The northern border defence war now belongs to the past. Residents in border villages in the northwestern mountainous province of Lao Cai now live in peace and look toward a bright future.

This peaceful atmosphere makes it hard to believe that Pha Long commune, Muong Khuong district, Lao Cai province was the sight of a fierce battle in February 1979.

Senh May Din, a local resident who provided Vietnamese soldiers with shelter, is now over 60. 40 years have gone by but the memory of the northern border defence war is still clear in her mind. 

Muong Khuong border station, once ruined by war, has been rebuilt. Border guards here are like the ethnic people’s family. Besides political missions, they share joys and sorrows with the locals and support them in livelihood improvement. The decline of poverty rate is key to the development of this mountainous locality. Kids here now can access education more easily. This locality has gone through ups and downs. Many Vietnamese patriots died here for the freedom and development of the country. They have inspired the next generations to continue building and changing the face of their hometown.-VNA