The Provincial Party Secretary and leaders of Military Region 2 presented the appointment decisions to the Commanders of the Commune and Ward Military Commands. Photo: PV

Located in the Northwest sub-region, the Northern Midlands and Mountains region, Son La province has over 274 km of border with Laos, occupying a particularly important strategic position in terms of national defense and security. Annually, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command proactively advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to issue comprehensive leadership and guidance documents on local defense and military tasks; implementing synchronously, comprehensively, and effectively tasks and solutions that combine socio-economic development with strengthening national defense and security, building a solid provincial defense zone, and protecting national security. The provincial political system and armed forces are properly and adequately staffed, with increasingly improved quality, effectively playing a core role in the construction and operation of the defense zone.

Implementing a two-tiered local government model and the policy of streamlining the local military apparatus, the Provincial Military Command has established four regional defense command boards. It has also established the Provincial Border Guard Command, comprising 10 border guard posts, 4 border gates, and 7 border control stations. Notably, in early 2026, the Provincial Military Command held a conference to announce the decision of the Minister of National Defense regarding the reorganization of the commune and ward military commands under the Provincial Military Command. Accordingly, 75 officers from the Provincial Military Command were transferred and appointed by Military Region 2 to the position of Commander of the commune and ward military commands under the Son La Provincial Military Command. Simultaneously, agencies and units under the Provincial Military Command announced and presented appointment decisions for Deputy Political Commissars and Deputy Commanders. Assistants and professional soldiers hold technical staff positions at the Military Command Boards of communes and wards.

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Leo Border Guard Post patrol the border.

Colonel Chu Van Thanh, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Commander of the Provincial Military Command, stated: The officers and professional soldiers assigned and appointed to the commune and ward military commands all possess strong political resolve, good moral character, and the necessary skills and abilities to meet the requirements and tasks. This contributes to enhancing the leadership and command capacity of the grassroots military forces, building a lean, efficient, and effective local armed force, and meeting the requirements of building a solid defense zone in the new situation.

Along with that, the Provincial Military Party Committee advised and directed the building of the standing army force to be "revolutionary, regular, elite, and progressively modern"; the militia and self-defense force to be "strong and widespread"; the percentage of Party members in the militia and self-defense force reached 30.7%, and in the reserve mobilization force reached 22.48%. 100% of the recruitment and conscription targets were achieved, linked with the work of creating a source of grassroots cadres. The content and methods of training were actively reformed according to the motto "Basic - Practical - Solid". Military training, political education, and specialized training were closely combined. Training was tailored to the tasks, targets, areas, and actual combat situations; training was linked to building a regular army and building strong, comprehensive agencies and units. Through inspection and evaluation, 100% of the content met the requirements, with over 83% achieving good or excellent results; 100% of the planned targets were completed.

Training at the 1st Infantry Battalion, 754th Regiment, Provincial Military Command.

In 2025, the military directed the organization of 1 mobilization exercise; 2 civil defense exercises; 12 forest fire response and search and rescue exercises; the 2nd Military Region Command selected the Mai Son Area Defense Command as the pilot location for the Area Defense Exercise, after the reorganization of administrative units and the establishment of the Area Defense Cluster. These exercises served as a comprehensive assessment of leadership, management, and rapid response capabilities to simulated situations; and enhanced the awareness of cadres, Party members, and the people regarding the development of military potential during peacetime, ensuring that there is no passivity or surprise in any situation.

Upholding the spirit of solidarity and high determination to overcome all difficulties, officers and soldiers of the Border Guard Force (BGF) of Son La province have always successfully completed their assigned political tasks, maintaining territorial sovereignty and building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing border line. Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Military Command and Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Force Command, informed: The provincial Border Guard Force regularly maintains a state of combat readiness; strengthens patrols and control of inland and 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 past year, the Son La Border Guard Force organized 329 unilateral patrols; coordinated 36 bilateral patrols; and conducted 1,404 patrols and control operations in the area.

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Lan Border Guard Post patrol the border.

In addition, the Provincial Border Guard Command has focused on implementing a comprehensive set of operational measures to thoroughly understand the situation in both inland and border areas, as well as the methods and tactics of various types of crimes; directing and guiding units to effectively handle and resolve incidents occurring in the area according to their functions and authority, preventing the emergence of hotspots in the border region. In 2025, the Provincial Border Guard Command, in coordination with other functional forces, detected and arrested 76 cases/94 individuals. It also coordinated, supported, and provided professional advice to Laos in arresting 10 cases/12 individuals involved in drug crimes. Furthermore, it arrested and processed 12 cases/7 individuals related to smuggling, commercial fraud, and counterfeit goods; and 6 cases/9 individuals involved in crimes and violations of laws concerning weapons, explosives, supporting tools, and fireworks. It also led and coordinated the investigation, handling, and resolution of 49 cases/79 individuals involved in other crimes and legal violations within its jurisdiction. In coordination with relevant forces and local authorities, 19 incidents occurring in the border area were handled and resolved in accordance with the law...

Playing a pivotal role in ensuring political security and social order, the Son La Provincial Police force has directed the implementation of many comprehensive solutions, preventing any passive or unexpected situations. Colonel Hoang Vinh Hien, Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, said: To achieve the goal of reducing social order crimes, in 2025, the Provincial Police launched 14 intensive campaigns to attack and suppress crime in various fields. Along with mobilizing forces, the Provincial Police also established special task forces, such as: "Task force for patrolling, controlling, and handling crimes and violations on traffic routes"; "Standing force for drug prevention and control in border areas"; "Special task force for combating drug crimes"; "Task force for apprehending wanted criminals"... focusing on suppressing key types of crime and achieving many positive results.

Officers and soldiers of the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of the Provincial Police clean up mud and dirt on the roads. Photo: PV

The provincial police force focused on organizing operational activities to combat large-scale drug trafficking rings and criminals; armed drug criminals; wanted and sought individuals; and locations and individuals involved in the illegal buying, selling, harboring, and use of narcotics. In 2025, the entire province experienced 2,541 social order incidents (a decrease of 1,123 incidents compared to 2024), and the police force investigated and clarified 2,528 out of 2,541 cases, achieving a 99.5% success rate; preventing the formation of organized crime operating in a "mafia" style. The police force arrested or persuaded 26 wanted individuals to surrender, including many dangerous and especially dangerous individuals.

The role of the provincial armed forces is also clearly demonstrated during natural disasters and epidemics. Particularly during the heavy rains and floods in late July and early August 2025, the Provincial Military Command and the Provincial Police mobilized officers and soldiers in coordination with forces from Military Region 2, Division 316, and local Party committees and authorities to mobilize over 3,000 officers and soldiers, more than 20,000 man-days of labor; utilize 2,300 vehicles of various types; and mobilize over 30 billion VND to support the people in flood and storm prevention and disaster relief. In coordination with the 316th Division, the Logistics and Technical Department of Military Region 2, braving the sun and rain, they built 52 new houses, repaired 61 houses, and urgently relocated 205 houses in the communes of Chiềng Sơ, Mường Lầm, Bó Sinh, Huổi Một, Mường Lạn, and Sốp Cộp, helping people to quickly stabilize their living conditions, continue labor and production, and develop socio-economic activities.

Amidst a mix of opportunities and challenges, the provincial armed forces continue to uphold their heroic traditions, enhance leadership capacity and combat strength, and build a comprehensive, exemplary, and outstanding armed force; build a national defense system integrated with a people's security posture; and contribute to creating a solid foundation for Son La to confidently enter a new era, an era of national progress, together with the entire Party and people.

Text and photos: Viet Anh