Aligning the Party’s will with the people’s aspirations in safeguarding the border

Dong Nai Province has a border line stretching 258.939 kilometres adjacent to  the Kingdom of Cambodia. Maintaining peace and stability in this area not only safeguards national sovereignty but also creates favourable conditions for socio-economic development.

In this context, the provincial Border Guard has promoted its role as the core force in managing and firmly protecting every stretch of the border. At the same time, it has built close-knit military–civilian relations, aligning the Party’s will with the aspirations of the people, thereby strengthening the national defence posture and the border defence posture.

Effective initiatives

In carrying out its duties, the provincial Border Guard has implemented numerous innovative, effective, and people-oriented models and initiatives. Programs, projects, and models such as Supporting Children to School, Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts, and Officers and Soldiers Supporting Children to School have provided not only material assistance but also profound spiritual support. These efforts have helped hundreds of disadvantaged students, including children from Cambodia, continue their education. Many of these students have striven to overcome difficulties, achieved good academic results, and nurtured aspirations to become future border guard soldiers.

Ton Ngoc Hanh (front row, centre), Member of the Party Central Committee and Standing Deputy Secretary of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, together with leaders of the provincial Border Guard Command, visits the Dak O border militia post. Photo: Courtesy of the unit

One notable example is Phan Hoang Bao Long, a student from Class 8A1 at Loc Thanh Primary and Secondary School. Long has demonstrated remarkable determination after receiving support from the provincial Border Guard under the Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts model. Having lost his mother at an early age and with his father working far from home, he lives with his paternal grandparents, both over 80 years old. The lack of parental care made him withdrawn and quiet, with sadness often evident in his eyes.

Understanding his special circumstances, since 2021, the Loc Thanh Border Guard Post has taken Long in as an "adopted child". Since then, officers and soldiers of the unit have regularly provided him with living expenses, learning materials and encouragement, while coordinating with his family and school to offer education, psychological counselling, future orientation and character development. Notably, Long’s talent for playing stone lithophones has been discovered and nurtured, earning him the nickname “Long dan da”. He continues to strive towards his dream of becoming a border guard soldier like those who have supported him every day.

Similar to Long’s case is that of Dinh Dai Phong, a student from Class 4A5 at Dak O Primary School, who comes from an extremely difficult background. His father passed away early, and his mother has struggled alone to raise five children, including one with paralysis. Overwhelmed by hardships, Phong was at risk of dropping out of school. Through the Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts programme implemented by the Dak O Border Guard Post, Phong has been able to continue his education. With close support from officers and soldiers, he is making efforts to pursue his aspiration to become a border guard in the future.

Alongside these initiatives, models such as Rice Jars of Compassion and Border Guard Loudspeakers have also been creatively implemented by the provincial Border Guard. These have helped numerous disadvantaged households and ethnic minority families escape poverty and food insecurity. Another effective model is assigning Party members to take responsibility for specific households in border communes. Through this approach, border guard officers and soldiers are able to closely grasp local conditions, promptly advise on resolving emerging issues, and assist residents with economic development and poverty reduction, thereby building a strong people-based defence posture to safeguard border peace and stability.

According to Colonel Pham Van Dang, Deputy Political Commissar of the provincial Military Command and concurrently Political Commissar of the provincial Border Guard Command, the border guard forces, stationed in border areas, have always proactively grasped local situations and promoted the strength of the masses. Effective practices and innovative models have contributed significantly to consolidating the national defence and border defence posture in border areas.

Aligning the Party’s will with the people’s aspirations

Statistics show that along Dong Nai's border line, there are 28 main border markers and 353 auxiliary markers across 8 border communes. The establishment of self-management groups, as well as collectives, individuals, and households participating in protecting border lines and markers, has promoted the role of local organisations and residents in safeguarding national sovereignty and border security, while supporting the Border Guard in maintaining public order and combating crime.

Linking the Party’s will and the people’s aspirations begins with raising awareness. Models of operation, along with communication and dissemination of laws on national borders, the importance of border demarcation and marker planting, and vigilance against hostile forces’ schemes, have been consistently emphasised. Through Party cells’ meetings, community engagement and various information channels, public awareness and responsibility in protecting border lines and markers have been significantly enhanced.

Colonel Nguyen Anh Duc, Deputy Commander of the provincial Military Command and concurrently Commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, stated that the close linkage between the Party's will and the people’s aspirations in border areas has created a solid posture, where the armed forces have reliable support and the people have a strong protective shield. Through sustained efforts, officers and soldiers of the provincial Border Guard and local residents continue to safeguard peace and stability along the national frontier, contributing to creating a safe and favourable environment for socio-economic development and the realisation of targets set out by Party Congress resolutions.

In implementing Directive 681/CT-DU dated October 8, 2018 of the Standing Committee of the Border Guard Party Committee, along with provincial regulations on assigning border guard Party members to be in charge of households in border areas, the provincial Border Guard Party Committee and Command have assigned 257 officers and Party members to support 931 border-area households. In addition, 100 officers and Party members have been assigned to participate in the activities of 85 village and hamlet Party cells.

“Through these activities, the Border Guard has assisted local people in economic development and livelihood stabilisation. This has further consolidated the posture of people’s hearts and minds, firmly protected national sovereignty, and fostered close military–civilian solidarity, with officers and residents working hand in hand to safeguard the nation’s frontier areas,” Colonel Nguyen Anh Duc emphasised.

He also noted that in 2025, the provincial Border Guard handed over three houses for comrades and six great unity houses; organised five free medical examination and medicine distribution sessions for more than 1,200 people; provided regular sponsorship for 122 disadvantaged students; and donated projects such as Lighting for Training Grounds, Lighting the Border, and Lighting Rural Roads, along with distributing over 4.5 thousand tonnes of rice and thousands of gift packages to border residents.

Dieu Lom, Secretary of the Party Cell of Bu Bung hamlet, Dak O commune, highlighted that the provincial Border Guard, including officers and soldiers of the Dak O Border Guard Post, has created a protective shield for the people, supporting them in building a new life and strengthening the posture of people’s hearts and minds.

The effective models and innovative approaches implemented by the provincial Border Guard in recent years have been key solutions in maintaining a stable, peaceful and prosperous border area, contributing to the early and proactive safeguarding of the Fatherland.

By Nguyet Ha - Translated by My Le, Thu Ha