This has a direct impact on the people’s lives, socio-economic development, and the consolidation of defense and security in the Northwestern region.
According to a 2018 survey, all six provinces in Military Region 2 covering a total area of approximately 331,000 hectares are contaminated with UXO and mines. To date, over 280,000 hectares still require clearance. As most of the contaminated areas are located in rugged mountainous and border terrains with a high density and diverse types of explosives, the clearance work demands stringent requirements in terms of organization, technical skills, and safety.
    |
 |
|
Lieutenant General Pham Duc Duyen, Political Commissar of Military Region 2, presents gifts to encourage the UXO and mine clearance forces of Division 316. |
Understanding the importance of the task, in recent years, Military Region 2 has strictly implemented the Government’s Decree No. 18/2019/ND-CP and the Defense Ministry’s directives on UXO and mine clearance. It has proactively coordinated with local authorities to prepare forces and equipment for the operations. Over the past five years, the forces have cleared more than 6,500 hectares of contaminated land in Tuyen Quang and Lao Cai provinces, collecting and destroying over 147,000 explosive devices of all kinds. The cleared land has been handed over to localities for farming and infrastructure construction, helping to stabilize people’s lives.
Recently, Military Region 2 was assigned as the investor of Component Project 2 on war-left UXO and mine clearance for the 2025-2027 period in Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces. This national key project covers a clearance area of 11,740 hectares in 25 border communes. Particularly, to facilitate the search and collection of martyrs’ remains, Military Region 2 aims to complete the clearance of over 7,000 hectares of contaminated land in 2026.
|
|
 |
|
Leaders of the Staff of the Military Region 2 Command inspect its UXO and mine clearance team performing duties in Xin Man commune, Tuyen Quang province. |
|
|
 |
|
Leaders of the Staff of the Military Region 2 Command inspect UXO and mine clearance operations in Lao Cai province. |
To ensure progress and absolute safety, the military region’s Party Committee has issued a thematic resolution on leading the clearance work in association with the search and collection of martyrs’ remains. The military region has established a steering committee, a project management board, and an on-site command board in Ban May commune (Tuyen Quang province) to directly coordinate with local Party committees and authorities.
The unit has mobilized 70 of its own clearance teams along with 100 teams from units under the Defense Ministry. All of the personnel directly involved in the mission have been trained and certified. Military Region 2 has also requested the Defense Ministry to issue clearance competency certificates to six of its affiliated units to enhance their capacity to carry out simultaneous operations across multiple areas.
With the motto “Swift, thorough, clear, accurate, and safe,” the military region requires the executing units to strictly adhere to technical procedures, properly conduct acceptance and handover processes, and resolutely prevent the tendency to chase progress at the expense of safety. At the same time, troops must strictly maintain discipline, perform well in mass mobilization work, and strictly comply with land border management regulations.
|
|
 |
|
Armed forces of Military Region 2 safely detonate UXO and mines in Phu Tho province. |
The clearance forces also closely link their tasks with the search and collection of martyrs’ remains. Areas suspected of containing remains will be marked, kept intact, and handed over to specialized forces for verification.
Given that the operations take place in remote areas frequently affected by natural disasters, Military Region 2 pays special attention to logistics, technical, and military medical assurance. It provides adequate protective gear and takes good care of the troops’ material and spiritual lives so they can feel secure in their work.
Overcoming the consequences of war-left UXO and landmines is a highly difficult and long-term task with profound humanitarian significance. Military Region 2 is determined to accelerate the clearance progress, contributing to ensuring safety for the people and fostering a more stable and developed Northwest region.
Written by Major General Nguyen The Hai, Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 2
Translated by Minh Anh