Tet of border soldiers on the border

Welcoming Spring at the station and checkpoint

It took us nearly a day to travel from Vinh city to the border district of Ky Son, and we arrived at Xieng Tren Border Control Station of My Ly Border Guard Station.

The cold of the border in the spring days is warmed by the solidarity and attachment of the soldiers in green uniforms and the ethnic minorities here.

This year, officers and employees of Xieng Tren Border Control Station are happy to be able to use the national grid, which is convenient for daily life and for reporting the local situation to the Commander of My Ly Border Station.

Captain Nguyen Canh Ba - Head of Xieng Tren Border Control Station said that stationed in Xang Tren village - a remote area of ​​My Ly commune (Ky Son), the soldiers always clearly identify the role and responsibility of border soldiers, regularly raise vigilance, increase patrols, control, and protect security for people to enjoy Tet and welcome Spring.

In addition to performing their duties, during the days before Tet, officers and employees of Xieng Tren Border Control Station also took the time to prepare peach blossoms and fruit trays from their own garden to welcome the Lunar New Year. Simple but full of human warmth.

For 30 years wearing the green uniform, Lieutenant Colonel Ngo Xuan Thanh can't remember how many times he has celebrated Tet away from home. This year, he is still willing to be away from his family to be on duty during Tet so that people can celebrate Spring in peace.

Although celebrating Tet far from home, officers and soldiers at Xieng Tren Border Control Station are not lonely because they have the love and care of people of all ethnic groups.

Mr. Vi Van Hoanh - Secretary of the Party Cell of Xang Tren village, My Ly commune (Ky Son) said: Every year, village officials and people visit and bring gifts of products produced by the people to encourage border officers and soldiers on duty during Tet, to protect the peace of the border villages...

My Ly Border Guard Station is responsible for managing a 48.468 km long border section (including 36.918 km on river and 11.550 km on land), with 9 landmarks and 7 pairs of markers, adjacent to Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province.

The unit's management area includes 2 communes My Ly and Bac Ly (Ky Son), with a total population of 2,167 households/10,512 people, mainly Thai, Mong, and Kho Mu ethnic groups living together. Lieutenant Colonel Hoang The Tai - Political Commissar of My Ly Border Guard Station, living in Cua Lo town - who has celebrated 5 Tet holidays at the unit said: Tet is coming, Spring is coming, the Party Committee and commander of the station have assigned unit commanders to go to stations and checkpoints to encourage officers and soldiers on duty during Tet, ensuring the material and spiritual life of those who are staying at the front line.

Leaving Xieng Tren Border Control Station, we arrived at Muong Phu Border Control Station (Thong Thu Border Station), when the clock struck 7:30 p.m. In the thick fog, we could vaguely see the flashlights of the station's officers and soldiers preparing for the patrol and protection of the border and landmarks.

Captain Le Dinh Thang - Head of Muong Phu Border Control Station shared: Despite the difficulties, hardships, and harsh weather, with the determination to protect the sovereignty and security of the border so that people can enjoy Tet and welcome Spring, we determined to be on duty during Tet, promptly handle any situation that arises, and are determined to protect the sovereignty and security of the border.

Mr. Luong Van Huan - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thong Thu Commune (Que Phong) said: Thanks to the support of the Border Guard, the local Party Committee and government are more confident in their leadership and management. Along with the activities of celebrating Tet and welcoming Spring, the Party Committee and local government coordinate with Thong Thu Border Guard Station and forces stationed in the area to deploy a plan to ensure security, order and social safety before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2024.

Organize propaganda and mobilize the masses to strictly comply with regulations on not buying, selling, storing, and using illegal fireworks, not participating in social evils, superstitions, and heresies so that everyone and every family can celebrate Tet happily and warmly.

Warm military-civilian relationship

Although they cannot be with their families and relatives, border soldiers celebrating Tet at the border are always welcomed with love, sharing and care from the ethnic people in the area when Tet comes and Spring comes.

In the days before and during Tet, they are visited and wished a Happy New Year by people, departments, branches, organizations, and local leaders.

At the Huoi Co border guard team - stationed in Huoi Co village, Nhon Mai commune (Tuong Duong) bordering Tang Sau village, Muong Quan district, Hua Phan province (Laos), on the days before Tet, Captain Lau Ba Xia, living in Muong Xen town (Ky Son) - Head of the Huoi Co team and his teammates took the opportunity to prepare peach blossoms and make Chung cakes to celebrate Tet. Food and vegetables were already available due to the brothers' increased production.

He said: I have a wife who is a kindergarten teacher and 2 children aged 7 and 3. During Tet, due to my duties, I cannot be with my wife and children, but in return, I receive the warm affection of the people in the villages near the Vietnam - Laos border.

“During Tet, we still took the time to go down to the village to check on the situation and wish the villagers a happy new year. The officers and villagers also went to the checkpoint to visit and encourage the brothers like family members,” Captain Lau Ba Xia shared.

Huoi Co village has 56 households, 345 Mong people. Although there are still many difficulties, with the spirit of solidarity, overcoming difficulties, and the care and help of border guards in ensuring security and order, guiding the conversion of crop structure, and developing household economy to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, the life of the Mong Huoi Co people has become increasingly prosperous.

Talking to us, the Party Secretary of Huoi Co Va Ba Sua village said: On Tet holiday, we often visit and encourage the border guards in the working group and invite them to join Tet activities and enjoy Spring with the villagers.

“This year, the Nhon Mai Border Guard Station came to the village to organize the Border Spring Program with cultural exchange activities, arts, drinking rice wine, making campfires, and giving Tet gifts, so the villagers were very happy and satisfied…”, Mr. Va Ba Sua shared more.

At the Tham Tham border working group (Nhon Mai commune), Major Le Van Linh, from Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district (has worked in the border force for 28 years) and soldier Phan Huu Khanh (born in 2000), from Quynh Doi commune, Quynh Luu district (has been in the army for less than a year) are also decorating peach branches to prepare for Tet.

Thanks to active farming, the small garden of the group is full of all kinds of green vegetables; in the station's livestock area, in addition to pigs and chickens, there are also 15 healthy buffaloes and cows.

Major Le Van Linh shared: Being away from home during Tet, everyone has moments of missing their loved ones, but because of our duties, we have to put aside our personal feelings to complete the assigned work well. Understanding the working situation, our wives and children often call to encourage and share. Besides, the affection and care of the local people and the camaraderie of our comrades also help us ease our homesickness.

As for young soldier Phan Huu Khanh, celebrating Tet away from home for the first time, besides missing his loved ones, there is also the excitement and anticipation of the first Tet at the border with ethnic people...

To encourage the spirit of officers and soldiers on duty during Tet, the Command Board of border posts has directed the decoration of the campus and landscape at the unit to create a warm and cozy Tet atmosphere; ensure full benefits for officers and soldiers on duty during Tet and carry out Spring and Tet activities with many exciting activities such as cultural exchanges, arts, sports... In addition, doing a good job of political and ideological education so that officers and soldiers can work with peace of mind and complete all assigned tasks well.

In addition to regularly patrolling, controlling and protecting border security, border posts also send officers and soldiers to celebrate Tet with ethnic people in the area.

The nights of flickering campfires, traditional dances with warm military-civilian bonds, and juggling jars of rice wine with the locals make the officers and soldiers at the border feel warmer when Tet comes and Spring returns.

It is also a great source of encouragement and motivation for the soldiers on the front lines so that “Spring on the border, your guns guard the distant sky…”.