Crossing streams, climbing passes and planting landmarks

(Baonghean) - The system of markers planted on the Vietnam-Laos border includes 3 types: Large markers, weighing over 1 ton; Medium markers weighing 450kg and Small markers weighing 250kg. Of the 116 markers on the 419.5 km Vietnam-Laos border through Nghe An, there are 3 large markers, 40 medium markers and 73 small markers. To bring the markers to the Truong Son range, the highest point is Puxailaileng peak, 2,711 meters above sea level, the marker planting forces have been very creative, working together to complete the task. Most of the markers (except large markers at border gates) brought to the location must be transported manually.

The cadres and marker planting teams had to cross deep streams and steep slopes to reach the safe and intact planting location. During the implementation of the mission, the initiatives and experiences of the soldiers in "crossing Truong Son" in the past were brought into play. When passing through the streams, the markers and materials were placed on wooden boats to be pulled upstream. When crossing steep slopes, the markers were fixed in an iron boat (to avoid the markers colliding with forest trees, rocks, etc.) and the soldiers pulled them to the top. In some places where the rocks were vertical, the two marker planting teams had to cut down trees and build ladders to pull the markers up. In the later stages, to free up the soldiers' strength, the marker planting teams used winches to pull the markers over the mountains to the locations identified by the Vietnam-Laos Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting and the Steering Committee for Marker Planting of Nghe An province and neighboring provinces.

Bring the milestone upstream

Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thanh Hong - leader of the No. 2 Marker Planting Team, one of the people who followed the entire marker planting journey, confided: “The terrain is rugged, the weather is harsh, while the team's staff is not many, so each marker planting trip, the commander as well as the soldiers and officers have to try their best to carry out. Because the markers were completed beautifully according to the previous model, during the transportation process, the brothers were very worried, trying to find every way to protect them intact. Each marker weighs at least 2.5 quintals, when crossing the mountain, the members of the team carefully checked the rope system, the lashing ropes and deployed safety plans for the markers and for each participating officer. The hardships on the marker planting journey are indescribable, but until the stage of completing the thickening and restoration of the markers, the brothers did not let any incidents happen...”

Ladder to carry milestone up rocky slope to construction site

During the process of carrying out the task of increasing the density and embellishing the border markers, the working teams received great support and assistance from the ethnic people along the border of the two countries.

During hundreds of missions, from unilateral and bilateral surveys to determining the exact location and constructing markers, many times the marker-planting teams had to take a ride from the neighboring provinces of Laos. During that process, the Lao ethnic people along the border gave up their “places to eat and stay” and showed the way to the marker-planting team. The special relationship between Vietnam and Laos is a typical example of strong and loyal international ties.

Joining forces to pull the milestone over the mountain to the construction site

In the press conference at the end of June 2013 to propagate the Ceremony to celebrate the completion of the work of increasing and renovating the Vietnam-Laos border markers, comrade Thai Van Hang - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Marker Planting in Nghe An highly appreciated the efforts of the marker planting teams. Overcoming many difficulties and hardships with nearly 6 years of implementation, the Steering Committee for Marker Planting in Nghe An and the marker planting teams of the province always worked with the highest determination to complete the task. Therefore, the work of increasing and renovating the markers on the Vietnam-Laos border was completed according to the requirements of the Government, the Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting of the two countries with absolute safety for people, equipment and vehicles.

NGUYEN SON