Worthy of being "Uncle Ho's soldiers"

Major Dai helps fishermen ensure the safety of their fishing gear.

In September 2025, two forest fires occurred in Hamlet 6, former Vinh Thanh Commune (now Phu Vinh Commune). While monitoring the situation on the ground, Major Pham Van Dai, the first to discover the fires, promptly reported them to the Vinh Xuan Border Guard Command, which dispatched officers and soldiers to the scene to extinguish the flames. He also informed the hamlet head and mobilized local residents to participate. Thanks to this, the fires were brought under control in the shortest possible time, preventing them from spreading to the protected forest and other residential forests. In recognition of his outstanding achievement, the City Border Guard Command awarded Major Pham Van Dai a commendation and certificate of merit.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Dung, Political Officer of Vinh Xuan Border Guard Station, Major Dai is an energetic and outstanding officer in the community mobilization team. “As an officer in the task force covering the former Vinh An, Vinh Thanh, and Phu Dien communes (now all part of Phu Vinh commune), for many years, Major Dai has maintained close ties and proactively coordinated well with local authorities; he has been wholeheartedly dedicated to helping the people, building a solid reputation among them, and facilitating the work of disseminating information and mobilizing the people, especially fishermen, to comply with policies and guidelines. As a result, he has made many effective contributions, helping the unit to successfully complete its political tasks,” Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Dung shared.

Mr. Do Mai, Head of the Front Committee of Hamlet 6, and many local residents expressed their admiration and respect when recounting the admirable actions of Major Pham Van Dai in protecting people's property. One time before Tet (Lunar New Year), while on duty in the former Vinh Xuan commune, Major Dai saw a woman riding a motorbike drop a black plastic bag, but she didn't notice it. Major Dai quickly stopped his vehicle, picked it up, and sped up to catch up with the owner. Upon receiving back the 33 million VND intact, the woman was deeply moved because it was the money she and her husband had painstakingly saved to pay for building materials for house repairs. She offered Major Dai 1 million VND as a thank you, but he firmly refused to accept it.

Later, the couple went to the Vinh Xuan Border Guard Post to express their gratitude to the unit and Major Dai. Only then did the officers learn that the wife's name was Tran Thi Diep and her husband's name was Tran Minh Hung, from the old Vinh Thanh commune. Mr. Hung had lost both his arms and struggled to make a living. "When Mrs. Diep and her husband inquired about the soldier who had helped them, the locals guessed it was Major Dai – a border guard – and directed them to the Vinh Xuan post; it turned out to be the correct answer," Mr. Do Mai recounted with heartfelt respect.

Going back in time to 2014, when the Vinh Xuan Border Guard Post held a conference to implement border guard work, attended by the head of the Border Guard Command, Mr. Dai proposed helping to build houses for poor Catholic families. With the approval of superiors, the Vinh Xuan Border Guard Post connected with and mobilized various departments and organizations at all levels to implement the project. After building houses for the poor Catholic families, the unit's officers and soldiers continued to donate rice. From then on, the "Rice Jar of Compassion" model was first implemented and expanded along both border lines.

“Officers and soldiers like Major Dai have upheld the qualities of ‘Uncle Ho’s soldiers,’ working with the unit to build trust and affection among the people, strengthening the bond between the military and the people, and effectively contributing to the nationwide movement to protect national sovereignty , territorial integrity, and border security in the new situation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Dung.

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