On high alert, stations along the Vietnam-Laos border help stem the Covid-19 flow. 

A border guard station beside the Se Pon River in central Quang Tri Province marks the boundary between Laos and Vietnam. It was set up in February to curb the novel coronavirus infection spread along the two nations' border line.

The station belongs to Thuan Border Post under Quang Tri Border Guard. So far, 15 similar stations have been established to guard a border section of 13.2 km. Opposite lies Savannakhet Province of Laos. With community infections returning to Vietnam on July 25 after three months, border guards have been placed on high alert.

One station is manned by three guards working 24/7 shifts.

Major Tran Xuan Tai said the area usually suffers scorching heat, forcing his team to protect their garden with a banana-leaf frame. Aware the Covid-19 fight may last long, most stations have opted for raising vegetables and chickens.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van Binh (L) and his comrades fix a canvas, bought with their own money, to protect the camp from the rain.

A tent is used to store tools and food.

The station kitchen covers one square meter. Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Manh Cuong (pictured) said in the past six months, guards at pandemic prevention stations could rarely return home.

"The camp used to suffer under strong winds. We’ve reinforced it many times," said Senior Lieutenant Binh.

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Van Nam informs a resident of Thuan Commune in Huong Hoa District of protocols to prevent novel coronavirus infection. Thuan Border Post has required 1,900 families across the two communes under its jurisdiction, Thuan and Tan Long, to sign commitments not to cross the border or receive anyone traveling from the other side without informing border forces.

Lieutenant Colonel Nam uses a loudspeaker to warn fishers not to accidentally penetrate into Laos.

A dog named Covid was adopted by border guards during the first wave of the pandemic in Vietnam early this year.

All over Quang Tri Province, 84 stations have been set up since February manned by 405 soldiers that keep watch over a border of 179 km.

Colonel Le Van Phuong, head of Quang Tri Border Guard, said for the past seven months, all camps built from bamboo and canvas have been downgraded. "We want to replace them with those made of steel but don’t have the budget," he said.