Bringing Tet to ethnic minorities in border region

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, familiar sights will appear throughout the high-altitude, border, and difficult-to-access communes of Son La province: soldiers in green uniforms striding along the roads, busily preparing gifts and traditional rice cakes for the ethnic minority people.

With the desire to “leave no one behind,” these activities to care for the ethnic minority people in the border areas of Son La during Tet have become a beautiful symbol, marking the solidarity between the military and the people in this border region of the Fatherland.

Amidst the chilly weather in the border commune of Muong Lan, this year’s Tet celebration was more fulfilling thanks to the joint efforts of the Border Guard soldiers and their partner units. In coordination with the Women’s Union of the commune, the Muong Lan Border Guard Post brought Tet to Pa Kach village through the “Warm Clothes for Spring” programme.

Gathering around the warm fire, sharing the joy of 260 green sticky rice cakes, Giang A Po, from Pa Kach village, emotionally said: “Everyone in the village is excited to have green sticky rice cakes and gifts from the soldiers in the days leading up to Tet. The villagers also get to participate in cultural and artistic activities organised by the soldiers…”

Pó’s heartfelt words also reflect the sentiments of the villagers. Each gift given represents a warm and compassionate heart, a testament to the affection of the soldiers who have been stationed at the border for years.

On this occasion, the journey of bringing Tet to the people of Muong Lan has become even more complete as 100 solar-powered lamps from the “Borderland Lighting Project” officially arrive in the villages of Nam Lan, Huoi Men, Kha, and Cong… lighting up hope and expectations for a better life in this border region of the Fatherland.

Lieutenant Colonel Mua Lao Thang, Deputy Political Officer of the Muong Lan Border Guard Post, shared: “This year, we personally visited each household to offer encouragement, hoping that each gift will be a motivation for the people to develop their economy, and that each individual will become a ‘living landmark’ alongside the border guards in maintaining sovereignty and peace along the border.”

Visiting the Chieng Son Border Guard Post these days, one can still clearly feel the bustling atmosphere as officers and soldiers are busy preparing for the “Border Guard Spring - Warming the Hearts of the Villagers” programme.

From reviewing lists and categorising each gift package to coordinating volunteer units, everything was focused on the border with the determination to “leave no one behind.”

The programme was successfully organised in Kho Hong village. Here, more than 700 meaningful gifts were handed directly to poor households and families receiving preferential treatment in Chieng Son commune. The programme also included practical activities such as free medical examinations and medication distribution from doctors at the Central Lung Institute...

Recognising that caring for the people is a duty from the heart, over the years, the Party Committee and Command of Chieng Son Border Guard Post have always prioritised social welfare work, using the well-being of the people as a measure of peace in the border region. This is also the 11th consecutive year that the Border Guard Spring programme, warming the hearts of the villagers, has been maintained and organised systematically by the unit.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Van Quang, of the Chieng Son Border Guard Station, shared: “It is through practical actions to support the people during the Lunar New Year that the bond between the military and the people has become even stronger, encouraging each citizen to voluntarily stand side by side with the border guards in the journey of maintaining national sovereignty and border security.”

To contribute to ensuring a happy Lunar New Year for people in border areas, the Son La Border Guard Command, in coordination with other units, organised 11 “Border Guard Spring - Warming the Hearts of the People” programmes at 10 border guard posts, distributing thousands of Tet gifts worth over 6 billion VND, along with many meaningful social welfare programs such as medical examinations and treatment, house donations, and livelihood support.

Colonel Vu Duc Tu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Son La Provincial Border Guard, said: “Every Tet holiday, we are always concerned about how to ensure that all ethnic minorities in border areas can celebrate a fulfilling Tet. Through these programmes, we will further strengthen the solidarity between the military and the people, contributing to maintaining sovereignty and building a peaceful and friendly border.”

The efforts of the Border Guard forces nationwide, and in Son La province in particular, in caring for ethnic minorities in border areas during Tet are seen as bridges extending the social welfare policies of the Party and State to the most remote villages and hamlets.

Each gift given is a thread that strengthens and reinforces the “people’s hearts and minds.” Then, when spring arrives, the people’s trust and affection for the soldiers in green uniforms will grow even stronger, together weaving a love song of unity and peace on the nation’s frontier.

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