Upholding the qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" on the new journey.
In an interview with Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan - Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Provincial Military Command - partially sketched the portrait of the soldiers of the new era - the "Uncle Ho's soldiers" who are continuing to write the heroic epic with compassionate hearts and modern thinking.
Diep Thanh (editor) - Publication date: December 22, 2025
Not only are they the vanguard force on the front lines battling severe natural disasters, but the soldiers of Nghe An today also play a much more significant role. In an interview with Nghe An Newspaper and Radio & Television on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan – Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Provincial Military Command – partially outlined the portrait of the soldiers of the new era – the "Uncle Ho's soldiers" who are continuing to write the heroic epic with compassionate hearts and modern thinking.
PVSir/MadamComrade, during critical times of natural disasters such as the recent storms and floods, the image of the soldiers of Nghe An has been...They truly became a "peaceful anchor" for the people. Could you share the core spirit that helped the officers and soldiers overcome all limitations to fulfill their mission?people?
Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan:For us soldiers, there is no order more strict and sacred than an order from the heart, and no duty more noble than protecting the lives and property of the people. The core spirit that helps officers and soldiers overcome all dangers and the limits of personal safety is the culmination of three elements:
Firstly, it's the inherent "devotion to the people" of our army. Every soldier from Nghe An province is deeply imbued with President Ho Chi Minh's teaching: "Our army is loyal to the Party and devoted to the people." When the people face hardship, the soldiers cannot stand idly by. During the recent typhoons No. 3, No. 5, and No. 10, in the communes of Muong Xen, My Ly, and Nhon Mai, the soldiers voluntarily became "human shields" to protect the people. This spirit did not come from coercion, but from a deep, blood-related bond, viewing the suffering of the people as the suffering of their own family.
Secondly, it is the inheritance of the glorious 80-year tradition of the provincial armed forces. History has proven that, from wartime to peacetime, the Nghe An armed forces have always been the core, leading force. This tradition has created a "conditioned reflex" of courage. When mud and debris collapse, when flash floods sweep through, on the brink of life and death, the soldiers have only one thought: to save the people at all costs. The images of soldiers like Vi Van Hieu, Xong Ba Co... sacrificing themselves in the raging floods are the most vivid evidence of the continuation of that tradition.
Thirdly, it is a responsibility to uphold our oath of honor. We understand that, in peacetime, the "battlefield" for soldiers is the frontline against natural disasters and epidemics. The trust of the Party Committee and the people of the province is invaluable motivation. As Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha once assessed at the Forward Command Post: "The army is always the frontline force." It is this trust that has given strength to our comrades, even though their own homes are flooded and their wives and children need support, to readily set aside personal matters and throw themselves into the common mission.
The spirit of "selfless service to the people" is not just a slogan, but has become an instinct and a virtue of the soldiers of Uncle Ho in his homeland. We consider the people's peace and safety to be the most precious reward for all our efforts and sacrifices.
PV: TinhThat spirit did not stop at the national border but also spread to the villages and hamlets of our brotherly country, Laos. According to you, the construction..."the people's support""What is the strategic significance of cross-border activities through people-to-people diplomacy in protecting the homeland?"
Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan:In the strategic thinking of the provincial armed forces, we have always believed that: Borders are not only defined by concrete markers on high mountain passes, but more importantly, borders are most securely protected by "markers of the people's hearts." For Nghe An - a province with the longest land border in the country - building a "people's hearts" defense across the border is the key to protecting the Fatherland "early and from afar" in the most sustainable way.
Starting from the perspective of "helping others is helping ourselves," every grain of rice, every public works project, or every emergency relief effort for our neighbor Laos after storms and floods is not simply about sharing material resources. It is a process of sowing the seeds of unwavering trust between the people of both sides in the great friendship. When the people trust and love the soldiers, they will voluntarily become our "eyes and ears," the most sensitive on-site force to help us guard every inch of sacred land, effectively preventing all kinds of crimes and acts of violating sovereignty.
This strength is further amplified through the humane "village-to-village" twinning models. The fact that 21 pairs of villages and 9 pairs of border units are working side-by-side has transformed border management from a task solely for law enforcement agencies into a shared responsibility of every citizen. This cohesion creates a unified entity, a peaceful and stable border region. This is a crucial prerequisite for us to focus resources on socio-economic development, transforming even the most remote areas into strong fortresses of national defense and security.
From a broader perspective, the close bond between the armed forces and the people of the two countries is also a powerful affirmation against any divisive or provocative schemes of hostile forces. When the sentiments of the two countries are intertwined with the daily lives of the people, no force can distort or break this special unity. Once the people's hearts are at peace, the border will be secure, and that is the most solid foundation for national security in all situations.
PV: From guarding the border, today's soldiers have also been given the mission of protecting..."source of knowledge"through the movement"Popular Education Program No."The task is to teach people to become"digital citizens""What role does this play in helping ethnic minorities in mountainous areas change their mindset and escape poverty sustainably?"Comrade?
Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan:Bringing "digital knowledge" to the highlands is essentially a revolution in thinking for ethnic minority communities, and we have identified this as a key task to help them escape poverty sustainably in the new era.
Traditionally, soldiers have gone into the forests to teach literacy, but today, simply knowing how to read and write is not enough for people in border areas to keep up with modern life. When border guards directly guide and instruct people in Bac Ly and My Ly communes on how to access the National Public Service Portal or how to use smartphones to trade agricultural products, we are opening a huge door of information for them.
The importance of this lies in the fact that it helps bridge the geographical and educational divide between the lowlands and the highlands. When people know how to identify fake news online and how to conduct online business, they are no longer exploited by unscrupulous individuals and are more confident in their economic endeavors. This is a shift from "fish" to "fishing rod," but a modern one. We believe that when the light of digital knowledge illuminates the border regions of our country, the lives of our people will not only change materially but also strengthen their thinking, creating a dynamic border community that makes a significant contribution to the long-term stability and development of our province.
PV: When mindsets change, the appearance of the villages also changes thanks to the public works projects that bear the indelible mark of Uncle Ho's soldiers.So what is the key to the Provincial Military Command effectively fulfilling its role?"They are both a fighting force and a working and productive force.""in the new phase?"
Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan:The key to our successful fulfillment of those three noble functions lies in the close coordination between "military orders" and "the pulse of life."
First of all, we are not replacing the government or the people; rather, we are playing the role of a core force, creating a ripple effect. In poor villages like Piêng Lâng (Quế Phong), when the army provided hundreds of millions of dong and thousands of man-days of labor to build bridges and roads, we created a boost in infrastructure. From there, transportation became easier, agricultural and forestry products from the villagers were purchased directly from the villages, and hunger and poverty naturally receded.
The second key point is the "Border Guard Party Member in Charge of Poor Household Groups" model. This is how we stay close to the local area, understand the thoughts and aspirations of each household, and provide the most practical support, from donating breeding cattle to guiding farming techniques. This partnership is sustainable and long-term, not just a few formal campaigns.
It can be said that building public infrastructure or supporting people's livelihoods is also a way for us to fulfill our national defense mission. Because a prosperous and strong village is the strongest fortress protecting the homeland. When soldiers immerse themselves in labor and production alongside the people, the people's trust in the Party and the army is further strengthened, creating a combined strength to maintain peace in the border region of Nghe An.
PV:In response to the ever-evolving demands of the times, what strategic directions does the armed forces of Nghe An province have to ensure that the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" is not only a source of historical pride but is also constantly renewed with modern and humane values in the hearts of the people?
Colonel Hoang Dinh Luan:In this new phase, to live up to the glorious tradition of over 80 years and the trust and affection of the people, the Nghe An Provincial Military Command has set the overarching goal of building a strong, comprehensive, exemplary, and outstanding provincial armed force. To realize this, we focus on the following key strategic directions:
First and foremost, we must steadfastly build a politically, ideologically, and organizationally strong force. This is the core foundation for maintaining the revolutionary nature of our army. Every officer and soldier must constantly study and follow the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh, taking the title "Ho Chi Minh's Soldier" as a guiding principle for all actions. In the context of the information technology boom, we focus on enhancing the "resistance" of our soldiers against harmful information flows, firmly protecting the Party's ideological foundation from within the thoughts of each soldier.
Secondly, we will focus on improving the quality of training and combat readiness in the direction of being "lean, efficient, and strong." The provincial armed forces will continue to adhere to the training motto "Basic - Practical - Solid," closely aligned with the local terrain and tasks. In particular, we will strengthen the application of science and technology and promote digital transformation in management and training. The goal is to build a regular, elite, and modern force capable of effectively responding to all national defense and security situations, preventing passivity and surprise.
Thirdly, we must continuously strengthen the "people's support" and do a good job of mass mobilization. We consider helping the people as a combat mission in peacetime. In the coming time, in addition to maintaining the effectiveness of rescue and relief operations and poverty alleviation, the provincial armed forces will be at the forefront of new movements such as "Digital Popular Education." We will continue to assign Border Guard Party members to be in charge of poor households, living, eating, and working together with them to truly be reliable companions, helping people in remote areas transform their livelihoods and access modern knowledge.
Finally, we will continue to cultivate the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos. With a long border, we will further deepen defense diplomacy activities and expand the scale of sister village relationships. Building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous border not only protects national sovereignty but also creates a favorable environment for the people of both sides to develop and prosper together.
Regardless of the circumstances, we are committed to doing our utmost to protect the Party, the government, and the peaceful lives of the people, so that the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" will not only be a source of pride in the past but will continue to shine through the practical, modern, and humane actions of Nghe An soldiers in the future.
Interviewer: Thank you for the conversation!
