Proud Melody - Border Song left a lasting resonance among audiences, unfolding like a heroic symphony that honors the soldiers who wear the green insignia and stand guard day and night along Vietnam’s borders.
The program traced the force's journey from its early days in revolutionary base areas to the present-day Border Guard Stations, where sovereignty markers stand firm amid mountains, forests, and seas. Through an interwoven flow of memory and present reality, the image of the Border Guard soldier emerged as both steadfast in duty and compassionate in spirit, deeply connected to the people living in remote border areas.
A special highlight was the conversation surrounding the continuity of ideals and the “command from the heart” that guides every soldier. Through the reflections of Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Border Guard Command, viewers gained insight into the modern generation of border soldiers, confident, intelligent, and unwavering in their oath of loyalty to the Party and the people.
The story of Senior Lieutenant Vu Xuan Vuong, a wounded veteran (Category 4/4) who serves at the Bat Mot Border Guard Station in Thanh Hoa province, was particularly moving. Despite his unhealed injuries and lasting impairment from, he chose to return and serve in the challenging border region. He is a “living landmark”, a term used to describe term individuals who embody the nation’s sovereignty through their very lives.
The emotional space expanded further through exchanges with Major General and writer Ho Si Hau and Major General and composer Duc Trinh. Recalling the fire and smoke of the Truong Son battlefield, Ho Si Hau described music as a “spiritual weapon” on the brink of life and death - songs that connected soldiers to their homeland and to the tenderest parts of their souls. From a compositional perspective, composer Duc Trinh explained why music about the border often features gentle, lyrical melodies. It is a way to nurture love for the homeland amid the harshness of mountains and forests.
The conversations were complemented by stirring musical performances, including Hanh khuc Chien si Bien phong (March of the Border Soldier), Dem tren Cha Lo (Night over Cha Lo), Chieu bien gioi (Afternoon at the Border)… These rustic yet heroic melodies fully captured the spirit of soldiers stationed at the nation’s frontiers, resolute in duty, yet romantic in soul.
The program closed with “Border Song,” a heartfelt tribute to the“living landmarks” who quietly safeguard peace. It is a heroic spring anthem that reminds audiences to better understand and appreciate those who patrol the nation’s frontier.
