76 years ago, on July 12, 1949, the Inter-Zone 10 Command (now the Military Zone 2 Command) decided to establish the Lai Chau Armed Propaganda Team, the predecessor of today's Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces.

Officers and soldiers of the Dien Bien Provincial Military Command help people in Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district rebuild their houses after the flash flood in July 2024.

Born at a time when our people's resistance war against the French colonialists was still facing many difficulties and hardships, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces proactively overcame difficulties, quickly stabilized its organization and staff, both consolidated and developed its forces, participated in combat and continuously matured in all aspects, becoming the core force in the resistance movement of the people of all ethnic groups in Dien Bien Province.

During the resistance war against French colonialism, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces stood shoulder to shoulder with the army and people of the whole country to create the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Militia forces overcome the consequences of natural disasters in Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district, August 2024.

During the resistance war against the American imperialists, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces, together with the army and people of the whole country, effectively supported the battlefield in the South, protected the cause of building socialism in the North and fulfilled international duties in Laos.

Not long after the reunification day, the provincial armed forces continued to participate in the fight to protect the northern border and excellently completed the assigned tasks, contributing to embellishing the heroic Dien Bien Phu tradition, building the tradition of "Loyalty - Self-reliance - Solidarity - Creativity - Determination to win".

Officers and soldiers of Sen Thuong Border Post (Dien Bien Provincial Border Guard) coordinate with militia of Sen Thuong commune, Muong Nhe district to patrol and protect national border markers.
Officers and soldiers of Sen Thuong Border Post (Dien Bien Provincial Border Guard) guide people in Ta Lo San village, Sen Thuong commune, Muong Nhe district to plant cinnamon.

Faced with the requirements and tasks in the new situation, the Dien Bien Provincial Military continues to promote its heroic tradition, perform well its advisory function to Party committees and authorities at all levels on local military and defense work, promote the combined strength to build an all-people national defense, an all-people national defense posture associated with a strong people's security and people's security posture; regularly do a good job of political and ideological education, building and training the military with steadfast political will and high determination; continue to effectively implement three breakthroughs, creating a steady change in training, building discipline, and training discipline.

In particular, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces continue to promote the tradition of solidarity, actively and proactively implement effectively the national target program, develop the socio-economy, contribute to hunger eradication and poverty reduction. In the period of 2021-2025, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces have made an important contribution to helping people eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, building an increasingly solid position of people's hearts.

Specifically, in the process of implementing the two emulation movements "Army joins hands to build new rural areas" and "Army joins hands for the poor - No one is left behind", the Military Commands of districts, towns and cities have proactively advised local Party committees and authorities to adjust land use planning and infrastructure development planning, socio-economic and environmental planning, according to the New Rural Construction Project associated with the task of building defense areas, ensuring close combination between socio-economic development associated with strengthening national defense and security potential.

With the goal of helping people develop the economy and strive to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, the Military Commands of districts, towns and cities have called for and contributed to building 4 boarding houses worth nearly 1.9 billion VND to give to students in disadvantaged districts; contributed to building 256 houses for poor households; coordinated with agencies and units inside and outside the army to receive support to build 222 schools, cultural houses, military-civilian houses of gratitude, great solidarity houses... worth more than 141 billion VND; mobilized officers and soldiers to donate nearly 1.2 billion VND to support the program "Joining hands for the poor" launched by the Government, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Infrastructure and landscape on many roads in Dien Bien Phu City have been invested in and upgraded.
A corner of Dien Bien Phu City seen from above.

Implementing the plan "Protecting the Western border in the dry season" for the period 2021-2025, the Dien Bien Provincial Military Command has sent 386 officers and soldiers to support nearly 5,400 working days to repair roads, dredge canals, and build solidarity houses; mobilized 1,020 officers and soldiers and 1,600 militiamen, contributing more than 5,600 working days to help people overcome the consequences of natural disasters. In 2024 alone, the unit mobilized more than 12,000 regular and reserve officers and soldiers, and militiamen to help people in Muong Pon commune, Dien Bien district overcome the consequences, build new houses, and restore production.

Through specific actions, officers and soldiers of the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces have actively contributed to increasing the number of communes meeting new rural standards and basically meeting new rural standards in the whole province to 54 communes (an increase of 16 communes compared to the same period in 2021); at the same time, reducing the poverty rate to 21.62% (a decrease of 23.33% compared to the same period in 2021), contributing to strengthening national defense and security, building a solid people's position and further enhancing the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new period.

Over the past 76 years, the Dien Bien Provincial Armed Forces have always thoroughly grasped the Party's guidelines and viewpoints on military and national defense tasks, building an all-people national defense associated with the people's war posture, protecting the Fatherland; gradually improving the overall strength and combat readiness, closely combining economic and social development with consolidating national defense and security, building a strong political foundation, contributing to firmly protecting national border sovereignty, maintaining political security and social order and safety.

Article and photos : HA KHANH - PHAM DIEP

  

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/chinh-tri/tiep-lua-truyen-thong/dien-bien-viet-tiep-truyen-thong-doan-ket-trong-thoi-ky-moi-826905