at the 405th Sovereignty Marker of the Fatherland.

The mark of border guards on the frontiers is also reflected in their dedication, dynamism, and creativity in joining hands to build new rural areas, helping local people develop the economy. We visited Hanh Dich Border Guard Station (Que Phong) - a bright spot in the border area with many effective and practical "3 together" programs with the people. In addition to mobilizing people to properly comply with the policies and laws of the Party and the State, the station's mass mobilization team also operates effectively and actively in developing the economy and society with the people. Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Hai - Political Commissar of Hanh Dich Border Guard Station shared that currently, many households in the commune have implemented models of raising black pigs, planting rattan trees, etc., initially bringing in good income. The mass mobilization team also does a good job of propagating to the people to eliminate opium poppies and illegal migration.

The green uniformed teacher of the literacy class in Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong).

Border guards not only brighten the belief in the lasting peace of the green border, but also become a support and a lighthouse for many offshore trips of fishermen in the province. Responsible for managing 26 km of coastline of 11 communes and wards in Nghi Loc district and Cua Lo town, with 2 seaports Cua Lo and Ben Thuy, 2 specialized ports for petroleum and a large number of fishing vessels, the responsibility on the shoulders of the soldiers wearing green uniforms at the Cua Lo - Ben Thuy Port Border Guard Station is very heavy.

Overcoming countless difficulties, upholding the spirit of "The station is home, the sea is homeland", the territorial waters of the Fatherland have always been monitored and protected by you with all your courage, intelligence and determination. Over the past years, officers and soldiers have proactively grasped and monitored the situation at sea; at the same time, done a good job of mobilizing and propagating fishermen to participate in the struggle to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands; mobilized people to participate in self-management groups of ships and boats to create conditions to help each other at sea when bad situations occur; built models of cage fish farming, creating sustainable livelihoods for the people...

With a 419.5 km long national land border, adjacent to 3 provinces of the Lao PDR, the length of the border in Nghe An accounts for nearly 1/4 of the length of the Vietnam - Laos border; determined by 116 national border markers and 44 markers. In particular, there is 1 international border gate (Nam Can, Ky Son); 1 main border gate (Thanh Thuy, Thanh Chuong); 3 secondary border gates; 3 border openings; 12 border crossing points allowing residents of the 2 border areas to visit relatives and exchange goods. These characteristics put on the shoulders of the border guards many heavy and difficult responsibilities that can only be overcome by the spirit of initiative, responsibility to the people and love for the Fatherland. That love is like a shining light, reflecting on the mountain cliffs, the ocean, and the hearts of each person...

Phuong Chi