The "giant trees" of the high mountains

Amidst the high mountains of the Quang Ninh border region, there are people who are quiet yet steadfast, like "great trees" deeply rooted in the motherland, casting peaceful shade over their villages. They are respected figures on the nation's frontier, firmly defending the land, silently protecting, guiding, and inspiring their communities.

Contributing to maintaining peace in the Luc Chan border region.

The highland village of Luc Chan (Hai Son commune, Mong Cai city) is located right next to the Vietnam-China border. Here, for more than 20 years, Mr. Ly A Chang (a genuine Dao ethnic minority) has become a "living landmark" in the hearts of the local people.

In 2002, at the age of 34, Mr. Chang moved with his wife and children from the plains of Tien Yen district to settle in Luc Chan border village, participating in the new economic development program. At that time, the area was quite desolate, with few people cultivating the land, and security and order were still potentially unstable. As the leader of the migrant group settling in the area, Mr. Chang actively participated in land reclamation, restoration, and the development of agricultural and forestry production to enrich his family and contribute to the development of the locality.

Mr. Ly A Chang (center) and officers from the Po Hen Border Guard Post assess the living conditions of the villagers.

With a spirit of hard work and over two decades of dedication to his new homeland, Mr. Chang not only planted forests, built houses, and raised five children, but also instilled confidence in the people living in the border region. He held the positions of Village Head and Head of the Village Front Committee, and from 2019 to the present, he has been trusted and elected as the Party Branch Secretary and Village Head of Luc Chan.

In his assigned role and with his personal prestige, Mr. Chang, together with the local authorities and the Border Guard, actively propagated and encouraged people to choose suitable crop varieties, apply farming techniques, develop the economy, and protect the forest and safeguard the border, especially to avoid listening to distorted narratives and to refrain from illegal border crossings.

Mr. Chang shared: "Initially, the campaign was very difficult. People didn't trust me, so I had to go to each house and explain everything. I demonstrated things first so they could see. Only when people trusted me could I get things done." Every day, on the acacia plantations and rice fields, Mr. Chang works alongside the villagers, planting trees, raising pigs, and guiding them on farming techniques and how to choose suitable seedlings for the hilly border terrain.

Through his persistent and gradual approach, Mr. Chang has encouraged many households to proactively develop their economy and gradually escape poverty sustainably. This has contributed to transforming Luc Chan village from a place with many poor households to one with only a few near-poor households. Furthermore, Mr. Chang's understanding of the customs and traditions of both sides of the border has made him a cultural bridge, helping to minimize conflicts and misunderstandings among residents in the border region. With his tireless efforts and unwavering loyalty to the Party, Mr. Chang has helped Luc Chan transform into a peaceful and prosperous border village.

Not only is Mr. Chang a bridge between the people and the government, but he is also a close "comrade" of the officers and soldiers of the Po Hen Border Guard Post. While patrolling and monitoring alongside the border guards, Mr. Chang regularly detects and provides timely information on incidents related to border security, warning people not to abet smuggling or illegally cross the border. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen The Cuong, Political Officer of the Po Hen Border Guard Post, commented: "Mr. Chang is a highly responsible and respected individual. His actions inspire the entire community to participate in protecting the border."

The "torchbearer" in Na Ni

In Na Ni village (Quang Duc commune, Hai Ha district), Mr. Phoong Nhuc Phi is the pride of the Dao people. Born, raised, and matured in this highland border region, and formerly the Party Secretary of the commune, Mr. Phi knows every fence, every stream, every inch of his homeland intimately.

Mr. Phoong Nhuc Phi (second from the right) and officers from the Quang Duc Border Guard Station and the Quang Duc Commune Party Committee discuss measures to mobilize the people to participate in protecting the sovereignty and security of the border.

Now 68 years old and retired, Mr. Phi still regularly patrols the border and boundary markers with officers from the Quang Duc Border Guard Post and militia. “Boundary markers are national assets. Placing my hand on a marker, I feel proud and responsible. As long as I can walk, I will continue to participate in patrols with the Border Guard to protect the land,” Mr. Phi shared. Mr. Phi is also a pioneer in combating superstitious beliefs and strange religions that have infiltrated the area. “The Dao people worship their ancestors; they are not superstitious. We must explain this to the people so they understand, to maintain their family traditions and keep their villages clean,” Mr. Phi confided.

Mr. Phi went from house to house, along with representatives from the local government, to guide the villagers in planting acacia trees, cassava, and raising pigs and cattle. To gain the people's trust, he always led by example, demonstrating the effectiveness of his economic model. The concrete results from his model serve as living proof of the effectiveness of labor, inspiring other villagers to learn from and follow suit. As a result, Na Ni village, which had over 30% of its households living in poverty in 2000, now has only 5 households classified as near-poor.

Without fanfare or ostentation, Mr. Phi quietly "ignites the flame" through concrete actions. The Party Secretary of Na Ni village, Phong Thanh Tien, affirmed: "It is Mr. Phi who has inspired and helped more and more villagers rise out of poverty, actively register to participate in the Border Self-Management Team, and raise awareness of their responsibility to safeguard territorial sovereignty."

These "living landmarks" protect the land and the village.

Amidst the vast borderlands, beside the towering concrete markers affirming national sovereignty, there are always "living markers" of flesh and blood, with unwavering patriotism. They are respected individuals, village elders, community leaders, exemplary Party members—people without military ranks, yet every word and action carries the weight of maintaining peace on the border.

Reputable individuals regularly coordinate with the Border Guard to implement solutions to mobilize the people to participate in maintaining peace and security in the border areas.

From Luc Chan to Na Ni, the footprints of Mr. Ly A Chang, Mr. Phoong Nhuc Phi... have been imprinted on every stretch of the border. They not only participated in patrolling and protecting the border and boundary markers, but also encouraged the local people to change their perceptions, develop the economy, preserve traditional culture, combat heresy and superstition, and contribute to building a stable and prosperous border region.

Although they are not flashy, do not appear frequently in the press or on forums, each of their actions silently creates immense strength: the strength of the people's will. It is respected figures like Mr. Chang, Mr. Phi... who have been and continue to be a source of spiritual support, a bridge connecting the people with the government, the villages with the border guards, and the traditional past with the developing present.

They are the towering trees on the nation's frontier, rooted in the motherland, casting their shade over generations. When speaking of those who guard the borderlands, one cannot fail to mention them: living landmarks amidst the vast forests, who have been and continue to write a silent epic on the front lines of the nation.

Nguyen Chien

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhung-cay-dai-thu-noi-non-cao-3362596.html