Officers and soldiers of Chiềng Tương Border Guard Station patrol the border.

The Provincial Border Guard Command is tasked with managing and protecting a border line over 274km long, adjacent to the provinces of Hua Phan and Luang Prabang in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The border area has rugged terrain, high mountains, deep ravines, and difficult transportation, along with harsh weather conditions, frequent flash floods and landslides, creating many obstacles to border management and protection. In particular, cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, and commercial fraud are complex and sophisticated, employing audacious tactics. Hostile forces also exploit sensitive issues concerning ethnicity, religion, democracy, and human rights to undermine the Party and State, causing political and social instability.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Military Command and Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, stated: The unit always prioritizes building a strong and comprehensive Border Guard force; focusing on political and ideological education, enhancing the capabilities, skills, expertise, and professional competence of officers and soldiers, setting an example in moral character, lifestyle, and service to the people, and serving as a reliable support for ethnic minorities in border areas. Priority is given to investing in modern, high-tech equipment, especially in drug and crime prevention, ensuring that units always have sufficient equipment to fulfill their duties in all situations.

To firmly protect national territorial sovereignty and border security, the Border Guard Force of Son La province regularly maintains a state of combat readiness; strengthens patrols and control of inland and inland border areas, and promptly handles acts violating sovereignty and border security. Bilateral patrols, periodic patrols, and the system of national border markers are carried out regularly. In the period 2020-2025, the Son La Border Guard Force organized 121 unilateral patrols; coordinated 1,605 bilateral patrols; and conducted 5,252 patrols and control operations in the area.

Recognizing that combating crime along the border is a challenging and complex front, the Provincial Border Guard Command has focused on fiercely fighting all types of crime; deploying comprehensive operational measures, coordinating with functional forces of Laos and neighboring provinces to dismantle drug trafficking and transportation rings. Over the past 5 years, the Border Guard force has successfully investigated 36 special cases; directly and collaboratively handled and resolved 618 cases involving 753 drug criminals, seizing 197.71 kg of various types of drugs, 29 guns, 188 bullets, and many other exhibits; 32 cases involving 36 individuals involved in smuggling, commercial fraud, and illegal transportation of goods across the border; investigated 1 special case, rescuing 15 victims, and coordinating the rescue of 8 victims of human trafficking across the border...

The Provincial Border Guard Command is providing assistance to people in Muong Lan commune who suffered damage from floods and heavy rains.

With the motto "The people are the foundation," relying on the people to build a solid border defense posture, officers and soldiers of the Provincial Border Guard have actively participated in local socio-economic development, guiding people to apply science and technology to production; helping to build houses, roads, repair schools and health stations... In the period 2020-2025, the Border Guard force mobilized and coordinated with localities, agencies, units, and philanthropists to build 54 projects of various types for officers, soldiers and people in border areas, with a total value of over 30.5 billion VND; coordinated and mobilized resources to organize social welfare activities and support border communes, with a total value of over 15 billion VND. In particular, the Border Guard Force has effectively maintained 26 "Effective Mass Mobilization" models, contributing to creating livelihoods, innovating production and farming thinking for the people, and developing the socio-economic and cultural aspects in border areas.

The role of the Border Guard Force was also clearly demonstrated during the recent floods in late July and early August. Hundreds of officers and soldiers of the Son La Border Guard Force braved raging waters, clearing roads and working alongside the people to overcome the consequences of the natural disaster and gradually stabilize their lives. Lieutenant Colonel Mua Lao Thang, Political Officer of the Muong Lan Border Guard Station, shared: "The historic flood swept through Muong Lan commune, washing away many houses, people's property, and public infrastructure. The unit carried out rescue and relief operations and supported the people in stabilizing their lives and overcoming the consequences of the natural disaster; contributing nearly 20 million VND, providing food and supplies to households severely affected; and calling on charitable organizations to provide food, supplies, and cash to households affected by the recent floods."

These concrete and practical actions have further enhanced the image of the Border Guard Force, making it familiar, close, and intimately connected with the people in border areas, building a comprehensive border defense system involving the entire population, and firmly protecting the sacred borders of the Fatherland.