On New Year's Eve, when the city is filled with bright lights, people gather around the year-end meal tray, in Yen Son border commune, Son La province, patrol footsteps are still silently imprinted on the wet mist soil.
Officers and soldiers of Chieng On Border Guard Station enter the new year in combat readiness.
At 10:30 pm, mist covered the trail along the border line. The sound of radios crackling, flashlight lights sweeping through the dark mountainsides.
Here, New Year's Eve is not counted by cheers, but by each patrol step, each trace carefully checked.
Lieutenant Mua A Phu, Team Leader of the Armed Forces, raised his collar, his eyes not leaving his binoculars: "New Year's Eve is usually more sensitive than other days. Just a minute of negligence, all peacekeeping efforts may be affected.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Mai The Canh - Deputy Political Commissar of Chieng On Border Guard Station, under the Border Guard of Son La province, the entire route managed by the unit is 274 km long, bordering the two provinces of Hua Phan and Luang Prabang (Laos).
The terrain is rugged, with many trails and open paths, so Tet always hides the risk of law violations.
The Provincial Border Guard Command has directed units to develop specific Tet duty plans. Checkpoint teams and working groups take turns patrolling, firmly grasping the area, ensuring security and order before, during and after Tet. The on-duty force is maintained seriously, ready to handle all situations," Lieutenant Colonel Canh said.
In the New Year's Eve shift, there is Corporal Quang Quang Thai - a Thai ethnic boy, from Chieng An ward. This is the first year he has celebrated Tet away from his family since enlisting.
At 0:00, when the fireworks from afar echoed vaguely, Thai was silent for a few seconds.
At home at this hour, my mother is probably arranging a New Year's Eve offering tray. Every year I stand next to my father to burn incense," the young new recruit said.
Thai's Tet holidays are often associated with a bright red fire and a steaming pot of banh chung. This year, that fire is still warm, only missing the son who is performing his duties.
When I received the New Year's Eve duty schedule, I also felt sad. But thinking that I am standing here to let people in the village celebrate Tet peacefully, I feel more proud than sad," Thai shared.
At the moment of transitioning to the new year, he took the opportunity to call home. The signal was flickering in the high mountains, but his mother's voice was still clear: "You can rest assured to perform your duties.
Not only maintaining sufficient troop numbers, the unit also takes care of the spiritual life of officers and soldiers.
In the days leading up to Tet, the station yard is bustling with scenes of wrapping banh chung, preparing five-fruit trays, and decorating rooms.
Tet at the station also organizes for the brothers to wrap banh chung, have five-fruit trays, and have cultural and sports activities. At home, we try our best here so that the brothers have a cozy feeling," Lieutenant Colonel Canh shared.
In addition, officers and soldiers also coordinated with local authorities to help people sweep village roads and cultural houses, organize cultural and sports exchanges imbued with military-civilian solidarity in the fog covering the mountains.
Keeping the border not only with guns, but also with attachment to the people. When people trust and support, that is the most solid people's heart battle," Lieutenant Colonel Canh emphasized.
On the morning of the first day of Tet, when the sun rises above the distant mountains, the patrol team continues their journey.
The mist gradually dissipates, the border is clearly visible in the early morning sunshine. The footsteps of last night are long imprinted on the wet land, marking a New Year's Eve without fireworks but full of meaning.
Corporal Quang Quang Thai adjusted his uniform, and smiled brightly: "The first year away from home, I missed so much. But I believe this will be the most memorable Tet in my military life.
In the Northwest border, New Year's Eve passes quietly in the sound of the mountain wind and the rhythm of patrol...
