Tran Cong Ket and children in Cao Bang province

This is the first time they will celebrate Tet holiday far from their homes, in cold weather they have never experienced before.

Tran Cong Ket, born in 2000, a second-year student of the academy, was sent to the Xuan Truong Border Post in Cao Bang province.

Born in Ben Tre province, the homeland of coconuts, where it is warm year round, Ket is now experiencing the second winter in the north.

“I experienced winter last year, but I only stayed in Hanoi. But it is much colder here. I caught a cold on the first days I got here. The temperature is 8-9oC today, warmer,” he said.

Ket works on duty at the post or on mobile patrol to prevent smuggling and illegal entries.

Ket has a younger sister. He said his parents may feel sad as he cannot return home this Tet, but they are proud of their son who contributes to the country's protection.

Like Ket, Nguyen Minh Trung is also at the Xuan Truong Border Post. Before leaving for the border post, he bought many sweets to deliver to local children. Some friends of his, after hearing about his trip, wanted to give money to Trung so that he could buy gifts for the children.

“Local children and people here are really in big difficulty. They eat maize instead of rice when going to school,” Trung wrote on his fanpage, calling for support from donors.

Five days later, Trung received VND18 million from donors. He plans to join forces with local schools and the commanders of Xuan Truong Border Post to use the money in the most effective way.

Trung is the only child in his family. When applying for the Border Guard Academy, he understood that he would have to sacrifice personal benefits and stay away from home on Tet holidays.

“I am from the south. This is the second year I bear the cold in the north. It is colder than last year,” he said.

“My parents love me. I have not returned home since last August. But they say ‘fighting the pandemic is like fighting enemies’ and I need to focus to implement my duties,” he said.

The High Command of Border Guard has sent 460 officers and students from the Border Guard Academy to two northern and three southern border provinces.

 Ngan Anh

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