General Secretary To Lam delivered a speech at the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the People's Public Security Force.
and the 20th anniversary of the National Day for Protecting National Security, August 2025.
Photo: Government Electronic Newspaper

The concept of "people's support" is especially important for Son La province – a mountainous province located in the far northwest of Vietnam, with a border stretching over 274 km with Laos, holding a particularly crucial strategic position in terms of national defense and security. Overcoming the unique difficulties of a border area where ethnic minorities account for over 82% of the population, Son La province has concretized the central government's directives through creative and practical actions, weaving a solid "iron net" of people's security, maintaining peace for every village and every stretch of the nation's border.

General To Lam, Member of the Political Bureau, Minister of Public Security (currently General Secretary and President of Vietnam), and leaders of Son La province visited and presented gifts to the people of Van Ho district in June 2023.

Over the years, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Son La have consistently focused on leading and directing the serious and effective implementation of the Party, State, and Ministry of Public Security's policies and viewpoints on building the "All People Protect National Security" movement. By mobilizing the combined strength of the entire political system and the great national unity, Son La has built a solid foundation for people's security, linked to the people's support, maintaining stability in the area and preventing any "sudden or unexpected" situations. This peace and stability is a sustainable foundation for Son La's socio-economic development, making it a safe and attractive destination for investors and businesses.

To ensure the effectiveness of the "All People Protect National Security" movement, the Steering Committee 1905 of Son La province has been proactive and flexible in advising, disseminating, and implementing documents from the Central Government, the Ministry of Public Security, and the province. In 2025 alone, the province issued 13 leadership and guidance documents, including 9 from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee, and 4 directly from the Provincial Steering Committee. The Provincial Police played a core role, coordinating closely with various departments, agencies, and localities to adhere to the Central Government's conclusions on strengthening the movement to protect national security in the new situation, closely linking the mass mobilization program with the people's security posture.

Leaders of the Ministry of Public Security and Son La province commended individuals for their achievements in the "All People Protect National Security" movement.

A prominent highlight of Son La province is its persistent implementation of the "Building a People's Security and National Defense System in close conjunction with a solid national defense system" project. Police forces at all levels are closely connected to the community, accurately predicting situations and promptly advising Party committees and authorities on strategic solutions. Strengthening the combat force at the grassroots level has improved the efficiency of handling incidents from the outset. Simultaneously, the project "Building Exemplary and Model Police Stations for Security, Order, and Urban Civilization" has been implemented systematically.

To date, Son La province has successfully developed 82 types of self-governance models that are operating effectively in more than 27,000 locations throughout the province. Notably, Son La province is honored to have two exemplary models that have been announced by the V05 Department of the Ministry of Public Security for nationwide replication. Many effective models have been reviewed, evaluated, and replicated, such as: the "Neighborhood Self-Governing Group for Security and Order" model; the "Safe Kitchen - Prosperous Family - Peaceful Residential Area" model; and the "Traffic Safety Commune/Ward" model...

The province also focused on implementing Circular No. 124/2021/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security on regulations for residential areas, communes, wards, towns, agencies, businesses, and educational institutions to achieve the "Safe in Security and Order" standard, creating an effective emulation movement. Through evaluation and classification, impressive results were achieved. 35.59% of residential areas and neighborhoods achieved excellent results, and 57.32% achieved good results. In the commune and ward sector, 75 out of 75 registered units met the safety standards, with 71 units achieving the safety standard. In the agency, business, and school sector, 931 out of 931 registered units achieved a safety rate of 98.6%. At the provincial level, educational institutions achieved a 100% safety rate, agencies achieved 97.70%, and businesses achieved 88.46%. At the commune level, 100% of agencies, 93.88% of businesses, and 98.48% of educational institutions were recognized as meeting the "Safe in terms of security and order" standard.

One of Son La province's strategic successes is the consolidation and maximization of the role of forces participating in protecting security and order at the grassroots level. The entire province has established 2,233 grassroots security and order protection teams, with a total of over 6,600 members operating regularly in villages, sub-districts, and residential areas. These are the "extended arms" that work closely with the regular police force, monitoring the area 24/7. The effectiveness of these forces is demonstrated through practical contributions such as: providing 998 valuable intelligence reports to commune-level police, coordinating the resolution of 604 incidents at the grassroots level, collaborating with the police force in implementing the Government's Project 06 on national digital transformation; organizing 2,197 legal awareness campaigns for individual households; and recovering 482 weapons and explosives. 102 violations were detected through monitoring population movements. 5,026 individuals with specific needs (those who have completed their prison sentences, those recovering from drug addiction, etc.) received support and assistance in finding employment. 11,442 patrols were conducted to ensure security, public order, and traffic safety; effective support was provided in handling 20 fire and explosion incidents and 138 rescue operations, ensuring the absolute protection of people's lives and property.

The 2026 Son La Province Competition for Outstanding Local Security and Order Protection Forces.

Their courage and unwavering dedication were deservedly recognized, with over 200 groups and individuals from the grassroots security and order protection forces receiving awards. Among them, one individual received the Third-Class Order of National Defense; one outstanding group and one outstanding individual received Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Public Security and were personally commended by General Secretary To Lam in Hanoi.

The nationwide movement to protect national security in Son La cannot succeed if it is separated from mass mobilization work and campaigns to care for the social welfare of the people. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Son La province closely coordinates with the police force to implement the security movement in conjunction with the campaign "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas".

To ensure the movement continues to develop, in 2025, Son La province successfully organized the National Security Protection Day with 110 locations, attracting more than 20,630 participants. At all 75 commune-level locations, the authorities combined the event with a forum titled "Police Listening to the People's Opinions," creating opportunities for citizens to frankly contribute their opinions on the moral character and work style of police officers. This further strengthened the image of the People's Police officers, making them appear more professional, disciplined, and skilled in the hearts of the people.

In the coming period, the global and regional situation is expected to continue to undergo rapid and complex changes. Against this new backdrop, the requirement is to continue to maximize the strength of the people and the core role of the People's Public Security force in protecting security and order; to constantly consolidate the movement of "All People Protecting National Security," making the National Security Day truly a festival for all citizens.

Entering an era of national development, amidst the context of non-traditional security threats and transnational crime, and the urgent demands placed upon it, Son La province will concretize the directives of General Secretary and President To Lam, considering them as guiding principles to apply and organize the implementation of measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of the movement for all citizens to protect national security; promote economic and social development, ensure national defense and security, and foreign relations of the locality - for a peaceful, developed, and happy Son La.

Quynh Ngoc