 Border guard soldiers help local children do their homework (Photo: Dong Nai’s Border Guard forces) |
Guided by the principle that every border resident is a “living landmark,” Dong Nai’s Border Guard forces have over the past years working closely with local authorities and communities to build and protect more than 258 km of border. Their efforts go beyond erecting concrete markers. They have strengthened trust, solidarity, and the bond between soldiers and civilians.
By linking socio-economic development with border protection, the “green-beret” soldiers have transformed once remote, sparsely populated areas into a strong “people’s shield” where every resident acts as an unranked soldier, standing with the border guards to safeguard the nation’s frontiers.
With the motto “A prosperous people make a secure border,” the Dong Nai Border Guard has worked closely with local Party committees and authorities to help residents develop their livelihoods. Based on recommendations from the Border Guard, millions of USD have been invested in infrastructure and development projects in border areas. One of the most transformative initiatives is Project 811, known as the “Border Militia Residential Areas,” which has given the border region an entirely new look.
 Border guards support livelihood programs for disadvantaged people in border areas. |
The provincial Military Command alone has built 245 houses across 12 residential clusters along the border, creating new “border villages” that give people stable homes while safeguarding national sovereignty.
In Loc Hoa commune, the first residential point launched in 2020 began with only five small 72-square-metre homes, each worth 4,500 USD and equipped with electricity, water, and 500 to 5,000 square meters of farmland. Today, it has grown into a community of 48 homes filled with children’s laughter.
Ms. Thi Tho, 29, one of the first residents to settle here, said that "since moving here, life has become better and more stable. People in the village are united and always help one another. The border guards also work with us to improve our livelihoods."
Pointing to her garden with rows of corn, she recalled her small hut and expressed her happiness with her life now with a nice house with a TV, a fridge, and a rice cooker. “Life is better, and our children can go to school,” she said.
Support goes far beyond new houses and livestock. Border guards work alongside residents through every farming season. Their “three togethers” approach of eating together, living together, and working together which has become a hallmark of the green-beret soldiers in the area.
Many soldiers donate part of their own salary to help struggling families, providing livestock and seedlings, and joining them in the fields. Every border guard station has small agricultural models to improve food supplies and serve as hands-on training for locals.
Nguyen Thi Hong Khanh from Dak O commune said, "The Dak O Border Guard gave us with a breeding cow, a year later, it had a calf. We’re very happy because this has helped us overcome hardship and improve our livelihood, even though we don’t have farmland and rely on livestock.”
For more than a decade, the programs “Supporting Students to School” and “Border Guard Foster Children” have helped hundreds of ethnic minority students stay in class. Border guards are currently raising eight children and sponsoring 118 others, including nine Cambodian students. Many have finished university and returned to help their communities.
 7th grader Nguyen Sang receives gifts at Mid Autumn festival |
Nguyen Sang, a 7th grader at Thien Hung B Secondary School, who lost both parents, said, "I want to thank the soldiers for taking care of me for the past 10 years. I promise to be a good child, a hardworking student, and to repay their kindness."
Thanks to combined efforts from local authorities and Dong Nai’s Border Guard, life in border communities is improving every day. People are more aware of protecting the border, a place they consider their home. So far, 33 groups, 169 households, and more than 200 individuals have signed commitments to help safeguard border markers and border lines. They patrol with border guards, clear trails, and report suspicious activity.
 Sin Von and soldiers clean the border marker. |
Sin Von of Hung Phuoc commune said that “The border guards and locals work together to protect the markers. If soldiers are on patrol, we support them. If they’re not around, we check the markers ourselves and report anything unusual. We’re proud to do this. It’s our responsibility to support the soldiers.”
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Anh Duc, Commander of the Dong Nai Border Guard, said that working closely with the community is the key to building strong public support and a solid border defense.
He said, "The border guards help local authorities support poor families and improve their lives. We also work with village elders, respected community leaders and religious dignitaries to disseminate information about Party and State policies.”
From building houses and giving livestock to offering scholarships and joining evening community activities, the Dong Nai Border Guard has built a special line of defense, a defense line made of people’s trust. Here, trust is the fortress, and unity is the shield. Because the border is not protected by stone markers alone, but by the patriotism, awareness, and devotion of the people who call this land home.