Silent footsteps
At Bo Heng Border Guard Post, early in the morning, the unit's patrol team was neatly dressed, ready to set off on their mission. Joining his comrades was Major Le Tien Nam, Deputy Team Leader of the Armed Forces Team, who has served in the military for 23 years, and for most of that time, he and his teammates celebrated the Lunar New Year on patrol routes.
Major Le Tien Nam confided, "Traveling has become a habit; if I don't go, I miss the forest." Having spent 23 years in this border region, he knows every bend in the stream and every forest path. Day and night, his feet have accompanied his comrades through countless seasons of blooming apricot blossoms. Their footprints follow one another, persistent and silent, just like the life of a soldier in a green uniform.
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| We solemnly salute the landmark of sovereignty . |
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Cong Thanh, Commander of the Bo Heng Border Guard Station, said that the unit is tasked with managing and protecting 14.538 km of border with one main marker and 15 auxiliary markers. The Tet holiday coincides with the dry season, when the forest leaves change color, making trails and paths easier to navigate. Criminals often take advantage of this time to violate border regulations or engage in illegal entry and exit. Therefore, the unit is absolutely vigilant and not complacent. The Bo Heng Border Guard Station deploys continuous patrols and ambushes 24/7 to ensure peace and security for the people celebrating the traditional Tet holiday.
Not only in Bo Heng, but the spirit of "avoiding passivity and surprise" has been instilled along the entire border line. In 2025, border guards organized over 4,000 patrols along the land border with tens of thousands of officers and soldiers participating. At sea, hundreds of patrol boats cut through the waves, and hundreds of land patrols were conducted to protect and maintain sovereignty.
Tet holiday filled with camaraderie and fellowship.
While on duty, soldiers rarely get to enjoy a full New Year's Eve meal with their families. At units like the Sê Rê Pốk Border Guard Post, most officers work hundreds of kilometers away from home. Being far from family, the camaraderie among them is a warm and heartfelt bond.
Major Nguyen Manh The, Team Leader of the Administrative Staff Team (Se Re Pok Border Guard Post), has served in the military for 19 years and spent more than 10 Tet holidays on the border. He confided: “The most precious time is the moment of New Year's Eve. In the tranquil old forest, the unit members gather together to chat and share their feelings. Everyone misses their families, but with comrades to share the burden, the sadness is greatly lessened.”
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| Soldiers patrol and protect the sovereignty and security of the border. |
For the past 21 years, because both his and his wife's families live far away in the North, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Kieu, Political Officer of the Se Re Pok Border Guard Post, has often brought his wife and children to the post to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with the soldiers. He shared: "During Tet, the unit usually sends invitations to families and relatives to visit and encourage the soldiers, creating a warm atmosphere like a big family. The image of children happily running and playing in the post yard, and the soldiers' families diligently helping in the kitchen and feeding the troops, has transformed the barracks into a true home."
Springtime on the borderlands lacks the boisterous fireworks of the city, only the dry, harsh sound of the forest wind mingling with the steady footsteps of patrols on the barren, rocky terrain. Yet, it is in this very silence that love for the homeland burns brighter than ever...
Spring in the border region has no dazzling fireworks like in the city, only the dry, harsh sound of the forest wind harmonizing with the rhythmic footsteps of patrols on the gravel roads. Peace on the border is preserved day by day, hour by hour. Silently, the love for the homeland of the border guards shines brightly, enduring and remaining intact through the years...
Song Quynh
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/chinh-polit/an-ninh-quoc-phong/202602/binh-yen-mien-bien-vien-3c44b40/
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