The crimson flag flies over the Trường Sơn village.

(Baonghean) - In April, the Mong people in Ky Son district begin their farming season. The new farming season has just begun, but the rice storage of Mr. Lau Chong Cho's family in Tham Man is still very full. Mr. Cho's family is small; both he and his wife have been unable to speak since childhood… I praised Mr. Cho for his abundant rice harvest. Mr. Cho smiled brightly and pointed towards Truong Son village, where the red flag with a yellow star stood out amidst the border mountains. Looking in the direction Mr. Cho pointed, Mr. Lau Ba Chay, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nam Can commune, translated: "Mr. Cho said it's all thanks to the help of his children, who are permanent militia members."

The Nậm Cắn commune's permanent militia squad was established in 2002. The commander of the Nậm Cắn commune's Military Command, Lầu Bá Tòng, shared: "Currently, each permanent militia soldier receives 25,000 VND per day for food along with a monthly allowance of 600,000 VND. This amount is insufficient to cover daily living expenses, while most of the members are the primary breadwinners for their families. Therefore, to remain 'on standby' and 'stand firm,' we have instilled in each other a spirit of overcoming difficulties. The members of the squad always keep in mind that 'Each day that passes is another successful attempt to overcome difficulties.'"

The Nậm Cắn militia squad (Kỳ Sơn) practices tactics for fighting the enemy.

Overcoming difficulties together, each member of the permanent militia worked tirelessly. Besides farming around the kitchen and garden, they also requested permission from the commune to reclaim 10 hectares of land for planting corn and rice… From this land, the Nậm Cắn commune's permanent militia squad not only became self-sufficient in food but also earned additional income from selling produce, maintaining a fund to help squad members when they got married, built houses, or faced family difficulties and hardships.

The Mong ethnic group's farming season typically lasts from April to June. During the day, the permanent militia squad spends time helping disadvantaged families with their farming. At night, using flashlights and torches, they clear and prepare the fields for families of militia members with few members. The family of permanent militia member Lau Ba Ba in Truong Son village was left without someone to help with farming because his wife had just given birth. For five consecutive nights, the entire squad pitched in to help Lau Ba Ba's family clear and prepare nearly 2 hectares of land.

Mr. Lau Ba Chia from Truong Son village told me many good stories about the Nam Can permanent militia squad. He said that in Truong Son village there was a Vietnamese Heroic Mother, Xia Xua. When she was alive, day after day, morning, noon, afternoon, and night, the permanent militia soldiers would take turns climbing the steep slopes to collect firewood, fetch water, clean the house, cook meals, and buy medicine for her. He also said that the road from the center of Nam Can commune to Hoi Phoc village used to be only accessible on foot through the forest. Out of compassion for the people of Hoi Phoc, the permanent militia soldiers stayed in the mountains and forests, working day and night to build a road that motorcycles could use for the villagers.

In Mr. Chia's story, I also learned that there was a time when the Hmong people in Nam Can were so worried they lost sleep and appetite because of the situation where village boys liked village girls, then used their phones to manipulate them and later kidnapped their wives. Or, the beautiful traditional cultural practice of "poking holes" when a boy goes to court a potential partner was exploited by criminals to commit theft… The Party Committee and the government of Nam Can commune entrusted the task of handling all these issues to the permanent militia soldiers. Upon receiving the assignment, the squad, undeterred by long distances and the darkness of night, went to each village to gather information. They worked closely with the local militia to educate the villagers and coordinate efforts to address the situation.

In the peaceful village, the red flag with a yellow star in the Truong Son mountain region is made even more vibrant. This red color is ignited by the loving hearts of the permanent militia soldiers who cherish every inch of their homeland's mountains and forests.

Text and photos: Ho Linh (HT: 5NK - 129, Vinh)