Peaceful life in the border belt of An Giang

An Giang is a province with many border gates connecting with neighboring Cambodia. There are two international border gates: Tinh Bien (in Tinh Bien town) by road and Song Tien by river (in Vinh Xuong commune, Tan Chau town). In addition, there are many trails and canals connecting to help residents of the two countries to trade easily.

Walking along the An Giang border route to the border gates with neighboring Cambodia, faintly visible in the afternoon light are the images of hamlets lying peacefully next to fertile fields and rows of palm trees typical of the southwestern region.

Chau Doc city is located about 25km from the Cambodian border. This is considered an important location for economy , trade and tourism of An Giang province.

Chau Doc city is located about 25km from the Cambodian border. This is considered an important location for economy, trade and tourism of An Giang province. Photo: Internet.

Chau Doc city is located about 25km from the Cambodian border. It is considered the capital of the border area of ​​An Giang province. Chau Doc has an important position in terms of economy, trade and tourism, so every year there are more than 4 to 5 million domestic and foreign visitors coming to visit, relax and shop.

From Chau Doc, we continued along National Highway 91C to the border district of An Phu. Here, there is Khanh Binh border gate connecting both river and road to Cambodia. Standing on this side of Binh Di river, looking across to the other side is Chrey Thum border gate in Koh Thum district, Kan Dal province of Cambodia. Long Binh town of An Phu district has long been considered an important gathering and transit point for all kinds of goods from agricultural products to clothing, cosmetics, food... between Vietnam and Cambodia.

From landmark 246 at the Binh Di River junction of Long Binh town, looking out, on April 24, 2017, Long Binh - Chrey Thom bridge was officially inaugurated, from here tourists flocked to both sides of the border, creating a lever for economic development in the border area of ​​An Giang province.

Tinh Bien town is also considered a commercial and trading center in the border area of ​​An Giang. In particular, Tinh Bien International Border Gate borders Phnom Den Border Gate (Ta Keo Province, Cambodia), which is the connecting point between National Highway 91 of Vietnam and National Highway 2 of Cambodia. From here, agricultural products and goods go straight to Phnom Penh, or can go through Kampot province and continue on National Highway 3 to Poset, Odong, Kampong Speu... very conveniently. Each year, the import-export turnover through this border gate reaches over 100 million USD. This is a great advantage of An Giang province. In April 2023, Tinh Bien will become a Border Gate Economic Zone, contributing to further promoting the development of the southwestern border region.

Khanh An Commune, An Phu District is also a bright spot in the border area thanks to completing the targets of new rural construction with a spacious and synchronous rural traffic system, electricity grid, schools, medical stations... This is also the first new rural commune in An Phu border district.

Chairman of Khanh An Commune People's Committee Cao Xuan Dieu said: the locality had a low starting point, but thanks to the continuous efforts of the government and people, after 5 years the commune has completed the new rural target, from which the economic and cultural life of the people has been significantly improved.

In particular, in Van Giao commune, Tinh Bien district, where many Khmer people live, it used to be the poorest commune in the province, but now it has changed a lot. The evidence is that in the villages and hamlets, there are more and more new houses. The electricity system, roads, schools and stations have also been completed. In particular, Van Giao people can now develop their economy through their famous traditional brocade weaving profession.

An Giang has 12 Border Guard Stations, including 2 international border gates and 2 national border gates. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hiep, Political Commissar of the Border Guard of An Giang province, said: Every year, the Party Committee and the Command have led and directed agencies and units to actively and proactively implement programs and models to help people in border areas. Many programs, models, movements and initiatives have brought about results, contributing to hunger eradication, poverty reduction, stabilizing life, maintaining political security and social order and safety in border areas. Thanks to that, the Border Guard has always been highly appreciated by local Party committees and authorities at all levels. People have actively supported and participated in programs and models launched and organized by the Border Guard, such as: "Helping children go to school - Adopted children of the Border Guard Station"; "Godmother"; "Accompanying women in the border areas"; “Women's Group for self-management of border lines and national border markers”; “Border Guard Station Party members participating in activities at border hamlets and villages”; “Party members in charge of households”; “Charity rice jar”...

Not only helping people develop the economy, An Giang Border Guard also cares about improving the spiritual life of the people, creating all conditions for people to promote traditional culture, as well as freely follow their beliefs. Thanks to that, Kinh, Cham, Khmer, and Hoa people always live in love, harmony, and promote their unique cultural identity. Many mosques, pagodas, and churches have been restored and newly built. Many customs such as the bull racing in the Bay Nui region, the Khmer boat racing... have now become famous big festivals throughout the country.

An Giang Border Guards set up three more medical stations in Tri Ton, An Phu and Tan Chau districts to improve the ability to provide medical examination and treatment for people in border areas. Photo: Internet.

In order to build a peaceful and friendly border to help people of the two countries stabilize their business and life, people on both sides of the border have established twinned residential areas; and the border protection forces of Vietnam and Cambodia have constantly increased exchanges, strengthening solidarity and friendship. The border guards of An Giang province and the two provinces of Kan Dal and Ta Keo of Cambodia often coordinate to organize joint patrols. When an incident occurs, the two sides regularly proactively inform each other of the situation, together resolving the issue in accordance with policies and measures, in a reasonable and appropriate manner, avoiding tension.

In addition, in addition to the medical station system in the border communes, An Giang Border Guard also established 3 more military-civilian medical stations in the border areas in Tri Ton, An Phu and Tan Chau districts to improve the ability to examine and treat people. In particular, the border military medical force also organized medical examinations and provided free medicine to thousands of Cambodian people in the two provinces of Ta Keo and Kan Dal, in the spirit of "the friendship of the Vietnam-Cambodia border area"./.

Bich Huong