Sacred Markin the middle of the vast forest
At the end of the year, while the villages of western Nghe An province are striving to recover after two months of continuous rain and floods, the soldiers of the Tri Le Border Guard Post silently brave the elements, patrolling and protecting every inch of land and forest along the nation's border. In this solemn moment before the sovereignty marker, we can more clearly feel the courage of the soldiers who are guarding the peace of our homeland day and night.
The arduous patrol route
In late December, the cold seeped into our skin. We accompanied the task force of the Tri Le Border Guard Post on a patrol of the border and boundary markers. From Lien Hop village, where the Tri Le Border Guard Post is stationed, after checking our equipment, the entire team began their journey towards the Huoi Moi Border Guard Post. Accompanying us was Major Gia Ba Tha, a man who knew every stream and patch of forest in this area as if it were his own breath. The forest path from the post to the border was already arduous, but after the floods of August and September, it became even more treacherous. Many sections were carved into deep trenches; in other places, rocks from the mountains had slid down and completely blocked the way.
Seeing my exhaustion from the long, steep climb, Major Tha smiled, dispelling my worries: "It's better now. A few months ago, this section disappeared completely; it took a whole day of walking to get to Huoi Moi."
On the map of Nghe An province, Tri Le is located in the northwestern depression, more than 200 km from the provincial capital. After the merger, the commune has an area of over 26,194 hectares with 21 hamlets and villages situated along the mountain slopes, mainly inhabited by the Mong, Thai, and Khmu ethnic groups. The entire commune has 18.53 km of border with neighboring Laos. Each border marker here not only marks the territorial boundary but also represents the pride of the soldiers who have dedicated their lives to ensuring peace on the border of the Fatherland.
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After nearly two hours of travel, we arrived at Bu Hoc Sky Gate – considered the gateway to Huoi Moi. Thick, white fog enveloped the entire valley. Amidst the mist, the wooden houses of the Mong ethnic group stood silently, creating the feeling of being lost in a traditional ink painting of the Truong Son mountain range.
At the Huoi Moi Border Guard Task Force, Major Nguyen Huu Tan, the team leader, greeted us with the gentle smile of a veteran border guard. The peaceful Huoi Moi village today was once a "hot spot" for illegal border crossings and drug trafficking. For more than two decades since the task force was established (2001), the officers and soldiers here have stayed close to the people and the village, disseminating legal information, coordinating with local authorities, and gradually pulling the village out of the traps of crime. "This peace was achieved through the sweat of the soldiers and the unity of the people," Major Tan shared.
Maintain peace in the border regions of our homeland.
After a simple lunch, the task force adjusted their uniforms and continued their journey to the border markers. This section, though only a few kilometers long, was the most challenging: a narrow trail winding through the dense, overgrown forest, tangled with vines. The soldiers ahead used machetes to clear a path; those behind dodged slippery rocks and dew-covered branches. The higher they climbed, the steeper the path became; the initial laughter faded, replaced by the sound of suppressed breaths mingling with the mountain chill.
Despite the vast area and harsh weather conditions, the Tri Le Border Guard Post maintains a rigorous patrol schedule along the entire border line from marker 373 to 380. In 2025, despite severe natural disasters, all the border markers remained steadfast amidst the vast forest – an image that instills greater confidence in anyone who visits.
After more than an hour of continuous uphill climbing, milestone 376 emerged from the white mist – majestic and prominent against the deep green backdrop of the mountains. The entire team stopped, voluntarily adjusted their uniforms, and performed the ceremony of saluting the milestone. In that solemn moment before this sacred landmark of the Fatherland, everyone felt proud and silently vowed to resolutely protect the sovereignty of the border. For the border guards, this was not just a ritual according to regulations, but also a sacred oath, a commitment from countless generations of soldiers to every inch of the Fatherland.
After the ceremony, the task force inspected the condition of the border markers, recorded their patrol logs, and cleared bushes obstructing visibility. Despite devastating natural disasters and relentless floods, the border markers remain standing – a reminder of the unwavering resolve of the border guards, who have considered safeguarding national sovereignty a lifelong responsibility.
On the way back, the evening mist descended, and the mountains and forests darkened. Their shoes were soaked, their uniforms muddy, but the soldiers' eyes sparkled with the joy of having completed their mission. Lieutenant Colonel Ho Thanh Quang, Political Officer of the Tri Le Border Guard Post, shared: “Patrolling and protecting the border and boundary markers is just one of the many tasks our unit undertakes. Alongside protecting sovereignty, the fight against all types of crime, especially drug-related crimes, is being implemented decisively and comprehensively by the Tri Le Border Guard Post. Thanks to effective local intelligence gathering, suspect management, and crime reporting, the unit has detected, arrested, and prosecuted many cases this year, seizing drugs and homemade weapons; and encouraged the people to surrender many guns and dangerous tools.”
"The most important thing is to ensure that the people feel secure staying in their villages, to prevent criminals from taking advantage after natural disasters, and to prevent the border from being disrupted. The border guards here consider the people their support, and the people consider the soldiers as their brothers."
Lieutenant Colonel Ho Thanh Quang - Political Officer of Tri Le Border Guard Station
The recent floods have left many scars on the mountains and forests of the Western region. But above all, a new rhythm of life is strongly reviving. There, the silent footsteps of border guards are working day and night to bring peace to the villages and border residents. Looking down from the "Heaven's Gate" into the deep valleys still shrouded in mist, we clearly feel a new spring arriving – a quiet yet warm spring, full of faith and hope...
