Officers and soldiers of Huong Nguyen Border Guard Station plant new trees

In the first days of the new year, after the Lunar New Year of At Ty 2025, it is also the time when the footsteps of the Border Guard officers and soldiers leave their mark on the two border lines, and their comrades set out to launch and implement the "Tet tree planting festival to forever remember Uncle Ho". Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Border Guard of Hue City, and Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Viet, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs, marched with the officers and soldiers to Loc Vinh commune (Phu Loc) to coordinate with a number of units and local authorities to organize the launching ceremony, then set out to plant 95 Lagerstroemia trees, symbolizing the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

With this meaning, this year's tree planting festival, units on the two border lines have planted a total of 9,500 trees of various types, including shade trees, beautifying the landscape of the unit and the area where the unit is stationed. In particular, in recent years, the Border Guard youth, the main force, has coordinated with the government and youth of units and localities to focus on planting tens of thousands of poplar trees in Vinh Thanh beach area (Phu Vang), Thuan An beach (Hue city); planting trees along the roads in the border communes of A Luoi district.

I followed the young people of the Border Guard of Hue city during the tree planting festivals at Vinh Thanh beach; the embankment, the lighthouse area on Thuan An beach, and saw the determination of each officer and soldier in carrying out their duties for the green border. The early morning wind was cold, the afternoon was hot, and their uniforms gradually became soaked with sweat. But regardless of the wind and sun, the border guards still carefully planted each small poplar tree. After a day of hard work, thousands of poplar trees were planted, making the local protective forest even more solid.

Captain Le Duc Anh, Head of the Mass Mobilization Team of Thuan An Port Border Guard Station and many officers and soldiers expressed: As the core force in helping localities and people prevent, combat and overcome natural disasters, storms and floods; despite heavy rain and strong winds, we are still present on the front line against landslides and erosion along the coasts of Thuan An, Phu Thuan..., more than anyone else, we understand the importance of tree planting and forest planting to prevent wind, waves, sand and preserve the soil. A poplar tree planted must be guaranteed to survive and grow strongly. Thousands of trees standing next to each other will be a solid protective forest against natural disasters; the lungs of nature protecting the environment, helping life to be better.

Now, the pine forests that the Border Guard force is the core of, in coordination with other forces and local authorities, planted on Vinh Thanh and Thuan An beaches have taken root deep in the sand, taller than a person, and are growing full of vitality. According to Colonel Pham Tung Lam, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of the Border Guard of Hue City, beloved Uncle Ho once said, "Spring is the Tree Planting Festival/ Making the country more and more springy." Following Uncle Ho's teachings, not only during the "Tree Planting Festival", Border Guard officers and soldiers are ready to accompany the border people in planting forests and greening the bare hills.

Accordingly, through the connection and coordination of the Border Guard force and many agencies, organizations, unions, and local authorities at all levels, they have helped people in the border communes of A Luoi district with funds, seedlings, materials, and planted many acacia forests, creating green spaces, protecting the environment, and at the same time helping people and localities develop the economy.

Developing trees and beautifying the unit's environmental landscape is also one of the important tasks that the border posts on the two border lines have performed well in recent years. Lieutenant Colonel Cao Chi Luyen, Deputy Chief of Political Affairs of the Hue City Border Guard, shared: "Typically, the Training - Mobile Battalion; Vinh Hien Border Post, A Dot Border Post, Hong Van Border Post, Thuan An Port Border Post... have done a very good job of building a green, clean and beautiful unit's environmental landscape."

During the recent tree planting festival, the A Dot Border Guard Station planted thousands of acacia trees around the unit. Moving to a new location with an area nearly double the old location, the Thuan An Port Border Guard Station also increased the work of planting trees and beautifying the landscape. Previously, officers and soldiers had purchased shade trees and fruit trees such as Barringtonia acutangula, Royal poinciana, Sao, apricot, mango, guava, coconut, etc.; personally nurtured many types of seedlings, and now planted them at the new location where the unit is stationed. To ensure that in any circumstance, the landscape and environment of the unit must always be green, clean, and beautiful. Officers and soldiers are guaranteed good health, comfortable spirit, and complete all tasks well.

Article and photos: Quynh Anh