From September 18 to 20, 2026, the Youth Union of the Vietnam National Railway Group (VNR), in coordination with the Youth Union of the National Assembly, the Youth Union of the Ministry of Finance and the Lai Chau Provincial Youth Union, organized the program “Youth Accompanying Children and Young People in Border Areas 2026”. As part of the program, the VNR Youth Union supported and presented the “Lighting Up the Border – National Flag Road” project in Nam No Village, Pa Tan Commune, Lai Chau Province.
The program carried profound political and social significance, demonstrating the pioneering spirit and solidarity of VNR youth in joining hands to support people in particularly disadvantaged areas and contributing to firmly safeguarding national sovereignty and border security.
The series of activities took place in Pa Tan Commune, a particularly disadvantaged highland border commune in Lai Chau Province, and surrounding areas. With more than 22.6 km of border adjacent to China, Pa Tan holds an important strategic position in terms of national defense, security and the protection of the upstream watershed of the Da River. The area is home to more than 9,000 people from ethnic minority communities, including the Mang, Hmong, Ha Nhi and Thai peoples. Infrastructure in villages such as Nam No and Pa Cheo remains underdeveloped, while local people continue to face many difficulties in their daily lives.
Understanding these challenges, VNR youth, together with the coordinating organizations, carried out a series of youth-led social welfare activities, delivering practical projects that directly addressed the daily living, learning and production needs of local communities.
Throughout the three-day journey, VNR youth and the Youth Union of the Ministry of Finance implemented a range of meaningful activities, including inaugurating a lighting system and the “Lighting Up the Border” project in Nam No Village, helping local residents travel more safely and contributing to maintaining security and order in the border area; commencing construction of a “House of Compassion” for a family facing particularly difficult circumstances; providing social welfare resources and supporting youth economic development models, including the symbolic presentation of breeding chickens; organizing training on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for local youth union members and inaugurating free Wi-Fi access points for the community; participating in a tree-planting program in Nam Hang Commune; and contributing socialized resources, together with the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Pa Tan Commune, to complete the electrical lighting system in Nam No Village, with an estimated total budget of VND 85 million.
The 2026 journey, “Lighting Up the Border – Spreading Compassion”, not only illuminated mist-covered village roads, but also kindled faith and love for the homeland and country in the hearts of every VNR youth union member.
Every project and initiative delivered represents a reaffirmation of the responsibility, enthusiasm and compassionate cultural values of VNR youth, further highlighting the image of the younger generation of the Vietnam National Railway Group as always ready to contribute to the sustainable development of the community and the country.