Every citizen is a "living milestone"

Dong Nai has a border with neighboring Cambodia, complex mountainous terrain with many trails and openings, posing a risk of smuggling, illegal entry and cross-border crimes...

A corner of the border residential area of ​​Thien Hung commune, Dong Nai province.

Faced with that reality, Dong Nai province and Military Region 7 implemented the Project "Building residential areas adjacent to border militia posts" in the period of 2019-2025. Households volunteered to live at the border, both to develop the economy , stabilize their lives, and participate in protecting the border and landmarks, becoming a solid local force.

Children at the border residential area of ​​Thien Hung commune, Dong Nai province exercise outdoors at the residential area.

A typical example is the residential area adjacent to the militia post in Thien Hung commune, Dong Nai province - from the initial 5 houses supported by Military Region 7, it has now developed to 106 houses with nearly 400 people. Each household is provided with a house, land for production and livestock, gradually stabilizing their lives.

Mr. Duong Danh Son, one of the households who moved to the border area to settle in Thien Hung commune, shared: “When we moved here, we received housing support and felt very secure when the militia and Border Guard regularly patrolled and controlled. We are also ready to join hands with the soldiers to build a strong border area, protect sovereignty and border security.”

Officers and soldiers of Dong Nai province visit families in the border residential area of ​​Loc Thanh commune, Dong Nai province.

Mr. Duong Danh Son’s sentiments are also the thoughts of many people in border settlements. At the Dong Nai border, each household is a “living milestone”. They always accompany the armed forces, maintaining the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.

From 2019 to present, Dong Nai province has built 12 border residential areas, with nearly 300 households and over 600 people.

"Square Star" close to the people, close to the grassroots, many practical jobs

Recently, a thunderstorm accompanied by heavy rain caused many households in Hamlet 6, Thien Hung Commune, Dong Nai Province to be partially flooded and isolated. Just 15 minutes after receiving the news, in the heavy rain and deeply flooded roads, comrade Le Van Giap, Commander of the Commune Military Command, directly commanded a standing militia platoon of 12 officers and mobile soldiers to the scene, promptly assisting people in evacuating people and property to a safe place.

Mr. Le Van Giap, Commander of Thien Hung Commune Military Command, visited and learned about the living conditions of people in the storm-affected area.

Mrs. Ho Thi Bach Tuyet (born in 1950) emotionally recalled: “At that time, there were only two of us in the house. I was sick, and my son had a stroke and was trapped in the house because of rising floodwaters. Fortunately, Mr. Le Van Giap and the militia soldiers promptly took my mother and me to a safe place, examined us, provided us with medicine, and provided us with food and necessities. Without them, my mother and I would have had a hard time surviving that dangerous situation.”

Militia soldiers on duty in border communes of Dong Nai province practice martial arts.

That was just one of 13 times that the militia forces of Dong Nai province's communes promptly supported people in border areas since the beginning of 2025.

The Dong Nai border area still has many remote areas, patrol vehicles and support tools are not synchronized, and material life is difficult. Faced with diverse mission requirements, the militia and self-defense force must always be ready to effectively carry out many different tasks.

Officers and soldiers of the Hung Phuoc militia post, Hung Phuoc commune, Dong Nai province patrol the area.

Colonel Vo Thanh Danh, Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command, said: “Recognizing this issue, the Party Committee and the Provincial Military Command have advised the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee to direct the building of a strong, widespread, and effective border militia force. The Provincial Military Command has organized many models such as permanent border militia, militia posts, mobile militia, enterprise self-defense squads, etc. Units focus on advanced training with political, military, martial arts, command, tactics, and use of support tools.”

On the border, Dong Nai has built local militia, regular militia and militia of military branches along with 13 regular militia posts. This force closely coordinates with units to ensure security and order, participates in patrolling and protecting the border, preventing smuggling and illegal border crossing.

The militia and self-defense forces not only perform military and security tasks but also actively participate in natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue, and help people stabilize their lives. In natural disasters, they are always present in time, contributing to overcoming the consequences and quickly supporting people.

On the propaganda front, mass mobilization work has also been strengthened by units: The programs "One address per week", "Accompanying women in border areas"... have practically strengthened military-civilian solidarity.

For the border militia to develop sustainably, Dong Nai prioritizes synchronous investment in infrastructure, completing headquarters, training grounds, patrol roads, electricity, information and telecommunications networks to each checkpoint and residential area. Training work is innovated, improving quality to be closer to local realities. Local Party committees and authorities focus on supporting housing and production land, implementing policies well, and encouraging officers and soldiers to work with peace of mind and complete their tasks.

On the quiet border, under the shade of the remote forest, the footsteps of militia soldiers still quietly patrol. They are not only the ones carrying guns but also the ones who promptly help people harvest their fields, build houses for the poor and bring the light of law to the hamlets. Dong Nai is transforming from a "white population" area into a densely populated checkpoint area, with a strong militia force, becoming a beautiful image on the border.

Article and photos: MINH TIEN - DUY NGUYEN

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/quoc-phong-toan-dan/dong-nai-dan-quan-tu-ve-vung-vang-noi-bien-gioi-866597