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

In the early days of the new year, after the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake 2025, the footsteps of Border Guard officers and soldiers left their mark on the two border lines, launching and implementing the "Tree Planting Festival to Forever Remember Uncle Ho." Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Hue City Border Guard, and Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Viet, Deputy Head of Political Affairs, along with officers and soldiers, marched to Loc Vinh commune (Phu Loc district) to coordinate with several units and local authorities to organize the launching ceremony, and then planted 95 crape myrtle trees, symbolizing the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam .

With this in mind, this year's tree planting festival saw units along the two border lines plant a total of 9,500 trees of various types, including shade trees and trees to beautify the environment within the units and in the areas where they are stationed. In particular, in recent years, the youth of the Border Guard have been the main force, coordinating with the government and youth of other units and localities to plant tens of thousands of casuarina trees in the Vinh Thanh beach area (Phu Vang district) and Thuan An beach ( Hue city); and planting woody trees along the roads in the border communes of A Luoi district.

I followed the young Border Guard soldiers of Hue City during tree planting activities at Vinh Thanh beach; along the embankment and near the lighthouse on Thuan An beach, and witnessed the determination of each officer and soldier in fulfilling their duty for the green border. The early morning wind was cold, the midday sun was hot, and their uniforms were gradually soaked with sweat. But regardless of the wind and sun, the border guards carefully planted each small casuarina tree. After a day of hard work, thousands of casuarina trees had been planted, further strengthening the local protective forest.

Captain Le Duc Anh, Team Leader of the Public Mobilization Team at Thuan An Port Border Guard Station, and many officers and soldiers expressed: "As the core force in assisting the locality and people in preventing, combating, and overcoming natural disasters, storms, and floods; even in heavy rain and strong winds, we are present on the front lines to combat landslides and erosion along the coasts of Thuan An and Phu Thuan... More than anyone else, we understand the importance of planting trees and forests to prevent wind, waves, and sand erosion, and to protect the land. Every planted casuarina tree must survive and grow strong. Thousands of trees standing side by side will form a solid protective forest against natural disasters; it is the lungs of nature protecting the environment and making life better."

Now, the casuarina forests planted on the beaches of Vinh Thanh and Thuan An, spearheaded by the Border Guard Force in coordination with other forces and local authorities, have taken deep root in the sand, growing taller than a person's head and flourishing with vitality. According to Colonel Pham Tung Lam, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Hue City Border Guard Force, beloved President Ho Chi Minh once said, "Spring is the time for planting trees/ Making the country ever more vibrant." Following President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, not only during "Tree Planting Festivals," but also in a sustainable way, Border Guard officers and soldiers are ready to accompany the people in border areas in planting forests and greening barren hills.

Accordingly, through the connection and coordination of the Border Guard Force and many agencies, organizations, and associations, local authorities at all levels have helped people in the border communes of A Luoi district with funding, seedlings, and materials to plant many acacia and eucalyptus forests, creating green spaces, protecting the environment, and at the same time helping people and localities develop their economy .

Developing green spaces and beautifying the unit's environment is also one of the important tasks that border guard posts along the two border lines have performed well in recent years. Lieutenant Colonel Cao Chi Luyen, Deputy Head of Political Affairs of the Hue City Border Guard Command, shared: "Typical examples include the Training and Mobile Battalion; Vinh Hien Border Guard Post, A Dot Border Gate Border Guard Post, Hong Van Border Gate Border Guard Post, Thuan An Port Border Gate Border Guard Post..., which have done very well in building a green, clean, and beautiful environment for their units."

During the recent Tree Planting Festival, the A Đớt Border Guard Post planted thousands of acacia trees around its base. Moving to a new location nearly double the size of its previous one, the Thuận An Port Border Guard Post also intensified its tree planting efforts to beautify the environment. Previously, officers and soldiers had purchased various shade trees and fruit trees such as Barringtonia, flamboyant, star, apricot, mango, guava, and coconut; they also personally propagated many types of seedlings to plant at the new location where the unit is stationed. This ensures that, under any circumstances, the unit's landscape and environment remain green, clean, and beautiful. This ensures the health and well-being of the officers and soldiers, enabling them to successfully complete all their tasks.

Text and photos: Quynh Anh