Now, despite his old age and declining health, Hoi is striving to carry out the special task he chose. Additionally, as a village patriarch and a reputable person in Cha Khot, he always educates his children and the younger generation to join the border guard force’s effort in patrolling and protecting the borderline and border marker.
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Outstanding individuals in protecting borderline and border markers, including Vi Van Hoi (right) honored |
One morning at the end of February, Hoi was present at the center of Na Meo commune to attend the “Whole-People Border Festive Day" program 2025, organized by the local authorities and border guards. When he arrived, local leaders and representatives of the Border Post of Na Meo Border International Border Gate under the Thanh Hoa provincial Border Guard Command greeted him warmly and invited him to sit in a place of honor that had been prepared for him. In this remote area, almost everyone knows that Hoi is one of the exemplary figures in carrying out the movement of voluntarily protecting the borderline and border markers. Over the past years, Thai ethnic minority man has quietly carried out this special mission and is called a lovely name, “Elderly Hoi of the Border Marker,” by locals.
Hoi recalled that around 1950, his family moved from Yen Khuong commune, Lang Chanh district, Thanh Hoa province, to the border area to settle down. As he grew up, he saw more families from various places moving to the border area, forming what is now Cha Khot village. Over the years, the lives of the Thai ethnic people in this area have mainly been tied to rice fields and forests in border area. Decades ago, whenever border guard troops patrolled through the village, the villagers would work together to prepare meals and arrange places for the soldiers to rest when needed. In 1978, when the governments of Vietnam and Laos decided to demarcate the border and install sovereignty markers, Hoi and many strong men from Cha Khot volunteered to carry food supplies and guide patrol teams through the forest for months to carry out this special task.
In Cha Khot, border marker 332 was then constructed solidly and properly. This marker is located about 20 km from the center of Na Meo commune and about 4km from the residential area of Cha Khot village, accessible only by mountainous forest roads. When the border demarcation work was finished, the border guard and local authorities launched a campaign to encourage people in the border villages to participate in the self-management of the borderline and border markers.
At that time, without hesitation, Hoi volunteered to protect marker 332. Recalling that period, the Thai man said, “We lived, farmed, and worked in the border area, close to the sovereignty marker. Through the border guard force’s dissemination efforts, I became aware of my responsibility to contribute to protecting the system of sovereignty markers and the peace of the village. From then on, I and my family members signed up with the Border Post of Na Meo International Border Gate and local authorities to voluntarily protect sovereignty marker 332.”
Since then, while working, Hoi always keeps an eye on the status of the sovereignty marker and the situation on the village’s border area. Whenever he notices any emerging issues or unusual signs, he would find a way to report them to the border guard force for timely handling. Once a month, he, along with his children and the youth in the village, would gather to clear the patrol road around sovereignty marker 332. He has consistently carried out this special duty for decades and continues to do so. When asked about his memorable experiences while protecting the borderline and sovereignty markers, Hoi recalled a story when he visited marker 332 and was caught in heavy rain. The stream’s water level rose so high that he couldn’t cross it. With no other option, he built a temporary shelter with palm leaves near the marker and slept overnight. He only returned home the next day, and everyone was worried.
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Vi Van Hoi standing at border marker 332 area |
This year, Hoi is almost 80 years old. Although his age has taken a toll on his health, making it harder to trek through forests and streams to reach the sovereignty marker, he still participates in the mission regularly. “If I don’t visit the marker for a while, I miss it so much! As long as my health is good enough, I will continue to join my children, local youths, and border guard troops in protecting the borderline and sovereignty markers,” he affirmed. As a village patriarch and a reputable person, Hoi has also become a spiritual support for villagers. He is an exemplary person and actively mobilizes villagers to comply with the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies and laws.
“In Na Meo commune, there are nine individuals who have registered to manage the borderline and markers. Nine groups with a total of 32 members are responsible for maintaining security and order in the area. The local people are very committed to contributing to the protection of national sovereignty and border security, ensuring peace in the border area. Among them, Vi Van Hoi is a shining example, having voluntarily protected sovereignty marker 332 for decades,” said Major Mai Chi Thuc, Deputy Political Officer of the Border Post of Na Meo International Border Gate.
Source: bienphong.vn
Translated by Chung Anh