Putting aside personal joys
It had been believed that people in mountainous areas was safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, one day, many infected cases were recorded in Si Pa Phin commune - one of the most remote localities of Dien Bien province. In that case, Political Commissar of Si Sa Phin Border Post (under the Dien Bien provincial Border Guard Command) Major Trinh Van Thang had to “change” his promise to come home with his son made a few weeks earlier before Tet 2022 to a soonest day.
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A border troop and people in Sin Thau |
Back to a checkpoint of Si Sa Phin Border Post, Major Thang underlined that the COVID-19 prevention and control is a prolonged combat; therefore, the troops have prepared sufficient food for this upcoming Tet. Especially, during the lunar New Year’s Eve, the post’s leaders and officials of Si Sa Phin commune will visit and present Tet gifts to troops on duty at COVID-19 checkpoints.
There is another COVID-19 checkpoint in Pung Bua village, Na U commune, Dien Bien district located on the side of the mountain where Lieutenant Dao Manh Dung and three other soldiers are on duty. The checkpoint is called “Three Nos,” which means no fresh water, no mobilephone coverage, and no electricity. However, they have overcome difficulties to fulfill assigned missions at the checkpoint.
According to Major Nguyen Van Thang, Second-in-Command of the Border Post of Tay Trang International Border Gate, this is the hardest checkpoint because it is far from the post’s headquarters. Around the end of the lunar year, the unit will bring Chung cakes, fruits and peach blossoms to the checkpoint for troops. Due to the complicated developments of the pandemic, all officers and soldiers of the post are now on duty around the clock.
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Border troops and people in Sin Thau preparing for the lunar New Year |
Taking care of local villagers
It was a cold winter day at the end of 2021 in Na Co Sa commune, Nam Po district, Dien Bien province. At the commune’s Communal House, the volunteer group of “Zero VND Coach - Nguyen Hoang, Hanoi” and border guards gave nearly 2,000 gifts worth about VND 430 million to students at Na Co Sa Kindergarten and at Na Co Sa Primary School. The gifts included warm clothes, blankets, mosquito nets, school supplies, and necessities... Teachers and students there will have a cozier Tet thanks to the meaningful gifts.
Na Co Sa is a border commune with more than 90% of the population being H’mong ethnic people. Every year, in between-crop period season, the locals still suffer from food shortage, said Commanding Officer of Na Co Sa Border Post Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Dai. Therefore, the unit has organized a border spring program and donated 25kg of rice per month for the needy residents.
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Border troops and locals making Chung cakes (square glutinous rice cake) |
In addition, the unit has also mobilized other resources to support locals. Prior to the lunar New Year, the post, in coordination with sponsors, handed over 70,000 cinnamon seedlings, and inaugurated a primary school building in Na Co Sa 3 village, worth VND 700 million.
These meaningful activities have contributed to showing the border guards’ responsibility towards the society and promoting the beautiful images of Uncle’s Ho soldiers in the Northwestern border areas of the country.
Translated by Minh Anh