Covid-19 prevention checkpoint at Kon Tum border

Kon Tum is a province located in the northernmost part of the Central Highlands, sharing nearly 292,522 km of land border with two Indochinese countries, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Of which, the common border with Laos is about 154.222 km long, with Bo Y International Border Gate adjacent to Phu Cua Border Gate (Attapeu province), 2 secondary border gates: Dak Blo (Dak Glei) - Dak Bar (Se Kong) and Dak Long (Dak Glei) - Van Tat (Se Kong).

The land border with the Kingdom of Cambodia is 138.3km long with 1 Dak Koi (Ngoc Hoi District) - Kon Tuy Neak (Rattanakiri Province) secondary border gate, 01 Ho Da (Ia H'Drai) - Ozaxat (Dun Min - Rattanakiri) opening.

New flag at Covid-19 checkpoint near border junction

Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Since the beginning of March 2020, when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, implementing the direction of the Border Guard Command (BĐBP) and the Provincial Party Committee - People's Committee of Kon Tum province, more than 200 BĐBP officers and soldiers of 16 border posts under the Kon Tum Provincial Border Guard Command, together with 63 local police and military officers, have been on duty 24/7 at 33 makeshift bamboo and thatch checkpoints, performing the task of patrolling, controlling, preventing illegal entry and exit, and preventing the Covid-19 epidemic on both the Vietnam - Laos and Vietnam - Cambodia borders.

Covid-19 prevention checkpoint of Bo Y international border gate Border Guard Station located in the middle of the forest

Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Up to this point, when the whole country has reduced social distancing, creating conditions for the circulation of goods, developing production and business, jobs and people's lives gradually returning to normal, the Kon Tum Border Guard soldiers are still steadfastly staying at the border, performing the task of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic.

The soldiers' sleeping place was a makeshift bamboo stall.

Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Sharing the hardships of Kon Tum Border Guard, readers of Thanh Nien Newspaper and the Border Warmth Charity Program visited the anti-epidemic troops' posts to visit, encourage and give gifts.

Some photos taken from 2 recent trips at the end of May 2020:

Cooking food right at the checkpoint, which is a house borrowed from the Chu Mom Ray National Park protection management station.

Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Checkpoint No. 2 of Sa Loong Border Post is the checkpoint with the most "decent" living conditions on the route because it is allowed to stay with forest rangers.

Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An