Those who stayed up all night on New Year's Eve so that people could celebrate the Lunar New Year.

"On duty" at 113

Present at the 113 Police Team on the evening of the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve), amidst the bustling atmosphere of welcoming the spring in the streets, all the officers and soldiers here were always ready to go on duty.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Le, Deputy Head of the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order: Holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) are the busiest times for the police force, including the 113 emergency response unit, because this is when various types of crimes and social vices increase, and many conflicts easily lead to fights.

Receiving reports directly from citizens at the 113 Police Team. Photo: Le Thang

As the standing force responsible for maintaining social order in the province, with a focus on Vinh City and its surrounding areas, the officers are still working at full capacity due to limited manpower. They have to arrange and divide shifts scientifically to meet the needs of the people at all times and in all places...

Accordingly, from 8 PM onwards, our conversation with the team members was constantly interrupted by incoming phone calls. According to Lieutenant Colonel Le, officers and soldiers receiving reports from citizens via phone calls not only gather information but also assess the severity of the incident and estimate how many officers need to be dispatched to the scene. It sounds simple, but it can be quite confusing for those unfamiliar with the process.

Police officers from the 113 emergency response unit are fully equipped with necessary tools before setting off. Photo: LT

“Hello, there’s a drunk person causing a public disturbance on Phan Chu Trinh Street, disrupting neighborhood security,” a nearby resident reported. After quickly gathering information, the 113 police force immediately dispatched officers, and we joined in. Upon arriving at the scene, the 113 officers didn’t hesitate, rushing to subdue the suspect, who struggled, cursed, and refused to cooperate. After handing him over to the local police station, the 113 officers returned to their unit.

Before they could even settle into their seats, the officers on duty jumped up and rushed to the scene as the dispatch center received further reports: at the intersection of Kim Dong and Le Hong Phong streets, an individual had called a group of friends to cause trouble after a traffic accident, creating chaos in the neighborhood; and at the entrance to the Central Park, there was a conflict between two groups of young men...

Police officers from the 113 emergency response unit before heading out on patrol. Photo: LT

Major Dang Minh Chi, deputy head of Team 113, said: Due to the nature of the work, the 113 police force must always maintain a 24/7 on-call schedule. On average, the 113 duty officer receives and processes dozens of reports every day.

From public disturbances to gang fights, even marital disputes... the command center will assess the authenticity of the information, its nature, and its severity, in order to dispatch forces to the scene as quickly as possible.

"Fastest, strongest, and most effective" is the motto of the 113 Police officers. Photo: LT

In the minds of the 113 Police officers, every report is an urgent call from the people. Therefore, in addition to our responsibility, there is an invisible force that draws us to the scene of the report as quickly as possible, resolving the situation safely and effectively, in order to bring peace to the people.

And that's why Captain Phan Duc Thang stated, "As a 113 police officer, having to interrupt your meal to go out when you receive a report of fighting or disturbing public order is normal, and we practically don't have the concept of celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year)."

Mobile units work tirelessly day and night.

Along with the 113 Police, the Mobile Police force is also working tirelessly day and night. According to Lieutenant Colonel Ho Nam Long, Head of the Mobile Police Department: In addition to ensuring regular patrols, consisting of 2 shifts (each shift with 12 people divided into 2 teams), the first shift patrols from 8 PM to midnight, and the second shift from midnight to 4 AM.

On New Year's Eve, an additional patrol team was deployed by car, and 38 officers were reinforced in Nghi Phu and Nghi Duc communes – areas where firework use is common.

Mobile police officers on patrol and conducting checks. Photo: LT

After midnight, following the fireworks display and the start of the new year, everyone will simultaneously leave the city center to go and pick lucky branches for the spring, marking the beginning of the second shift. All are fully equipped with necessary tools, including bulletproof vests, rubber bullet guns, and walkie-talkies. Each team has a leader, a deputy leader, and four members who maintain constant communication.

Sitting in the back of the police car, I think I was looking at the streets with different eyes. It wasn't the leisurely gaze of people-watching or street-observing anymore. Lieutenant Vo Minh Tu, the patrol team leader, told me that when performing their duties, officers like him must be people of the job.

Helping people cross the road. Photo: LT

Indeed, there are still young people going out at night without helmets, carrying three people, and running red lights... Tú had to stop several times to remind the violators. Some young men, upon seeing the riot police, quickly took off their helmets hanging on their bikes to put them on. "But it's not just about traffic safety violations, sir; we also have to be more alert to detect threats to public order and safety," Tú said.

Sure enough, as soon as Tú finished speaking, the officers in this unit stopped abruptly. Before I could understand what was happening, I saw Lieutenant Tú jump out of the car and stop a motorbike with license plate 37B1-976xx carrying two young men, one of whom wasn't wearing a helmet. Upon inspection, a knife was found under the motorbike's storage compartment. The young men remained expressionless and uncooperative.

After analyzing the traffic violations, the riot police officers instructed both individuals and the patrol team to bring their vehicles to the headquarters at 43 Ho Tung Mau Street for resolution. After handing them over to the relevant department, the officers promptly resumed their duties.

Checking and reminding a young man to wear a helmet on New Year's Eve. Photo: LT

And so, even when the crowds thinned out, the officers continued their regular patrols through every street and alley. At this point, I understood why, even though his office was less than 5 kilometers from his home, he rarely got to come home to sleep.

Thinking about this, I understand even more and empathize with the hardships and difficulties these officers face, whose work requires them to work at night, especially on New Year's Eve, a time when they should be resting and spending time with their families. Instead, they are left with only their motorcycles and patrol routes to keep them company in the night.

The streets were less crowded, but the riot police officers continued their regular patrols through each street. Photo: LT

After spending a night out with the authorities ensuring security and order on New Year's Eve, despite being tired, I felt a surge of excitement and joy. My personal happiness was further amplified by the shared joy of celebrating a peaceful and safe New Year.

Suddenly, I realized that for these men, staying awake all night on New Year's Eve was no longer surprising but had become a regular occurrence, because for them, "staying awake so the people can sleep, standing guard so the people can enjoy the Spring Festival and welcome the New Year" was their greatest and most sacred duty.