Building the all-people border defence is not merely a national defence and security task; it is also closely linked to economic development, poverty reduction and the consolidation of great national unity along the frontiers of the Fatherland. Fully aware of its core and specialised role in this important mission, An Giang Provincial Border Guard has implemented a range of scientific and effective measures.

An Giang Provincial Border Guard is responsible for managing nearly 148 km of land border and more than 200 km of coastline, as well as a maritime area exceeding 63,000 km², including 8,843 km² of historic waters shared with Cambodia.

The province’s border area comprises 35 communes, wards and special administrative zones, inhabited by diverse ethnic communities. It has four international border gates, two main border gates, one auxiliary border gate and five seaport border gates, giving it considerable importance for national defence, security and foreign affairs. In recent years, although national border sovereignty and security, political security, social order and safety have been maintained and living standards have gradually improved, crime, smuggling, trade fraud, illegal entry and exit, IUU fishing violations, fishing-ground disputes and breaches of border regulations have remained complex. Hostile forces have intensified activities aimed at dividing ethnic communities and undermining the traditionally close relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Leader of the Provincial Border Guard speaks at the border work conference of September 2026

Against this backdrop, through the thorough implementation of the Party’s resolutions and directives and the State’s policies and laws, An Giang Border Guard has consistently promoted its role as the core and pioneering force in building the all-people border defence, establishing a firm posture and strong capabilities to safeguard national border sovereignty and security.

First and foremost, the Party Committee and Command of the Provincial Border Guard proactively advise local Party committees and authorities and coordinate with relevant organisations and forces to intensify communication and education. These efforts enable the political system and the public, especially border residents, to understand the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, and the schemes and methods employed by hostile forces, while recognising the significance of and their responsibilities in building a firm all-people border defence. Priority is given to disseminating the Resolution of the Eighth Plenum of the 13^th Party Central Committee on the Strategy for Safeguarding the Fatherland in the New Situation; Politburo Resolution No.33-NQ/TW dated 28 September 2018 on the Strategy for National Border Protection; the Law on National Borders; bilateral treaties, agreements and legal instruments concerning the land and maritime boundaries between Vietnam and Cambodia; and relevant resolutions and directives of the Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defence, Border Guard High Command, Provincial Party Committee and Provincial People’s Committee. These efforts help all organisations, forces and citizens recognise that national borders and territory are sacred and inviolable; border protection is a central and regular task of the entire Party, people, armed forces and political system, with the Border Guard serving as the core specialised force responsible for safeguarding national border sovereignty and security.

In implementation, the Provincial Border Guard Command directs subordinate units, particularly its Political Department, to coordinate with the Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department and An Giang’s press, radio and television agencies to intensify public communication. The content, programmes and forms of communication concerning the all-people border defence and national border sovereignty and security are regularly renewed to reach the public fully and promptly. Reading rooms, bookcases and legal-information shelves have been established in border communes, wards and special administrative zones. Mass mobilisation has also been strengthened, with the active participation of village elders, hamlet leaders, respected members of family lineages and religious dignitaries and representatives. Through diverse, practical and appropriate approaches, public awareness and responsibility have steadily improved, providing a solid foundation for further strengthening the all-people border defence.

Conducting legal dissemination for Khmer people.

Actively advising local Party committees and authorities on consolidating a strong grassroots political system in border areas is a central task in building the all-people border defence. Accordingly, on the basis of Secretariat Conclusion No.68-KL/TW dated 5 February 2020 concerning the addition of border-guard officers to local Party committees; Politburo Regulation No.332-QĐ/TW dated 24 June 2025 on Party organisations in the Vietnam People’s Army; and Border Guard Party Committee Directive No.681-CT/ĐU dated 8 October 2018 on assigning border-post Party members to assist households in border areas, the Provincial Border Guard Party Committee and Command signed coordination regulations with Party committees in 35 border and island communes, wards and special administrative zones for 2026-2030. They assigned 16 officers to commune-level People’s Councils and one officer to the Provincial People’s Council; 235 Party members to attend meetings of 177 neighbourhood, hamlet and residential-quarter Party cells; 645 Party members to support 2,907 border households; and five officers to reinforce communes. Eleven deputy secretaries of Party committees in key border special zones, communes and wards were also appointed to the Provincial Border Guard Party Committee.

The reinforcement of personnel in local areas has been carefully directed and implemented comprehensively and in depth. Officers are selected for their political qualities, ethics, lifestyle, sound working methods, understanding of local customs, advisory competence and credibility with local Party committees and authorities. Priority is given to model communes and key national defence and security areas. Consequently, these officers have fulfilled their roles effectively, serving as a bridge between the Party and the people. Projects on legal dissemination and education have also been promoted, strengthening ethnic communities’ confidence in the Party, State and armed forces, consolidating great national unity and military-civilian solidarity, and building a firm “people’s heart and mind posture” in border areas.

To mobilise the combined strength of the political system and the entire population in building the all-people border defence, the Provincial Border Guard Force actively participates in socio-economic development and social welfare activities, thereby strengthening the foundations of border defence. In implementing this policy, its Party Committee and Command proactively advise provincial authorities on programmes and projects for socio-economic development, infrastructure investment and border patrol roads; the planning and construction of residential clusters and settlements in border areas; and the promotion of cross-border trade in conjunction with national defence and security. These measures also create favourable conditions for stable settlement and livelihoods, helping residents develop their economies and maintain lasting ties with the border, thereby consolidating the people’s heart and mind posture.

Practising martial art.

At present, the Provincial Border Guard Force maintains 75 effective “Skilful Mass Mobilisation” models. Notable programmes include “Supporting Children’s Schooling - Border Post Foster Children”, “Mobilising Citizens to Report Crime”, “Doctors in Green Military Uniforms”, “Homes for the Poor in Border Areas”, “Accompanying Women in Border Regions”, the project “Increasing Benefits from Palm Sugar Production and Marketing for Khmer Communities”, “An Giang Border Guards Accompany Digital Transformation in Border Areas”, “Warm Border Spring for Local Communities” and “All-People Border Defence Day”, with total funding exceeding VND 40 billion. The force has also actively participated in and spearheaded emulation movements launched by central and local authorities in border areas, contributing more than VND 24 billion and thousands of working days by officers and soldiers to assist residents. Free medical examinations, treatment and medicines have been provided to tens of thousands of residents, helping improve livelihoods, strengthen the all-people border defence and mobilise broad participation in the “All-People Movement to Protect Territorial Sovereignty and National Border Security in the New Situation”.

In addition, the Provincial Border Guard Party Committee and Command have focused on strengthening border defence diplomacy and encouraging people-to-people diplomacy to consolidate the traditionally friendly relations with Cambodian authorities and armed forces. They regularly coordinate with Cambodian border protection forces and authorities to hold talks at different levels, exchange information on border and border-gate management, crime prevention and control, and disease prevention. They also advise and cooperate with localities to promote twinning and exchanges across the border and visits and gift-giving on holidays and traditional festivals. At the same time, they propose measures to organise, deploy and employ armed forces effectively in border areas and to build strong forces. As a result, for many years the Provincial Border Guard Force has worked effectively with Cambodian border protection forces in conducting border patrols and controls and combating various forms of crime.

In the coming period, amid increasingly demanding requirements for national construction and defence in general and protection of An Giang Province’s borders in particular, the Provincial Border Guard Party Committee and Command will build on their achievements and experience. They will continue to lead and direct comprehensive, coordinated activities, promoting their core role in building a firm all-people border defence and people’s heart and mind posture. This will provide a solid foundation for managing and safeguarding national border sovereignty and security, building borders of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and effectively protecting the Fatherland from an early stage and from afar.

Senior Colonel PHAM VAN THANG, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Military Command cum Commander of the Provincial Border Guard Command