A reporter from Dong Nai recounts his experience working in the far west of the country.

Having worked as journalists for nearly 20 years, traveling extensively from South to North, the most memorable and emotionally impactful experience for us was our five-day trip to the westernmost point of the country, Dien Bien province.

In 2024, as the whole country turned its attention to Dien Bien to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory and to participate in the National Tourism Year, we, reporters from the Eastern region, had the opportunity to visit and experience the heroic echoes of the "glorious victory that shook the world" of the Vietnamese revolution, and to be captivated by the roads and forests of bauhinia flowers amidst the mountains of Northwest Vietnam.

Students in Ma Thi Ho commune, Muong Cha district, Dien Bien province have to travel several kilometers to school, sometimes even tens of kilometers, so they have to bring their own lunch and school supplies.

We came across images of Hmong women on the road to the westernmost point.

Starting from Dien Bien Phu city, we began our 5-day journey to the westernmost point of Vietnam on motorbikes, with two light bags of clothes securely tied to the back. Although we had previously traveled the Northwest routes in Ha Giang , Moc Chau, Son La, etc., we were still amazed and filled with emotion throughout the 250km journey to the westernmost point, immersed in the majestic natural landscape and mountains, and experiencing the winding, treacherous roads.

A clothing store in a Hmong residential area in Muong Cha district.

Not only did we get to experience the scenic routes, but we also got to hear, see, and almost touch the lives of the ethnic minority communities throughout our journey as we passed through the districts of Dien Bien, Muong Cha, Nam Po, and Muong Nha.

We understand the arduous journey to school for these children, starting from elementary school. They not only carry books and notebooks but also have to pack lunch, a chair, and a chalk box if it's their class duty day. Passing through the villages, we experienced life like the locals and were warmly welcomed like children returning home after being away for a long time.

Harvesting agricultural products and selling them to traders in Nậm Pồ district.

Thai ethnic women at Na Su community tourism village in Phin Ho commune, Nam Po district.

Reaching the westernmost point, the final destination of our exploration journey, we were greeted by an impressive landscape ablaze with the vibrant colors of bauhinia flowers. A Pa Chai is the westernmost point of Vietnam, a tri-border area of ​​three countries: Vietnam, China, and Laos. Known as the place where "a rooster's crow can be heard in all three countries," it is primarily inhabited by the Ha Nhi ethnic group and several other minority groups.

A rare street vendor spot on the road to the westernmost point, in Muong Nha district.

A Ha Nhi ethnic woman is sewing a shirt in front of her house. This is a familiar sight when visiting the westernmost point of Vietnam, as sewing is an indispensable part of the lives of ethnic minority women in Dien Bien.

Reaching the westernmost point, the final destination of our exploration journey, we were greeted by an impressive landscape ablaze with the vibrant colors of bauhinia flowers. A Pa Chai is the westernmost point of Vietnam, a tri-border area of ​​three countries: Vietnam, China, and Laos. Known as the place where "a rooster's crow can be heard in all three countries," it is primarily inhabited by the Ha Nhi ethnic group and several other minority groups.

Reporter Binh Nguyen takes a commemorative photo in front of A Pa Chai Border Guard Post, where border guards are stationed day and night to protect the westernmost border of the Fatherland.

A reporter from Dong Nai Newspaper took a commemorative photo with border guards before climbing the final 500 steps to the westernmost border marker on the summit of Khoan La San mountain.

The border marker, jointly constructed by Vietnam, China, and Laos, is located on the summit of Khoan La San, over 1,800 meters high, in Sin Thau commune, Muong Nha district, Dien Bien province. Built in 2005, the marker has three sides bearing the national emblems of the three countries.

It is a source of happiness and pride to raise the national flag at the most remote border marker.

We concluded our journey exploring the far west with pride and joy after officially setting foot on the border marker of our homeland, learning about new lands, understanding more about the lives of our compatriots in the border region, and loving our country even more.

This trip also left a lasting impression and unforgettable memories for us during our journalistic journey. After the trip, we published many articles about the Northwest region in the Dong Nai Weekend Newspaper to share with readers the destinations, people, land, historical sites, and local specialties of the area…

Ngoc Lien - Binh Nguyen

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/tin-moi/202506/phong-vien-dong-nai-ke-chuyen-tac-nghiep-o-cuc-tay-to-quoc-06b094d/