A hastily written letter and warm responses from the Eastern Truong Son Mountains

During a recent reporting trip to the flooded area in Western Nghe An, the impression that made us, the reporters of Nghe An Newspaper, Radio and Television, still feel a stinging in our noses every time we recall it was when we witnessed the "response" of the commune officials and Border Guard forces between the villages on both sides of the Vietnam - Laos border in times of trouble.

Reply to a hastily written letter

The border commune of Keng Du, like other communes in Nghe An, has just experienced consecutive natural disasters, most recently the impact of storm No. 6, before that, storm No. 5, and storm No. 3.

In particular, after storm No. 3 caused a historic flood on the night of July 22, the border villages between Keng Du commune and Bo Nhia village cluster, Noong Het district, Xieng Khouang province of Laos all suffered heavy damage and landslides.

The border commune of Keng Du suffered a lot of damage after consecutive natural disasters. Photo: CSCC

To overcome the consequences, Keng Du commune mobilized the maximum force of "4 on-site", followed by the timely attention and support of all levels, sectors, and volunteer groups to help the commune not have any isolated or separated households and ensure safety.

On the west side of the Truong Son mountain range, in the villages of Laos, after more than 10 days of being isolated by floods, a police officer of Bolikhamxay province sent a “letter of the heart” asking for help from Vietnamese friends. The letter listed the considerable damage that the people of 5 villages of Laos, including the Bo Nhi village cluster, had to endure with dozens of houses swept away along with many other properties.

The “heartfelt letter” was sent from Bolikhamxay province, Laos. Leaders of Keng Du commune and Keng Du Border Guard Station presented gifts to support the Laotian village facing difficulties due to natural disasters after receiving the “heartfelt letter”. Photo: PV

Upon receiving the information, the Vietnamese villages immediately “responded”. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Tu - Political Commissar of Keng Du Border Post said: Knowing that their “brothers” were in difficulty, the Party Committee, the commune government and the forces called for and raised donations to support the people of Bo Nhia village clusters and Border Guard Company 223 of Laos. The gifts were given immediately afterwards, on August 14, including cash, rice, and other essential necessities.

Meeting, holding hands happily, receiving gifts of warm support and brotherly friendship, Lieutenant Colonel Kham Mung Cong Vi Lay - Political Commissar of Company 223, Xieng Khouang Provincial Military Command, emotionally said: "On behalf of Company 223, Xieng Khouang Provincial Military Command and the people of Pieng Hong village, Bo Nhia village cluster, we would like to thank Vietnam in general and Keng Du Border Guard Station, Keng Du commune government in particular for their timely assistance. We are very grateful for your timely aid."

Lieutenant Colonel Kham Mung Cong Vi Lay - Political Commissar of Company 223, Xieng Khouang Provincial Military Command (right) thanks Vietnamese officers for coming to give gifts to support the people of Bo Nhia village cluster. Photo: PV

More friendship ties

Not only the government and forces in Keng Du commune, but also in other border communes and villages such as Thong Thu and Muong Tip, when they learned that their villages on the other side of the border were also damaged by storms and floods, despite the many difficulties faced by the locality, they were still ready to "respond" and share.

In Thong Thu commune, on August 10-11, although the villages in Thong Thu were still in disarray due to storms and floods, the meeting and gift-giving between the villages on both sides of the border took place in a warm, friendly and cohesive atmosphere.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang The Tai - Political Commissar of Thong Thu Border Post said that the unit has called on benefactors (Masan MB Company Limited, Nghe An branch) to donate 60 gifts to households affected by storm No. 3 in Phieng Khun village, Sam To district, Hua Phan province (Laos); donated 90 gifts to Border Guard Company 216, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command and Sam To District Police Station, each worth 700,000 VND. The unit also called for support for households affected by damage in Thong Thu commune with 79 gifts.

Thong Thu Border Guard Station presents gifts to support Border Guard Company 216, Hua Phan Provincial Military Command and Sam To District Police Station. Photo: PV

We have been to Muong Tip commune many times, which is also a border commune of Ky Son district (old), now a new commune established on the basis of merging Muong Tip and Muong Ai communes. The consequences of the historic flood on July 22 also left Muong Tip with heavy damage and isolation for more than 10 days. However, in the midst of numerous difficulties, the process of receiving support and assistance from all levels, sectors, the social community, officials, people and philanthropists when bringing support gifts to the people, the Muong Tip commune government is also willing to share and support the people of the neighboring Lao villages that share the border in Muong Tip commune.

On August 10, 2025, Comrade Vi Thi Quyen - Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong Tip commune and the working delegation went to the border checkpoint adjacent to Xam Che village cluster, Muong Moc district (Laos) to present 80 gifts including rice, clothes, etc. to the people of Xam Che village cluster to help them overcome difficulties soon. In addition, the commune also coordinated with the Hai Phong City volunteer group to present 80 gifts including rice, instant noodles, dishes, clothes, blankets and some other necessities to the people of Xam Che village cluster (Laos). Xam Che village cluster is a sister cluster with Huoi Khe village, Muong Tip commune. This is also the third time after flood No. 3 that Muong Tip commune has connected with volunteer groups to share emotional gifts to support the people of Laos. Previously, Muong Tip commune had twice given gifts to support people in Na Muong village cluster, Xieng Khouang province, which is a twinned village cluster with Ta Do village of the commune.

Muong Tip commune delegation presents gifts to Xam Che village cluster. Photo: Hoai Thu

Those warm sharing and responses, as the head of Na Muong Poc Pom village once said: “When we encountered difficulties, Vietnamese brothers helped us. That help always affirms the close-knit Vietnam-Laos relationship, the relationship of brothers who are linked together by mountains and rivers, forever green and everlasting”./.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/buc-thu-viet-voi-va-nhung-hoi-dap-nong-am-ben-dong-truong-son-10305674.html