Border shield

In Son La, a "drug hotspot," there are seasoned "kingpins" who run transnational drug trafficking networks with tightly knit links formed by family and kinship ties, and who are "armed with firearms" ready to resist law enforcement.

During his time working at the Operations Department, Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh directly participated in cases and special operations to dismantle drug trafficking rings involving dozens of blocks of heroin and tens of thousands of synthetic drug pills. Therefore, his reassignment to the position of Commander of Chieng On Border Guard Station is a matter of great importance to the Party Committee and the Command Board.Border GuardSon La province hopes that Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh, together with his unit, will build a strong shield to prevent the "flow of drugs" from Laos into Vietnam through the border area of ​​Son La province.

The border area of ​​Phiêng Khoái commune is dotted with numerous trails and shortcuts.

Over nearly 19km of roadborderIn Phiêng Khoài commune (under the management of Chiềng On Border Guard Post), there are many trails and shortcuts, even accessible by car. Lao people live close to the border, have kinship ties, and frequently cross into Vietnam. In recent years, with the continuous dismantling of illegal drug trafficking and transportation networks in Mộc Châu, Lóng Sập, Chiềng Khương, and Sông Mã, the "drug kingpins" have chosen Phiêng Khoài as a new route. With the experience and courage gained from many years of crime prevention and control work, Lieutenant Colonel Hà Văn Chinh, together with the team of Chiềng On Border Guard Post, has "activated" professional measures to build a shield against the "drug storm" from across the border. This involves strengthening propaganda and legal education activities for officials and people in border areas so that people understand the harmful effects of drugs, thereby not participating in, assisting, or actively reporting drug crimes, building a strong border area free from drug-related crimes. At the same time, it requires proactive and strong attacks on illegal drug trafficking and transportation networks.

In just six months since assuming the position of Commander of the Chieng On Border Guard Post, Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh has participated in directing the dismantling of two drug trafficking rings from Laos into Vietnam. Most recently, at 12:20 PM on December 31, 2025, in Lao Kho 1 village, Phieng Khoai commune, Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh, along with the SL1225 Special Task Force, apprehended Thao A Chang (born in 1998, residing in Chieng Hoa commune, Son La province) while he was illegally transporting two blocks of heroin. Earlier, at 9 PM on November 25, 2025, in the Keo Muong village area (Phieng Khoai commune), Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh directed the forces of the Chieng On Border Guard Post to arrest Nenh Song (40 years old, Lao nationality) while he was transporting 1,200 synthetic drug pills and a Samlex gun with 2 bullets. The suspects confessed to transporting the drugs for an unidentified Lao national for a fee. The timely arrest of the suspects and seizure of the evidence by the Chieng On Border Guard Post prevented further drug trafficking.drugThis is not a small amount that could be released into the market, and the consequences and dangers are unforeseen.

Officers and soldiers of Chiềng On Border Guard Station (Sơn La Provincial Border Guard) patrol and protect the border.

The seeds have sprouted and are green and fresh.

Born and raised in a Thai ethnic family in the border region of Song Ma (Son La province), young Ha Van Chinh's house was located right at the beginning of the only suspension bridge in Song Ma town (now Song Ma commune), a place that anyone traveling to the border areas of Sop Cop, Muong Leo, Muong Lan, Pung Banh, and Sam Kha had to pass through. From a young age, Ha Van Chinh was familiar with the uniform of the Border Guard. That image is so deeply ingrained in him that even now, nearly 40 years later, he still finds it incredibly beautiful.

“Back then, the road to the border was just a series of trails. The Border Guard soldiers would sometimes ride horses at full speed, and sometimes stroll leisurely. For us children, that was an incredibly majestic and awe-inspiring image, and every one of us dreamed of becoming a Border Guard soldier when we grew up,” Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh recalled. When they learned that Ha Van Chinh was one of two students from Song Ma district to receive a scholarship from the Border Guard Command (for his excellent academic performance during his three years of high school), the Border Guard soldiers were very happy and encouraged him: “Keep going, you are the future of the force.”

Officers from the Chiềng On Border Guard Post are educating local residents not to abet crime and to actively report it.

After graduating from the Border Guard Academy (in 2006), young officer Ha Van Chinh worked in various units, holding different positions, from Team Leader of the Anti-Drug and Crime Prevention Team, Deputy Station Chief, Investigation Assistant, Deputy Team Leader of the Special Task Force, and Deputy Head of the Operations Department. In every position, he excellently fulfilled his assigned duties, receiving commendations from the General Political Department, the Ministry of National Defense, and the People's Committee of Son La province. Not only did he directly participate in many special operations to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking rings, but Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh also provided valuable advice and operational support to the security forces of Hua Phan province (Laos) to effectively combat drug crime, thereby contributing to preventing risks early and from afar.

Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh earned the respect of his officers and soldiers for his expertise and adaptability in practical situations. During Case SL1225, on the morning of December 31, 2025, undercover teams spotted several motorcycles entering and exiting the border area, appearing to be scouting the route. Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh suspected they were informants and let them pass to achieve his objective of intercepting the suspect carrying the drugs. However, when Thao A Chang rode his motorcycle into the border area of ​​Phieng Khoai commune posing as a forest worker, but returned two hours later empty-handed, Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh decided to apprehend him. Upon opening the motorcycle's trunk, the task force discovered two blocks of heroin hidden inside.

The suspect Thào A Cháng and the seized evidence: 2 blocks of heroin.

Despite the challenging nature of his work, Lieutenant Colonel Ha Van Chinh surprises many when they learn that he is also the author of songs such as:Love at the outpost, Pride of the Son La Border Guard Soldiers, The Steel of the Border Region, The Ma River, Homeland, a Love SongAnd, we cannot fail to mention "Tracking down the trail"—a song that portrays the mission, difficulties, hardships, but also the pride of border guards on the frontier. The lyrics seem to express the dreams and dedication of border guard officers:His footsteps were silent, in the cold, rainy night, his eyes burning brightly as he followed the trail of the network. We patrolled, we ambushed, we coordinated investigations, dismantling networks and border criminals, from early morning until far away. My dear, do you know, even in peacetime, soldiers still make sacrifices… Even if he falls, his blood turning into flowers, mingling with the colors of the national flag, his oath remains unwavering."

According to the People's Army Newspaper