Military-civilian bond in ethnic and religious communities

“Building friendly bonds between the armed forces and ethnic and religious communities” is a program that Military Region 7 and Dong Nai Province have effectively implemented in recent years.

Representatives of the provincial armed forces, benefactors, and officials of Ta Lai Commune at the handover ceremony of a military-civilian solidarity house to the family of K’ Thi Pon, of the S’tieng ethnic group, in Ta Lai Commune. Photo: Nguyet Ha

Through this program, friendly bonds have been fostered between the armed forces and ethnic and religious communities across the area. As a result, military-civilian solidarity and harmony between religious and non-religious communities have been further strengthened, contributing to the consolidation of the grassroots political system in the cause of national construction and defense.

Meaningful military-civilian projects

At the inauguration and handover ceremony of a cultural and sports facility worth more than 740 million VND (with 500 million VND supported by Military Region 7) at the Provincial Buddhist Association Pagoda in Binh Phuoc Ward, held on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 36th anniversary of the All-People’s National Defense Day (December 22), Venerable Thich Hue Khai, Head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha of the province, expressed his delight, stating that this was a project symbolizing military-civilian solidarity and unity between religious and non-religious communities. He noted that while the army in general, and the armed forces of Military Region 7 and Dong Nai Province in particular, focus on building strength, training, and maintaining combat readiness, they always remain mindful of religious communities in the area.

“We are truly grateful and deeply appreciative, and we will continue to encourage Buddhist followers to emulate good deeds, increase charitable activities, and further strengthen bonds with the army and the armed forces,” Venerable Thich Hue Khai emphasized.

Also on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the tradition of the armed forces of Military Region 7 (December 10) and the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 36th anniversary of the All-People’s National Defense Day (December 22), the Military Region 7 and Dong Nai Province coordinated to hand over a cultural and sports facility to the Chau Ma ethnic community in Dinh Quan Commune.

The project, launched in October 2025, continues to concretize the policy of “Building friendly bonds between the armed forces and ethnic and religious communities” set forth by the Party Committee and Command of the Military Region 7. It reflects the attention and care of the armed forces, together with provincial Party committees and local authorities of Dong Nai Province, in improving the material and spiritual life of the people in general, and ethnic and religious communities in particular.

The facility covers a total area of more than 343 square meters, including site leveling, concrete flooring, and the installation of 17 sets of outdoor fitness equipment, with a total investment of over 600 million VND. From the total funding, Military Region 7 contributed 500 million VND, with the remaining amount mobilized locally from socialized sources.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two projects, Colonel Bui Van Sy, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Military Party Committee and Deputy Political Commissar of the Provincial Military Command, congratulated the ethnic and religious communities on having new cultural and sports facilities for training and health improvement, and, more importantly, for further strengthening military-civilian solidarity in the cause of national construction and defense.

Colonel Bui Van Sy emphasized that the cultural and sports facilities inaugurated and presented to the ethnic and religious communities not only serve cultural, spiritual, and physical training needs, but also continue to consolidate and reinforce military-civilian solidarity and harmony between religious and non-religious communities. These projects stand as vivid evidence of the continued promotion and spread of the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in the new context.

Strengthening firm military-civilian solidarity

Reporting at the meeting with religious dignitaries, religious officials, and prestigious individuals among the ethnic minority communities in early 2025, Lieutenant General Tran Vinh Ngoc, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of Military Region 7, stated that the program to build friendly bonds between the armed forces of Military Region 7 and ethnic and religious communities in the area has been implemented for many years, with particularly strong efforts made in the 2021-2025 period. During this phase, the armed forces of Military Region 7 coordinated and mobilized resources to build and hand over 168 cultural and sports facilities at religious establishments and in ethnic minority areas across the military region.

“The program connects ethnic and religious communities with the armed forces of Military Region 7 through joint activities, companionship, support, and development, especially during military conscription campaigns. The number of young people of religious faiths and ethnic minority backgrounds voluntarily applying for military service has continued to rise. Once enlisted, they demonstrate strong discipline and strictly comply with military regulations and state laws,” Lieutenant General Tran Vinh Ngoc added

In 2025, under the Program on building friendly bonds between the armed forces and ethnic and religious communities, Military Region 7 supported Dong Nai Province in the construction and inauguration of two cultural and sports facilities. In addition, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the traditional day of the Armed Forces of Military Region 7 (December 10) and the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Army, Military Region 7 also implemented the construction of 69 military-civilian solidarity houses, gratitude houses, and great unity houses. Provinces and cities, including Dong Nai, likewise built numerous military-civilian solidarity houses to support ethnic and religious communities facing housing difficulties.

Among the hundreds of projects built and handed over by Military Region 7 for ethnic and religious communities, ethnic and religious communities in Dong Nai Province have benefited from many meaningful works, such as a library for the Intermediate Buddhist School (nuns’ campus) in Long Thanh Commune; a cultural and sports facility for Muslim communities in Xuan Loc Commune; a cultural and sports facility for Protestant communities in Tho Son Commune; a sports facility for the Chau Ma ethnic group in Dinh Quan Commune; and a cultural and sports facility for the Provincial Buddhist Association Pagoda in Binh Phuoc Ward…

Along with support for ethnic and religious communities, the armed forces of Military Region 7 and Dong Nai Province have also implemented the construction of thousands of great unity houses, charity houses, and military-civilian solidarity houses. During the 2021-2025 period, the Military Region 7 implemented and coordinated the construction of more than 1,900 military-civilian solidarity houses. Dong Nai Province has also emerged as a leading example in implementing this program, with hundreds of houses handed over to ethnic and religious communities. Through these efforts, military-civilian solidarity has been further consolidated and strengthened, while the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” continue to spread and shine, becoming a firm pillar of support for the people.

The Program on building friendly bonds between the Armed Forces and ethnic and religious communities in the area of Military Region 7, including Dong Nai Province, stands as the most vivid demonstration of military-civilian unity. The program will continue to be effectively implemented in 2025 and the years ahead, further strengthening military-civilian solidarity, harmony between religious and non-religious communities, and unity among ethnic groups, while contributing to the firm consolidation of the grassroots political system in the new situation.

By Nguyet Ha – Translated by Quynh Giao, Thu Ha