Son La province has a border stretching over 274 km, with 126 border markers at 125 locations, bordering the provinces of Hua Phan and Luang Prabang (Lao People's Democratic Republic). The border area of ​​the province includes 17 communes in 6 districts: Mai Son, Yen Chau, Moc Chau, Van Ho, Song Ma, and Sop Cop.

Chiềng Khương border commune center.

Clearly affirming the specialized role of the Border Guard Force (BGF) in border management and protection, throughout more than 60 years since its establishment, generations of officers and soldiers of the Son La BGF have overcome all difficulties and hardships, successfully fulfilling their assigned tasks.

Following the leadership of the Party Committee, the Border Guard Command, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee, and leveraging the combined strength of the political system, the provincial Border Guard force has detected and handled hundreds of cases and thousands of individuals violating border security and sovereignty, prevented and repelled many other violations, protected the safety of the border and boundary markers, prevented any negative incidents on the border, and performed well in border diplomacy. They participated in negotiations and organized the reinforcement and renovation of 125 border markers along the Vietnam-Laos border. They also performed well in managing the border area and controlling immigration and emigration across the border.

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Lan Border Guard Station, Sop Cop district, patrol and control the border area.

Responding to the movement "All citizens participate in protecting national territorial sovereignty and border security in the new situation," the Border Guard Force of the province has advised the Party committees and authorities of border communes to organize the people to sign agreements to participate in self-management of the border and national boundary markers. They maintain the regular operation of 525 self-management groups on security and order in border areas, with nearly 3,900 members; and 72 self-management groups on the border and national boundary markers, with over 4,200 households, creating a closed belt along the border line and participating in the firm protection of the province's border area.

In various operations, the unit regularly innovates and improves the quality and effectiveness of our professional methods to counter intelligence, espionage, illegal border crossings, activities exploiting religious freedom, illegal religious propaganda, illegal migration, and various criminal offenses. We have successfully established and dismantled numerous reactionary cases, preventing activities that exploit religious freedom to recruit forces for the plot to establish a "Mong Kingdom" and transnational drug crimes...

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Lan Border Guard Station, Sop Cop district, and the self-governing group of Cang Coi village, Muong Lan commune, patrol and control the border area.

In addition, the unit proactively developed plans and strategies for border protection and strengthened inspections of combat readiness at the grassroots level, especially in key areas. Participation in search and rescue exercises, border guard combat cluster exercises, and district and provincial defense zone exercises all yielded good results.

Proud of the unit's traditions, Colonel Vu Duc Tu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Border Guard Command, shared: "Over more than 60 years of building, fighting, and maturing, the Son La Border Guard has inherited the heroic fighting traditions of the Vietnam People's Army and the Vietnam People's Police, and together with the Party Committee, government, people of all ethnic groups, and armed units in the province, has overcome all difficulties and hardships, successfully fulfilling the task of protecting the Party, the government, and key targets in the interior, maintaining border security and sovereignty in all situations. We have also built and consolidated the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos."

The people's border defense strategy in the "borderland" region.

Building a solid "People's Front" and "People's Border Defense Front" in border areas has always been a central and important political task of the Border Guard Force. Colonel Ca Van Lap, Political Commissar of the Son La Provincial Border Guard Command, said: The Party Committee and the Provincial Border Guard Command have seriously and effectively led the implementation of Resolution No. 33-NQ/TW dated September 28, 2018, of the Politburo on the National Border Protection Strategy; Conclusion No. 68-KL/TW dated February 5, 2020, of the Secretariat on the policy of increasing the number of Party committee members who are border guard officers participating in Party committees at the district and commune levels in border areas; and Directive No. 01/CT-TTg dated January 9, 2015, of the Prime Minister on "Organizing the movement of the entire population to participate in protecting national territorial sovereignty and border security in the new situation". At the same time, we will promote and encourage the people in border areas to work together and wholeheartedly participate in managing and protecting the national border.

Implementing the project "Assigning Border Guard officers to strengthen participation in Party committees at the commune level in border areas, holding the position of Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee," to date, 6 commanders of border guard posts have participated in the Party committees of 6 border districts. The Provincial Border Guard Command has deployed 17 officers to 17 border communes, holding the position of Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee in charge of Party building work and consolidating the grassroots political system. At the same time, 215 officers and professional soldiers have been assigned to assist 424 households and 158 Party members in participating in activities at 130 Party branches in border villages.

Officers and soldiers of the Chiềng Khương Border Gate Border Guard Station, Sông Mã district, are encouraging the people to abide by the regulations of the law.

Major Bui Xuan Dung, from the Chieng Khuong Border Gate Border Guard Station in Song Ma District, shared: "My colleagues and I were assigned by the unit to participate in activities at the Party branches in border villages and special Party branches of the commune. Through these activities, we gain a better understanding of the political security situation and social order in the area, thereby advising the local Party committee, government, and unit commanders to promptly resolve incidents and prevent 'hot spots' from occurring in the area."

To improve the lives of people in border areas, the Provincial Border Guard Command, together with the Party committees and local authorities of border districts and communes, has mobilized resources from organizations and individuals inside and outside the province, as well as the labor support of provincial Border Guard officers and soldiers, to help people develop their economy and society. This includes effectively implementing projects invested in by the Provincial Border Guard, such as: roads, irrigation, and clean water projects... with a total investment of over 15 billion VND in the period 2019-2023. At the same time, they maintain models of "Planting fruit trees on sloping land," including 4.7 hectares of late-season plums in Chieng Tuong commune, Yen Chau district; and 2.6 hectares of passion fruit in Long Sap commune, Moc Chau district...

Officers and soldiers of the Chiềng Sơn Border Guard Station, Mộc Châu district, exchange techniques for raising large livestock with the local people.

The programs "Springtime at the Border Guard Station: Warming the Hearts of the People," "Accompanying Women in Border Areas," and "National Border Guard Day" provide 600-1,200 Tet (Lunar New Year) gifts annually to the poor in border communes. The project "Army Officers and Soldiers Helping Children Go to School" has supported 155 disadvantaged children in border areas with 600,000 VND per child per month (support for 9 months/1 school year). The "Rice Jar of Compassion" at 10 Border Guard Posts provides 2,800 kg of rice per year to poor households… These actions have built a positive image of the green-uniformed soldiers in the hearts of the people and actively contributed to building a "solid national border defense posture."

Representatives from the Muong Leo Border Guard Station and leaders of Muong Leo commune presented gifts to families in difficult circumstances.

With the help of the Border Guard, Mr. Song A Chong, from Pha Luong village, Chieng Son commune, Moc Chau district, emotionally shared: "After 5 years of drug addiction, in 2018, the soldiers at Chieng Son Border Guard Post encouraged me to go to the provincial drug addiction treatment facility for rehabilitation; two years later, I returned to my hometown. At the end of 2023, my family received 20 million VND and nearly 40 days of labor from the border guards to build a new house and receive guidance on livestock farming techniques. Currently, my family has 2 breeding cows and cultivates nearly 1 hectare of corn. I also work as a construction helper, earning 300,000 VND per day. The total income of my family reaches 150 million VND per year. I am very grateful to the Border Guard soldiers for their encouragement and help in rebuilding my life."

Building a peaceful, friendly, and prosperous border line.

Implementing the directives and resolutions of the Central and Provincial authorities on defense and border guard diplomacy in the new situation, the Provincial Party Committee and Border Guard Command annually advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on local diplomacy. At the same time, they direct border guard posts to advise the Party Committees and People's Committees of border districts and communes on people-to-people diplomacy activities across the border and to support neighboring Laos.

Officers and soldiers of the Nam Lanh Border Guard Post and the 211th Border Guard Company, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command (Lao People's Democratic Republic) conduct a joint patrol.

Regarding this task, Colonel Nguyen Dinh Huan, Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command, shared: The unit has advised on and organized the signing of cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding with the northern provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. They regularly inform and exchange information related to the protection of border sovereignty and security. They verify and combat the activities of reactionary organizations and individuals opposing the Party and government of both countries; activities aimed at inciting people to participate in the establishment of a "Mong State"; and other propaganda activities that destabilize political security and affect the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. At the same time, they effectively implement international treaties and agreements on borders and border gates between Vietnam and Laos, especially with Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces.

In 2013, the policy of establishing fraternal ties between villages on both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border was implemented by the Provincial Border Guard Command in coordination with the Yen Chau District People's Committee. The Chieng On and Chieng Tuong Border Guard Posts collaborated and advised the Party committees and authorities of the four communes of Chieng On, Phieng Khoai, Long Phieng, and Chieng Tuong to establish fraternal ties between seven pairs of villages. Over the years, the people of these fraternal villages have remained united and actively participated with the border protection forces of each side in patrolling and protecting the border line and markers, resolving incidents fairly and reasonably, ensuring compliance with the Border Regime Agreement and the laws of each country. The establishment of fraternal ties between villages on both sides of the border has made a significant contribution to building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing Vietnam-Laos border.

The Border Guard Force of Son La province handed over 2 tons of rice to Border Guard Company 213, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command (Lao People's Democratic Republic).

Mr. Dang Van Cuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phieng Khoai commune, said: The commune has two pairs of villages: Lao Kho I (Vietnam) - Na Khang (Laos); and Bo Sinh, Lao Kho II (Vietnam) - Pha Long (Laos). These pairs of villages regularly cooperate in resolving incidents related to the two sides of the border..On the occasion of holidays and festivals on each side, people from the two villages visit and encourage each other; organize cultural and sports exchanges; share production experiences; supply materials and market agricultural products for the people in the neighboring villages.

Annually, the Border Guard Command of Son La province and the Military and Police Commands of Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces (Lao People's Democratic Republic) hold annual talks. During these talks, both sides thoroughly and effectively implemented the contents of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Border Guard Command/Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and the Border Guard Department/General Staff of the Lao People's Army. Accordingly, on average, the functional forces of both sides conduct 40 or more bilateral patrols per year. They strictly maintain immigration and customs control at border gates and crossings, facilitating border traffic in accordance with the laws of each country and the Agreement on the Management Regulations of the Vietnam-Lao Land Border and Border Gates. The Border Guard Force of Son La province also provided materials for infrastructure construction and essential goods for daily life to military units in Hua Phan and Luang Prabang provinces.

Officers and soldiers of the Muong Cai Border Guard Post and Company 212 (Lao People's Democratic Republic) perform the ceremony of saluting the border marker.

Visiting the border areas of the province today, one can clearly sense the improving lives of the people. However, the border region of the province still harbors complex and unpredictable developments, especially illegal religious activities; illegal migration; land disputes; and family conflicts. The poverty rate is high, with some areas having over 40% of households classified as poor or near-poor. Drug-related crime in some border areas is becoming increasingly complex; many perpetrators are aggressive and use firearms to resist law enforcement when detected. In light of this situation, the provincial Border Guard Force continues to play a pivotal role, implementing policies and operational measures to effectively ensure security and order in the border region, firmly protecting the nation's "frontier" territory.

(To be continued)

Reporters

Protecting the border early and from afar: Part 1. A solid defensive wall (baosonla.org.vn)