Ar Ba Nham is a small village in A Luoi 2 commune, nestling along the Truong Son range and bordering Kaleum district, Laos’ Sekong province. The village is home to 165 households with more than 680 residents, all of whom are from the Ta Oi and Pa Co ethnic groups. In the past, due to its remote location and limited interaction with the outside world, local people’s educational level and legal awareness remained constrained.
That, however, is now a story of the past. Implementing the motto of “small rain lays great dust,” troops of Quang Nham Border Post have worked tirelessly regardless of day or night, patiently gone “door to door, household to household,” using the most relatable stories to raise awareness and encourage local residents to abandon outdated customs, work diligently, and strive to escape poverty. As a result, their awareness and civic consciousness have steadily improved.
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Officer of the Quang Nham Border Post inspects an acacia plantation with seedlings provided by the unit for households in Ar Ba Nham village, A Luoi 2 commune, June 2025. |
Head of Ar Ba Nham village Ho Thi He shared that since receiving guidance from the border guard force, people’s awareness has clearly improved. “Everyone understands and strictly follows the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws. The Border Guard force is truly a solid fulcrum for our community,” she said.
Not limited to a single village, the persistent and dedicated efforts of officers and soldiers of the Quang Nham Border Post have spread widely across the border area. Through close coordination with local authorities, local border guards have skillfully integrated legal education and border sovereignty protection into community activities and village meetings. This approachable and effective method has gradually embedded legal knowledge into daily life, shaping the thinking and habits of local people.
Nguyen Huy Hen from Py Ay 2 village, A Luoi 2 commune, said, “Nowadays, we consider border protection our own responsibility. Whenever there is any information related to security or order, we immediately inform the border guard force. We are always ready to join the soldiers in managing and firmly safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.”
Alongside raising awareness, the border guard troops are constantly concerned with the livelihoods of people in this border area. Guided by motto of “Post is home, border area is the homeland, and ethnic people are our brothers and sisters,” they have actively accompanied and supported local residents in economic development and livelihood stabilization. From livestock and crop models suited to local conditions to introducing high-value plant varieties and livestock breeds into production, local border guards have brought practical and sustainable new directions for residents.
Gardens that once grew only cassava and maize are now green with fruit trees, medicinal plants, and industrial crops. In addition, the Quang Nham Border Post has supported households with seedlings, breeding stock, and fish cage farming models, while mobilizing various social resources to present hundreds of gifts to disadvantaged families in border areas. Each gift, each seedling or animal breed carries not only material value, but also the heartfelt care and sentiment of border guard troops.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Dang Dong, Head of Quang Nham Border Post affirmed that protecting the border is not only about guarding each marker or every inch of land; at its core, it is about taking care of local people’s lives. When residents enjoy stable livelihoods and their trust in the Party, the State, and the military is strengthened, they form the strongest fortress for safeguarding national border sovereignty and security. “We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people, accompany them in building increasingly developed and prosperous border areas,” officer Dong stressed.
Translated by Chung Anh