The Journey 'From Quai Nua to Vang Dan'

Dien Bien – a land marking a heroic period in the nation's history with numerous historical sites and scenic spots – is also a northwestern mountainous province with a harsh high-mountain tropical monsoon climate. Affected by hot, dry westerly winds and rugged terrain consisting mainly of steep slopes, transportation is inconvenient. Additionally, 90% of the population consists of ethnic minorities, and living conditions remain challenging

First time visiting Quai Nua, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien:
In October 2017, during the early days of the Northwest dry season, the Kien team had the opportunity to present over 1,000 gift packages to students across three schools: Quai Nua Secondary School, Quai Nua Primary School No. 1, and Quai Nua Primary School No. 2.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien – Vice Chairwoman of the Members' Council – shared the community and social responsibilities of the Kien team alongside supporting units in executing the 'Warm Clothes for Winter 2017' program

The Second Journey to the Border Commune of Vang Dan, Nam Po, Dien Bien

By October 2022, once again through the connection with the Dien Bien Provincial Youth Union, the Kien team busily carried out the charity program 'Returning to the Nam Po Highlands'. At Vang Dan Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, the Kien team presented 351 gift packages and 4 stainless steel water tanks with a capacity of 6,000 liters each. In these high-altitude border areas, clean water shortages occur frequently, especially during the dry season, with many areas lacking access to clean water. Stream water supplies depend heavily on the weather, and frequent domestic water shortages severely impact the students' living and learning conditions...

Kien Vuong presented 4 water storage tanks to support the daily living and learning activities of the teachers and students at Vang Dan Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities

A young student at Vang Dan Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities intently looks at their newly received gift

Traveling extensively has brought a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by people in the border areas. After meeting Comrade Sung A Phong—a Captain and border guard officer reinforced at Vang Dan, who is deeply dedicated and knows firsthand what the local people lack and need in their persistent struggle against poverty—action was taken immediately. Shortly after, on November 15, 2022, and January 5, 2023, members of the Kien family from across four regions of the country joined hands to collect and prepare gift bags filled with gently used, carefully selected, clean-washed, and ironed clothes, along with shoes, notebooks, and comic books, to send to the students.

Captain Sung A Phong attentively tutors mathematics for a student at Vang Dan Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities

Warm sneakers—gifts from the Kien family—accompanying the young children on their way to school

Residents of Vang Dan commune rejoice at the 'Free Pick-Your-Own Market (0-Dong Market)' organized with the support of Na Bung border guards and the Kien family

Returning to Vang Dan in Early Spring 2024 to "Accompany Women and Children in Border Areas"

And most recently, in March 2024, with the cooperation of officers from the Executive Committee of the Dien Bien Province Border Guard Command and the Na Bung Border Guard Post—people who consistently practice the motto '3 attachments, 4 togethers' (3 attachments: attached to the unit, attached to the area, attached to guidelines and policies; 4 togethers: eating together, living together, working together, and speaking the local language together)—the Kien team had the opportunity to return to the people of Vang Dan once again. Along the path to the school were the locals' makeshift, dilapidated houses worn down over time—sweltering in the summer, leaking during the rainy season, and freezing as cold drafts blew through every corner.

A H'mông child in Huổi Khương village, Vàng Đán Commune stood curiously watching us taking photos

The house of a Hmong family in Loc Coc 2 village, Vang Dan commune, constructed makeshiftly from woven bamboo panels and thatched grass roofing (along the path of the delegation heading up to Na Bung Border Guard Post)

During the implementation of the 2024 'Accompanying Women and Children in Border Areas' program, beyond experiencing the joy of the women and preschool children upon receiving these meaningful gift packages, the daily hardships were vividly revealed through the familiar sight of young children walking to school barefoot, without shoes

Having conducted multiple charity programs in Dien Bien and deeply understanding that the border people are not only our compatriots—children of the Dragon and Fairy—but also comrades standing shoulder-to-shoulder with border guard soldiers to protect every inch of the homeland, serving as 'living landmarks' on the nation's frontlines to firmly safeguard territorial sovereignty, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien remains deeply concerned. She hopes that on their next journey, the Kien team can provide even more medicines, essential goods, and basic daily supplies to residents in deeper, more remote areas—places that rarely receive community support.

Hopefully, these simple yet heartfelt wishes—shared not only by Ms. Hien but also embraced through the collective efforts of the entire Kien family—will continue to spread value and share the hardships faced by the highlanders of Dien Bien

Kien Vuong team and the border units hosting the program "Accompanying border women and children"