The "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program, Spring 2026 (Year of the Horse), in Chieng Son commune.

In Chieng Son border commune, the "Accompanying Border Women" program has supported women members in eliminating temporary housing and developing their economy over the years. Ms. Le Thi Hong, President of the Women's Union of the commune, said: Implementing the "Accompanying Border Women" program, the Union has coordinated with the Chieng Son Border Guard Station to disseminate legal information, provide guidance, and support economic development for women. From 2021 to the present, the Union has coordinated the construction of 9 "Houses of Love," with a total cost of 680 million VND; and provided seedlings and livestock to help many member households gradually stabilize their lives.

Ms. Vi Thi Sinh, from Dup Ken village, Chieng Son commune, shared: "In 2022, my family received support in the form of 20 mango and longan saplings. Last year, they started yielding about 8 quintals of various fruits. We also received guidance on farming and livestock techniques, and were given Tet gifts every year, helping our family gradually rise out of poverty."

Also from the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program, in 2023, Ms. Thao Thi Dua, from Bun village, Xuan Nha commune, received support to build a house. Ms. Dua shared: "Previously, my family lived in a dilapidated, leaky house. With the program's support of 50 million VND to build a sturdy house, my family can now work and produce with peace of mind, gradually stabilizing our lives."

Son La province has 13 border communes bordering Laos, where the lives of ethnic minority women are still fraught with difficulties. Implementing the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program, the Women's Union at all levels in the province has coordinated with Border Guard units to develop many practical models and activities that closely meet the real needs of its members and women in border regions.

The Women's Union of Chiềng Sinh ward presented gifts to the people of Chiềng Sơn commune.

From 2018 to the present, the Provincial Women's Union has coordinated with the Provincial Border Guard Command and the Party committees and local authorities of 13 border communes to implement the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program, organizing hundreds of practical activities aimed at women and children. The Women's Union at all levels has mobilized over 2.5 billion VND through social contributions, supporting the construction and repair of 26 "Houses of Love," distributing 4,930 gifts to poor women, families of policy beneficiaries, and people in border areas; organizing free medical examinations and providing free medicine to 2,670 people, and distributing 2,591 warm jackets, 20 bicycles, and 13 scholarships to poor students. At the same time, the Women's Union at all levels has also coordinated the implementation of many activities to support livelihoods, disseminate legal information, and provide healthcare, contributing to strengthening national unity and maintaining security and order in the border region.

Ms. Cam Thi Hong Duyen, President of the Provincial Women's Union, affirmed: "The 'Accompanying Women in Border Areas' program has profound humanitarian significance. In the coming time, the Provincial Women's Union will continue to mobilize social resources, innovate the content and methods of operation; focus on supporting women in border areas to develop livelihoods, access loans, vocational training, and transfer scientific and technical knowledge; promote legal awareness, healthcare, and build happy families, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction and helping women confidently assert their roles in the family and society."

Through concrete and practical actions, the "Accompanying Women in Border Areas" program has brought about significant changes in the lives of women in the border region of Son La, helping them stabilize their lives, develop their livelihoods, thereby strengthening national unity and building a solid foundation of public support in the "frontier" of the Fatherland.

Minh Ngoc