'A pillar of support' on the border

QTO - For a long time, influential figures among ethnic minority communities have been the core of unity. In the border commune of Lao Bao, with their prestige and deep understanding of customs, they serve as a reliable "bridge" between the government and the people. These influential figures have taken the lead in coordinating with the Border Guard to protect the border, mobilizing the people to develop the economy, preserve culture, and contribute to building a stable and prosperous life in the border region.

Preserving cultural heritage, protecting the border.

Along the tranquil Se Pon River, we arrived at Ha Let village – a residential area inhabited entirely by the Van Kieu ethnic minority, located near the Lao Bao International Border Gate. Despite its advantages in trade, this area also harbors potential risks of social ills, particularly drug trafficking and smuggling.

In this context, Mr. Ho Doi (78 years old), a respected figure, has become a solid "pillar of support" for the local people. For many years, he has always been at the forefront of promoting and mobilizing people to participate in economic development, poverty reduction, and preserving the beautiful cultural identity of the Van Kieu people.

He shared: "Mobilizing people to change their awareness is not something that happens overnight. The propaganda process must be persistent, like 'a slow but steady rain soaking the ground.' Therefore, I regularly go throughout the village, assess the situation, and directly meet with young people showing signs of being prone to reckless behavior to talk to them, educate them about the law, and encourage them to prevent and combat drug abuse; I actively build models for maintaining security and order, such as the 'Security Lighting' model, which helps illuminate the village roads and contributes to maintaining peace in the village."

Mr. Ho Doi always dedicates time to teaching traditional crafts to the younger generation in the village - Photo: KS

In particular, Mr. Ho Doi is a key figure in the preservation of traditional culture. Ms. Ho Thi Trung, a resident of Ha Let village, shared: “Mr. Doi is the person who understands the traditions of the Van Kieu people best. Thanks to his efforts, Ha Let village has been able to preserve important festivals such as the new rice harvest festival and the gong festival. He also contributed to passing on the torch to the villagers to maintain the craft of weaving, brewing rượu (rice wine) with forest yeast, and traditional folk songs. Ethnic culture is the soul of the community, and Mr. Doi has persistently preserved that soul.”

If Mr. Ho Doi represents the older generation of respected individuals, then Mr. Ho Van Nghi (born in 1985), from Khe Da village, is one of the younger, more dynamic and respected figures in Lao Bao.

Khe Da village, predominantly inhabited by the Van Kieu and Pa Ko ethnic minorities, is a key border area with inherent complexities regarding drug trafficking and crime. Mr. Nghi always takes the lead in conveying policies and guidelines to the people, especially in promoting and mobilizing the community to participate in the "All People Protect National Security" movement and combat drug abuse. He shared: "As a respected figure, I believe that raising awareness, preventing, and combating drug abuse is the responsibility of the entire society. We must rely on the strength of the masses to stabilize security and order."

Through his exemplary conduct and commitment to putting words into action, Mr. Nghĩ has built strong trust within the community. “Mr. Nghĩ is always a role model, he keeps his promises. In particular, he focuses on educating and raising awareness among young people to prevent them from being lured or exploited by unscrupulous individuals into transporting drugs and smuggled goods. Thanks to him, the villagers are always united in developing the economy, striving to reduce poverty, and combating social evils,” commented Mr. Hồ Văn Tình, a resident of Khe Đá village.

Exemplary individuals like Mr. Ho Doi and Mr. Ho Van Nghi are just two of many respected figures, village elders, and village chiefs who are dedicating themselves day and night to building a more stable and prosperous Lao Bao border region.

Driving force for comprehensive development

As a key border commune, Lao Bao always prioritizes the protection of sovereignty and border security. In this regard, influential individuals play a core role and are a crucial force coordinating with the border guards.

Major Le Thua Van, Deputy Political Officer of the Lao Bao International Border Gate Border Guard Station, Provincial Border Guard Command, said: “Village elders, village chiefs, and influential people are indispensable factors in protecting border sovereignty and security. They are a powerful bridge between the Border Guard and the people. With their understanding of customs and traditions, they help the Border Guard convey information, policies, and guidelines to the people in the fastest way. Weekly and monthly, many influential people have proactively coordinated with the Border Guard and local authorities to patrol the border; providing many valuable sources of information, helping functional forces to promptly detect and prevent violations of the law such as smuggling, illegal border crossing, or the activities of drug criminals. Thanks to this coordination, security and order in the border region are maintained, creating a stable environment for people to develop the economy and reduce poverty sustainably.”

In Lao Bao, influential figures are also at the forefront of mobilizing people to abandon outdated farming practices and apply science and technology to develop the economy. Many influential figures have become role models of successful production and business, guiding people to invest in transforming production and livestock farming, contributing to increasing income for their families and communities.

Vice Chairman of the Lao Bao Commune People's Committee, Nguyen Thi Nga, emphasized: “The team of influential people in the commune has demonstrated their role as a core force with a great ability to mobilize the masses. Their coordination with the local government is the ‘key’ to effectively implementing programs and projects. In socio-economic development, they mobilize people to donate land for construction projects, participate in building new rural areas, and reduce poverty. In ensuring security and order, they participate in mediation teams and security teams, promptly resolving conflicts at the grassroots level. In particular, they are the most active in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity and combating outdated customs. Thanks to them, the material and spiritual lives of the people of Lao Bao are constantly improving, creating new vitality for this border region.”

Ko Kan Suong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202512/diem-tua-noi-bien-cuong-f1d05e8/