Proactively reach out to the people

Ever since he started working at Huong Lap Border Post, witnessing the hard life of the local people, Major Phan Van Vinh always reminded himself that he needed to do something with his teammates. Therefore, even though he was a border control officer, he still spent a lot of time going to the area to better understand the lives of the people. Once, Major Phan Van Vinh met a man in Ta Rung village (Huong Viet commune), with a very sad face. When asked, we learned that a few days ago, the man had lost his motorbike, which was old but was the means of transportation for the whole family. When asked why he did not report the loss of his property to Huong Lap Border Post, the man sadly said: "My house is more than 10 kilometers from the post, I lost my motorbike and I have no motorbike to report to the newspaper, Vinh". That story made Major Phan Van Vinh ponder for a long time. And the idea of ​​a keychain with the phone number of the Border Post was born from there.

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 / September 2, 2023), Huong Lap Border Guard Station organized a gift giving ceremony for local people, including: National flags, labor tools, necessities and 1,500 key chains printed with the unit's hotline phone number. These key chains "cover" all villages in Huong Lap and Huong Viet communes. People can call the station whenever they need to report or ask questions. Later, the model of key chains printed with the hotline phone number of the Border Guard Station was replicated in many border guards stations such as: Cua Viet Border Guard Station, Huong Phung Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard); Sa Ky Port Border Guard Station, Sa Huynh Border Guard Station (Quang Ngai Provincial Border Guard). Up to now, after 2 years of implementation, this model has been effective when border guards regularly receive calls from people reporting information related to security, social order and safety; thereby promptly and quickly handling, preventing hot spots from occurring in the area.

Major Phan Van Vinh presents breeding chickens to people in Huong Viet commune.

Among dozens of solidarity houses, charity houses, border shelters or border lighting projects, clean water projects, and wells that Huong Lap Border Guard Station called on organizations, businesses, and philanthropists to build and support, many projects were connected by Major Phan Van Vinh through personal relationships. The clarity, transparency, and always "on-point address" of Major Phan Van Vinh created trust for sponsors. He also advised the commander of Huong Lap Border Guard Station to "contribute" working days to save costs and improve the quality of the project. This action demonstrates the responsibility of a border guard as well as a "commitment" to sponsors.

Major Phan Van Vinh has a special interest in children in the area and is expressed through practical actions such as: Mobilizing philanthropists to donate pens, notebooks, clothes, shoes, and even rice and food to the kitchens of boarding schools. "Children must be well-fed and warmly dressed to go to school to learn. This companionship also makes teachers feel secure and has more motivation to stick with the school, the class and the students" - Major Phan Van Vinh expressed.

Once, seeing some children playing an old ball together on a bumpy piece of land, Major Phan Van Vinh went to meet the owner of a nearby road construction unit to discuss using excavators and bulldozers to level the land to make a soccer field for the children. Another time, although the road to the unit was far and it was late, he still stopped by the market because "there were two children near the station, tomorrow was the start of school but they still didn't have sandals or new clothes". Major Phan Van Vinh's actions, big or small, all came from his heart and from the responsibility of a border guard soldier "Three sticks, four together" with the people.

Major Phan Van Vinh presents new clothes to students of Huong Viet Commune Kindergarten.

Fostering friendship

Opposite the management area of ​​Huong Lap Border Post is the La Co hamlet cluster (Sepon district, Savanakhet province, Lao People's Democratic Republic). During the war years, the Van Kieu people in Huong Lap, Huong Viet and La Co lived together, fought the Americans together, some went to the front, some worked as laborers on the front lines, some stayed home to grow food and send it to the battlefield. After the border planning in 1978, people in La Co became Lao citizens, people in Huong Viet and Huong Hoa became Vietnamese citizens. Therefore, although they are two countries, two nationalities, they share the same blood of the Van Kieu people. The people still maintain kinship relations and often visit each other. That is why, in the hearts of the officers and soldiers of Huong Lap Border Post in general and Major Phan Van Vinh in particular, the people of La Co hamlet cluster are always compatriots, in need of protection, care and help like the people in Huong Lap and Huong Viet.

Exchange and gift giving program for people of La Co village cluster.

In order to strengthen the Vietnam - Laos friendship, Major Phan Van Vinh advised the unit commander to organize many programs and exchange activities between the two border protection units; the "Mid-Autumn Festival on the Border" program and the exchange of experiences between A Via Primary School, La Co Secondary School (Sepon District, Savanakhet Province) and Huong Viet Primary and Secondary School (Huong Viet Commune). The programs were held at border marker 591, everyone together reviewed the special tradition of solidarity between the two countries, and at the same time affirmed the responsibility of the younger generation in preserving and promoting friendly relations, building a peaceful border, and cooperating for mutual development.

In order for the program to be successful, Major Phan Van Vinh proactively contacted philanthropists. The story of "Vietnam - Laos brothers" was told by Major Phan Van Vinh in a truthful and touching way, so many people happily supported the programs with necessities and livelihoods so that the people of La Co village cluster could develop their economy, stabilize their lives, and escape poverty. Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Hien (Director of CEA PROJECTS Co., Ltd.) said: "Previously, I thought that the Vietnam-Laos story was a diplomatic story between two Parties and two states, but thanks to Huong Lap Border Guard Station and the stories told by Major Phan Van Vinh, I understood that it belonged to each citizen. I am happy to contribute a small part to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and Laos".

People of La Co village tied strings around their wrists, wishing soldier Phan Van Vinh good luck.

The March Border Month Program 2025 organized by Huong Lap Border Guard Station is not only "limited" to the management area including Huong Lap and Huong Viet Communes but also "expanded" to La Co Village Cluster. This is a program that leaves a strong mark on the border protection force and the green color of volunteering. Huong Lap Border Guard Station has presented nearly 20,000 chickens, ducks, fish and breeding pigs to village elders, village chiefs, prestigious people and poor households in the two communes of Huong Lap and Huong Viet; Border Guard Company 321, La Co Police Station (Laos); officers, teachers and students of A Via Primary School, La Co Ethnic Boarding Secondary School. Surely, these poultry and livestock will soon breed, bringing significant economic value to the people. Looking at the eyes and smiles of the people, students and teachers when receiving these special gifts, everyone can see the hope for a better life in the future.

Article and photos: THANH TRUC