Providing both spiritual and material gifts to policy beneficiary households and disadvantaged households.

Warmth of spirit, abundance of material possessions.

As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, everyone becomes more and more bustling. Some stroll through the streets choosing flowers and shopping for the holiday. Others scramble to make a living in the last days of the old year. Still others complete all their tasks to reunite with their families and celebrate Tet together. Meanwhile, border guards travel up mountains and valleys to remote villages and down to fishing communities by the sea, bringing love and support through programs like "Spring on the Border and Islands, a Tet filled with military-civilian affection," ensuring that families receiving government assistance and those in need in border areas have a fulfilling and warm Tet.

On a rainy, sunny afternoon in Giang Hai (Phu Loc), a 102-year-old mother, dressed in new clothes, stood at the door, her eyes filled with anticipation. She was Heroic Vietnamese Mother Nguyen Thi Thuan, whose two sons had sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland. When Colonel Pham Tung Lam, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Hue City Border Guard; Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Viet, Deputy Head of Political Affairs; and their comrades appeared at the entrance to the alley, a joyful smile spread across Mother Thuan's face. Clasping her wrinkled hands, the soldiers shared simple yet heartfelt sentiments.

“Every year, during holidays, especially the traditional Lunar New Year, the children of the Border Guard come back here, like my long-lost children returning home. That is a meaningful and precious gift, making my three days of Tet complete,” Heroic Vietnamese Mother Nguyen Thi Thuan confided with a warm smile.

Earlier that morning, Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar, and Lieutenant Colonel Le Hong Tuyen, Head of Political Affairs of the Hue City Border Guard Command, along with officers and soldiers of the Vinh Hien Border Guard Station and local government leaders, visited ten policy beneficiary and poor households in the area to present Tet gifts and offer heartfelt greetings. This was the most important activity of the Border Guard Command in a series of meaningful activities at the "Spring on the Border and Islands, a Tet filled with military-civilian solidarity" program organized by the Hue City Border Guard Command in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hue City in Phu Loc district, lasting from 7 am to 10 pm.

According to Colonel Pham Tung Lam and Colonel Hoang Minh Hung, Commanders of the Hue City Border Guard, along with invaluable spiritual gifts, the Border Guard force has coordinated with many units and connected with benefactors to donate thousands of gifts; and handed over dozens of solidarity houses, totaling billions of dong, contributing to helping disadvantaged people in border areas have a more fulfilling and warmer Tet holiday.

The Association donates green sticky rice cakes to poor patients.

The fragrant scent of Tet

Following the pilot program organized by the Command in Phu Loc, many border guard posts have successfully organized this meaningful activity to further strengthen the solidarity and close ties between the military and the people; and to demonstrate the affection and responsibility of Party committees, governments at all levels, agencies, units, businesses, organizations, and individuals in caring for the people in border areas during the Lunar New Year. A prime example is the Phong Hai Border Guard Post, which, in coordination with the local government, organized the construction of a new "Great Solidarity" house and the repair of two others; and presented gifts to poor and near-poor households, with a total donation of 160 million VND. The Chan May Port Border Guard Post, in coordination with the Loc Vinh Commune People's Committee, donated 200 gift packages worth nearly 100 million VND…

For many units, each Tet gift package sent to needy people includes pairs of hot, green sticky rice cakes and fragrant ginger jam, handmade by officers, soldiers, and members of the Women's Union. Besides the usual ingredients, these gifts also contain heartfelt sentiments. Accordingly, the Youth Union of the Chan May Port Border Guard Station, in coordination with the Women's Union of Loc Vinh commune and the Trade Union of Saigon-Hue Investment Joint Stock Company (Phu Loc district), organized a traditional jam-making competition as part of the "Spring on the Border and Islands, a Tet filled with military-civilian solidarity" program. Dozens of kilograms of finished ginger jam were delivered as Tet gifts to families who contributed to the revolution, single-parent families, and those with disabilities and other difficulties in the area.

Putting heart into every step to make the green sticky rice cake symbolizing the bond between soldiers and civilians.

During the "Green Sticky Rice Cake Festival," organized by youth union members and women's association members of the Hue City Border Guard at the foot of Vinh Hien beach (Phu Loc), there were deeply moving moments when the announcement was made: the cakes would be donated to poor patients. Whether it was the overwhelming emotion in my heart, or the smoke rising from the courtyard of the Vinh Hien Border Guard Post as the border guards lit fires to cook the cakes, and the many people who came to cheer them on, my eyes suddenly welled up with tears. I involuntarily sensed the warm scent of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) carried on the bond between the military and the people.

Text and photos: Quynh Anh