Looking at the clear, cool water flowing down from the reservoir, Trang smiled and said, "This water is sweet and clean like rainwater. From now on, I won't have to drink spring water anymore!"

La Lay is a remote and disadvantaged border commune in Quang Tri province. The mountainous terrain and difficult transportation mean that the lives of the ethnic minority people here are still lacking in both material resources and basic infrastructure. One of the most pressing issues is the shortage of clean water for daily use. In La Lay village, people previously could only rely on collected rainwater for their families. During the dry season, when rainwater runs out, most people have to use stream water, posing many health risks, especially those related to the intestines and digestive system.

The La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Post built and donated a clean water well to La Lay village, La Lay commune (Quang Tri province).

Comrade Ho Thi Thai, Head of La Lay village, shared: “Since receiving the well donated by the Border Guard, everyone has been overjoyed. The well has been inspected for quality, and the water is clean and sufficient for year-round use.” The joy of having clean water has not only reached La Lay village but also spread to the people of Ty Ne village, La Lay commune. Comrade Ho Van Lo, Head of Ty Ne village, said emotionally: “Besides the well, the Border Guard Post also regularly cares for and supports the people both materially and spiritually. They are like family, a reliable support for us to gradually improve our lives and achieve stability.”

With the desire to contribute to improving living conditions and caring for the health of people in the border areas of the Fatherland, in recent times, the La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Station has advised, coordinated, and directly mobilized businesses, philanthropists, and charitable organizations to implement the "Border Area Water Well" model. In early July 2025 alone, the unit completed and handed over two drilled wells to the villages of La Lay and Ty Ne. Currently, they are continuing to coordinate the construction of two more wells for the villages of Pire 1 and Pire 2, each well valued at 45 million VND.

Since the implementation of this model, the La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Station has constructed 16 clean water wells for villages and communities still facing water shortages. All wells were carefully surveyed, strategically located, and ensured to have deep drilling techniques and filtration systems suitable for the mountainous geological conditions, allowing residents to use them with confidence for the long term.

Major Nguyen Van Tam, Deputy Political Officer of the La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Station, said: “Currently, many residential areas in the villages of A Luong, A Deng, La Lay, Pire 2... are still severely lacking clean water. We continue to call on organizations and individuals to join hands in contributing to building more water wells, helping people improve their health, living standards, gradually escape poverty, and stabilize the border area.”

Text and photos: VIET THUY

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/xa-hoi/dan-toc-ton-giao/cac-van-de/gieng-nuoc-vung-bien-836226