They celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) in the barracks, beside border markers, amidst the warm camaraderie and strong bond between the military and the people. For them, spring was not only a time of transition between seasons but also a measure of responsibility, courage, and silent sacrifice.
Put aside personal feelings, maintain peace on the border.
For many, Tet (Lunar New Year) means a journey home. It's about nighttime bus rides, hurried hugs at bus stations, and a New Year's Eve dinner filled with laughter. But for officers and soldiers on the southwestern border, Tet is a time to tighten discipline, increase combat readiness, patrol and control, and protect national sovereignty and border security. While families reunite, these men enter the peak of their duties.
At the My Quy Tay Border Guard Post, located in My Quy commune, Tay Ninh province, Major Tran Dinh Huan is accustomed to celebrating New Year's Eve away from home. His hometown is in Duc Minh commune, Ha Tinh province, and his wife and two children currently live in Ho Chi Minh City. The geographical distance isn't too great, but his duties don't allow him to leave the unit during peak days.
Having served in the Army for nearly 20 years, Huân has been deployed to four different border guard posts in the province. Each place he visited meant a spring spent there, a Tet holiday spent with his comrades instead of with his family.
“Every year, on New Year's Eve, my colleagues and I take the opportunity after our shift to listen to the President's New Year's greetings. After listening, we call home to our families. Nowadays, with modern technology, we can even see our parents, wives, and children when we call, shortening the distance. It's both joyful and touching,” Major Tran Dinh Huan shared.
Even so, in those sacred moments, homesickness was evident on the soldier's face. On the other end of the line were the eager voices of children and the wishes for safety from his hardworking wife. But personal feelings quickly gave way to pride and a sense of responsibility. Because out there, on the trails and in the border forests, task forces were still taking turns patrolling and monitoring, ensuring no unexpected incidents occurred.
“Every Tet holiday at our unit, we also organize a very warm and cozy family meal. Afterwards, we participate in cultural and artistic exchanges with the local people. The atmosphere is very affectionate; we treat each other like family,” Major Huan confided. The handshakes and simple greetings between officers, soldiers, and people in the border region have somewhat erased the distance and homesickness.
Not far away, at the My Thanh Tay Border Guard Post (located in Dong Thanh commune), soldier Tran Van Do is experiencing his first Spring in the military. Celebrating Tet away from home for the first time, Do couldn't help but feel nostalgic. In the days leading up to Tet, when the unit organized the making of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) and decorated the traditional room, he suddenly remembered the small kitchen in his hometown, where his mother still lit the fire to cook banh chung every Spring.
"At first, I missed home a lot, but with encouragement from my unit commander and comrades, I felt very happy. Being on duty during Tet and participating in patrols with the senior officers is a memorable experience," Do said. For the young soldier, his first spring on the border was a milestone in his maturity, a transition from a shy young man to a steadfast soldier in the night patrol team.
Lieutenant Nguyen Doan Le Chuyen, from Nhu Gia commune, Can Tho province, working at My Thanh Tay Border Guard Station, said that celebrating Tet at the unit was very warm. The unit's command showed great care and encouragement, making the soldiers happy. We clearly understand our duties, especially coordinating with the police and military forces to patrol and control the national border security.
In the days leading up to, during, and after the Lunar New Year, the volume of people and vehicles crossing the border increases significantly. The demand for trade and visiting relatives makes border crossings and trails even busier. Along with this, the risk of smuggling, trade fraud, and illegal entry and exit remains ever-present. Therefore, working teams maintain 24/7 duty, ensuring uninterrupted communication systems and meticulously prepared contingency plans to avoid being caught off guard in any situation.
On nights when thick fog descends and the wind howls across the border fields, the patrol's footsteps steadily echo on the damp earth. Flashlights sweep across the bushes and narrow paths. Brief, decisive exchanges via walkie-talkie between teams resound in the silent night. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere of spring everywhere, the border guards remain calm and steadfast, ensuring that the people's spring remains complete.
Spring brings warmth of camaraderie, solidarity between soldiers and civilians.
Despite not being able to return home for the holidays, the officers and soldiers still celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) fully right at their unit. According to Lieutenant Colonel Le Anh Tuan, Commander of My Thanh Tay Border Guard Station, the unit pays special attention to taking care of the material and spiritual lives of the soldiers during Tet.
“We ensured that all officers and soldiers who stayed behind to celebrate Tet were fully provided with their entitlements. At the same time, we organized many exchange activities with local organizations, such as making banh tet (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), cultural performances, and sports… creating a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere,” Lieutenant Colonel Le Anh Tuan said.
Pots of sticky rice cakes simmering over open fires all night, cake-wrapping competitions, barracks decorations, and impromptu cultural performances created a truly military-style Tet celebration. In the field kitchen, laughter mingled with the aroma of banana leaves, fresh sticky rice, and mung beans, creating a unique flavor of spring on the border. On the morning of the first day of Tet, the unit commander encouraged and wished each officer and soldier a happy new year. This simple joy provided motivation for the first days of their duties in the new year.
Besides taking care of internal affairs, border guard posts also coordinate with local authorities to visit and give gifts to families receiving preferential treatment, poor households, and people with difficult circumstances in the area. These Tet gifts, delivered directly to people in border regions, not only have material value but also embody sharing and solidarity. For many years, the image of border guards working alongside local people to repair roofs, harvest crops, and support children's education has become familiar.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Anh Tuan, Commander of My Thanh Tay Border Guard Station, said that every year, the station mobilizes benefactors to support and care for disadvantaged people in the border region. This year, the unit mobilized 300 gift packages for the people, thereby contributing to encouraging and supporting them to have a warmer Tet holiday.
According to Colonel Duong Van Duoc, Political Commissar of the Tay Ninh Provincial Border Guard, the Party Committee and Command of the Tay Ninh Border Guard always emphasize the spirit of celebrating the Lunar New Year while not forgetting their duties. All units strictly maintain the duty roster, closely monitor the situation, and firmly protect the sovereignty and security of the border in all situations.
According to Colonel Duoc, after the area of operation expanded, the demands of the mission increased, and the complexity of cross-border activities also increased. However, officers and soldiers throughout the force always remain united, demonstrating a sense of responsibility and proactively engaging with the local communities. The Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard always pay attention to the material and spiritual well-being of the soldiers, especially those far from their families. This sharing helps the soldiers feel secure in their work and remain committed to the unit for the long term.
Building a comprehensive border defense system involving the entire population is a key factor in maintaining border security. During Tet (Lunar New Year), units of the Tay Ninh Border Guard Command intensified their community outreach efforts, strengthening relationships with the people and promoting the role of village heads and influential community leaders. When each citizen becomes a "living landmark," the border will be more secure, and the spring season will be more peaceful.
For many, a complete Tet holiday means reuniting with family and gathering around the New Year's feast. But for the soldiers on the border, completeness lies in fulfilling their duty, ensuring peace and security for every border marker and every inch of land. They accept personal sacrifices in exchange for the peace of mind of millions of families.
On New Year's Eve, while fireworks blazed in major cities, in the remote border regions, flashlight beams still swept across every path. The footsteps of patrols continued to steadily imprint themselves on the ground. And there, spring arrived not only with the colors of flowers or the sound of fireworks, but with the will, responsibility, and silent faith of the soldiers who are guarding the homeland day and night. Spring on the front lines is therefore always warm, kindled by the spirit of dedication and profound patriotism.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/noi-co-nhung-nguoi-linh-lo-henvoi-mua-xuan-20260216124615997.htm
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