Months spent trekking through the jungle in search of the truth.

(NB&CL) There were nights deep in the Binh Gia forest, in the biting cold of the northern mountains, when the group of reporters had to hold their breath as they watched convoys of trucks loaded with illegally logged timber silently leave the forest. There were days traversing natural forests that had been haphazardly cut down, witnessing firsthand large tree trunks lying scattered in the deep mountains. And there were months spent traveling from Lang Son to Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, and Hanoi to track down seemingly insignificant wooden planks that concealed an entire network of illegal logging, transportation, and legalization of timber.

This is the journey of the team of reporters from the Rural Today Newspaper in carrying out the 4-part series "Exposing the network that 'destroys' green forests" - a work that was awarded the A Prize at the 20th National Journalism Awards for its discovery, dedication, and strong social impact after publication.

From phone calls from local residents to a journey tracking down illegal loggers.

It all started with phone calls to the editorial hotline in early 2025. People reported that many natural forests in Lang Son were being severely destroyed. The sound of chainsaws was increasingly heard deep in the forests, trucks carrying timber were operating regularly, while the area of ​​natural forest was shrinking.

Initially, it was just fragmented information. But when multiple sources from different areas reported a similar situation, the reporting team realized that what was behind it might not simply be small-scale exploitation.

Journalist Hoang Van Chien stated that the more the authors investigated, the more they realized the signs of an organized network operating for many years, with the participation of many links from exploitation and transportation to consumption.

From there, the investigation began.

Officials from the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection and the Regional Forest Protection Sub-Department I inspect the extent of deforestation in Khuoi Tooc village, Hoi Hoan commune, Lang Son province. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Dozens of field trips lasting several months took reporters to remote rural areas of Lang Son and Thai Nguyen, then continued to follow the transportation routes back to Hanoi and Phu Tho. The role of journalists at this time was no longer simply that of observers, but became that of people directly tracking every trace of the flow of timber from natural forests.

Journalist Hoang Van Chien said that in order to gather authentic information, reporters had to repeatedly go deep into the devastated forests, approach mining sites, monitor transportation activities, and find ways to contact those involved.

There were nights deep in the forests of Binh Gia and Thien Hoa, amidst the biting cold of the highlands, when the group of reporters silently staked out the forestry roads. There were also days when they traveled back and forth on national highways and expressways in storms, following the trail of trucks carrying timber.

"The deeper we went, the more serious the situation became. What happened was no longer just a story about a few trees being cut down, but a prolonged destruction of natural forests," journalist Hoang Van Chien shared.

Journalist Hoang Chien (walking behind on the left) and her colleagues during a reporting assignment. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

When the "bosses" reveal themselves.

From the scene of the deforestation, the team of reporters continued to trace the trail of the wooden planks.

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After being harvested from natural forests, the timber is cut into sections, transported to wood processing plants in various locations in Lang Son for preliminary processing and drying, and then further distributed for sale.

Through various means, the team of reporters gained access to timber warehouses spanning thousands of square meters, witnessing firsthand the large quantities of timber openly stockpiled alongside those hidden in discreet areas.

What surprised them was that behind many of those businesses were not just ordinary dealers.

"When we infiltrated the large-scale timber processing workshops, spanning thousands of square meters, reporters realized that the 'bosses' were actually local officials, from commune leaders to teachers," journalist Hoang Van Chien recalled.

From this point on, the investigation moved beyond simply documenting deforestation and began to dissect the entire chain of activities, from logging and transportation to processing and legitimizing the origin of the timber.

The reporting team continued to verify information provided by insiders, while also tracking the transportation of timber from Lang Son to processing plants in Phu Tho, Hanoi, Bac Ninh , and Thai Nguyen.

Through the investigation, a reality gradually emerged: Behind the trucks carrying timber were numerous loopholes in forest product management and protection.

Having obtained a large amount of images, documents, and verification data, the Editorial Board of the Rural Today Newspaper decided to coordinate with the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection to further clarify the case.

The most intense phase of the investigation has begun.

For many consecutive days, reporters and forest rangers staked out deep in the forest to identify deforestation sites, storage facilities, and transportation routes. Those days of enduring the elements in the wilderness became an unforgettable memory for the team of authors.

Authorities employed various investigative techniques, including satellite data, to determine the state of the forest and identify suspicious areas. After days of surveillance, the deforestation sites were inspected, and numerous pieces of evidence, including a large quantity of illegally harvested timber, were discovered.

A wood veneer peeling and drying yard is built in the middle of a field in Thien Hoa commune, Lang Son province. Photo: Provided by the owner.

From newspaper articles to case files

The series of articles "Exposing" the network that is "destroying" green forests was published consecutively from October 6 to 10, 2025.

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Immediately after the report was published, the People's Committee of Lang Son province issued a directive instructing relevant agencies to investigate and verify the matter. The Department of Forestry and Forest Protection also requested that functional units cooperate in clarifying the issues reflected in the press.

The impact of the series of articles did not stop at merely warning the public. Based on the information, images, and documents provided by the reporting team, the authorities in Lang Son province initiated a criminal case for "Violation of regulations on forest exploitation and protection" ; and simultaneously held accountable 4 collectives and more than 30 individuals from 6 communes involved.

The issue of deforestation in Lang Son has also attracted the attention of many forestry experts and National Assembly representatives. The loopholes in forest management and protection have been analyzed and discussed, contributing to the improvement of solutions for protecting natural forests.

Looking back on the months-long journey pursuing the case, journalist Hoang Van Chien believes that the most valuable thing is that the journalistic materials collected from the field have contributed to prompting authorities to intervene, clarify the violations, and speak out in defense of the natural forests that are being encroached upon.

"When encroached forests receive attention, violations are brought to light, and management gaps are identified, that is the greatest value that journalists aspire to achieve," shared journalist Hoang Van Chien.

Source: https://congluan.vn/nhung-thang-ngay-bang-rung-tim-su-that-post349961.html