To ensure people have homes in time for Tet (Lunar New Year).

In the late winter days, as the first signs of spring began to appear on the mountain slopes of western Nghe An province, we followed the officers and soldiers of Tam Hop Border Guard Post (Nghe An Provincial Border Guard) to the highland villages of Tam Thai commune, Nghe An province.

There, amidst the hardships of the impoverished border region, the image of soldiers in green uniforms quietly helping the people repair their homes, build livelihoods, eliminate outdated customs, and contribute to changing the lives of the local people.

Heartwarming moments on the eve of the New Year.

On a late winter day, the small house of Mrs. Vi Thi Hue, the wife of a fallen soldier, in Phong village, Tam Thai commune, was filled with laughter and conversation. Under the command of Captain Nguyen Kim Trong, Team Leader of the Community Mobilization Team, Tam Hop Border Guard Post, dozens of officers and soldiers were busily helping Mrs. Hue clean her house and prepare for Tet (Lunar New Year). Some were cleaning the garden, others repairing the roof, and still others tilling the soil to plant vegetables. The place where Mrs. Hue used to live was just a rickety wooden house with a leaky roof; thanks to the active help of the border guards, it now has a new, more sturdy appearance, ready to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Military doctors at Tam Hop Border Guard Post examine local residents. Photo: HONG SANG

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Son, Deputy Political Officer of Tam Hop Border Guard Station, Ms. Hue is a policy beneficiary who receives regular attention from the local authorities and forces. However, her circumstances as a single mother, with poor health and difficult economic conditions, made house repairs very challenging. Given this situation, the station proactively called for the cooperation of businesses and philanthropists, providing 50 million VND and hundreds of man-days of labor from soldiers and militia to comprehensively repair her house, and also donating essential items to help her feel secure and welcome the new year.

Leaving Phong village, we arrived at Huoi Son village, where Mr. Xong Phai Da's family had just completed a fairly sturdy wooden house. The road to Mr. Da's house was narrow and steep, clinging to the mountainside. To build Mr. Da's house, border guards had to carry cement, sandbags, and roofing sheets piece by piece, traversing a steep slope of over 400 meters. Despite the hardship, the officers and soldiers of the unit, along with the local militia, persevered and were determined to help his family have a stable place to live before Tet (Lunar New Year). "Thanks to the Border Guard and the local authorities, my family has a new house. From now on, the whole family can work with peace of mind and no longer have to worry so much when there are heavy rains and strong winds," Mr. Xong Phai Da expressed emotionally.

These quiet acts of service to the people by the officers and soldiers of Tam Hop Border Guard Post have long become a familiar image to the ethnic minority people of Tam Thai commune in the highlands. In this mountainous area, which still faces many difficulties, the Border Guard is not only a force safeguarding every inch of the border but also a reliable support for the people in their daily lives.

Creating livelihoods, helping people escape poverty.

Beyond simply helping people settle down, the Party Committee and commanders of the Tam Hop Border Guard Post have always recognized that sustainable poverty reduction for the people must begin with suitable livelihoods. Based on the local situation, the unit has implemented many models to support livestock and plant seedlings, coupled with technical guidance and a commitment to long-term partnership.

Officers and soldiers of Tam Hop Border Guard Post build a house for the family of Mr. Xong Phai Da, Huoi Son village, Tam Thai commune. Photo: Xuan Son

Lieutenant Colonel Truong Tan Bien, Political Officer of Tam Hop Border Guard Station, said that in 2022, the family of Ms. Quang Thi Loan, in Van Mon village, received support from the unit in the form of 7 breeding goats. The unit also directly assisted Ms. Loan's family in strengthening their livestock pens and provided guidance on care and disease prevention. Nearly two years later, the goat herd has grown to 14, providing a stable source of income and helping Ms. Loan's family gradually escape poverty.

Also that year, the family of Mr. Xong Nhia Ly, from Pha Lom village, received support from the Tam Hop Border Guard with 5 cows and 4 goats. Thanks to their diligent learning and proper care techniques, the herd of cows has now increased to 9 and the goat herd to 10. These are also exemplary households participating in the "Sharing 50" model, an innovative approach of the Tam Hop Border Guard Post. Under this model, officers and soldiers of the unit voluntarily contribute personal capital to support livestock for disadvantaged households; when the animals grow well, the profits are divided in half, and the initial capital is maintained to support other households, creating a livelihood cycle within the community. Leading us on a tour of his family's breeding cows, Mr. Xong Nhia Ly couldn't hide his joy: "My family received a breeding cow from the border guard, and now it's about to give birth; everyone in the family is so happy."

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Xuan Son, the most important thing in helping people in the area develop their economy and achieve sustainable poverty reduction is to select the right target group. These are households with a strong will to improve their lives and the ability to adopt and maintain the "Sharing 50" model. When a household succeeds, they become a living example, creating motivation for other households to follow suit.

Besides supporting the people in economic development, Tam Hop Border Guard Station also persistently propagates and mobilizes the people to gradually eliminate backward customs and build a civilized way of life; supports the reinforcement of houses, contributing to helping people "settle down and make a living," and feel secure in staying in their villages and along the border.

Stationed in Tam Thai commune, managing and protecting a 26.27km stretch of border, 4 border markers, and 5 boundary posts adjacent to Laos, the officers and soldiers of Tam Hop Border Guard Post have successfully completed their nhiệm vụ of protecting national sovereignty and border security, while also contributing to strengthening the "people's support" through concrete and practical actions. Sharing with us the significance of this work, Colonel Tran Quang Trung, Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Political Commissar of the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command, emphasized: The motto "Every citizen is a living border marker" is not just a slogan, but has been realized through effective programs and models, contributing to improving the lives of the people and strengthening their trust in the Party, the State, and the Army.

The new spring is arriving throughout the border region of Nghe An. Amidst the fading peach blossoms and the bursting plum blossoms, homes are warming up, and livestock are thriving – vivid evidence of the enduring companionship of border guards with the ethnic communities in western Nghe An. At the "front line" of the Fatherland, Tam Hop Border Guard Post has become a solid support for the people, ensuring that the border is not only secure in terms of sovereignty but also firmly rooted in the hearts of the people.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/de-nguoi-dan-kip-co-nha-don-tet-5077076.html