Under the scorching sun, engineers and workers toil across vast forests not only to create “second homes” for these children, but also to erect enduring “milestones of knowledge”, helping to safeguard the nation’s borders.
Convoys bringing education to the mountains
In early May, as the sun rose behind mist-covered mountain ranges, convoys of construction materials gradually emerged in the dawn light along the winding roads of the north-west that twist like threads draped across the mountainsides.
To reach construction sites in Lai Chau’s border areas, these vehicles must travel more than 400 kilometres in a single day, with more than half the route consisting of steep and winding mountain passes flanked by sheer cliffs on one side and deep ravines on the other. On some bends, heavily laden lorries crawl forward metre by metre as drivers concentrate on every metre of the road ahead.
Minh, a driver with many years of experience on the route, remarked cheerfully: “This road tests not only a driver’s skills, but also their nerve and endurance.”
Even robust workers accustomed to construction sites, harsh weather and physically demanding labour find it difficult to endure the many hours of jolting travel along these precipitous mountain roads. Some arrive pale and exhausted from severe motion sickness, while some work teams withdrew immediately after reaching the sites, despite being offered significantly higher pay than on lowland projects.
At many school sites, contractors have had to cut temporary roads through forests before construction could begin, enabling equipment and materials to reach the site. Even basic materials such as stone and sand are not readily available; contractors must search for suppliers in remote mountainous areas and meticulously coordinate every delivery across hazardous terrain.
To carry out this significant mission, several organisations have stepped forward to take on the most challenging tasks. In Lai Chau, ten school projects are being managed by the provincial public security department under the direct oversight of the Ministry of Public Security.
The discipline and determination of the public security force are evident in every aspect of project management, from strict standards for progress, quality and safety to transparent oversight of every stage of the project.
Meanwhile, AMACCAO-VINADIC was selected as the contractor on the basis of its experience in mountainous areas and its proven track record in delivering complex projects. After being entrusted with the first four boarding school projects in the border communes of Pa Tan, Dao San, Hua Bum and Bum Nua, the company was later awarded all ten schools managed by Lai Chau’s public security force.
Pressures on the construction sites
At these remote sites, AMACCAO-VINADIC has faced formidable construction challenges. The rugged terrain, scattered work areas and rocky geology make construction in Lai Chau’s border communes far more complex than in most other locations. At some sites, heavy machinery has spent days cutting through solid rock formations simply to create a workable construction platform.
The remoteness of the projects has also significantly increased costs for labour recruitment, materials transport and on-site coordination. According to the contractor, the shortage of skilled workers in border areas has pushed labour costs approximately 20-30% above market rates. At the same time, the contractor must work within regulated cost ceilings that are considerably lower than actual market costs - a difficult financial challenge demanding genuine social commitment.
Time pressure has further intensified the challenge, as all ten school sites must be constructed simultaneously. The boarding schools in the first phase must be completed within eight to ten months to ensure they can be handed over and open for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Treacherous roads, difficult terrain, constrained costs and tight deadlines – these four pressures have weighed heavily on the border-region construction sites from day one.
In the face of these difficulties, the close guidance and decisive leadership of Lai Chau’s public security force has provided crucial support, enabling contractors and construction teams to stay focused on quality and on meeting their construction targets.
“The project investor regularly visits the sites, hears problems firsthand and resolves them as soon as they arise,” an AMACCAO-VINADIC representative said.
The contractor has also structured construction across three shifts and four rotating teams, operating day and night, including weekends and public holidays. Additional personnel and equipment have been deployed, while logistics plans have been drawn up well in advance to minimise disruption from adverse weather and the rainy season.
This proactive approach has enabled many work packages to maintain continuous progress, with some even advancing ahead of schedule. One side keeps the work moving; the other clears the way. One side enforces strict discipline; the other perseveres through hardship. Through this collective effort, schools are steadily taking shape amid the vast forests of the frontier.
The quiet builders of “knowledge milestones”
As construction entered an accelerated phase, a delegation led by Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Long conducted an on-site inspection of the project in Pa Tan Commune.
During a working session held beneath the rising structures, Deputy Minister Long and leaders of Lai Chau Province commended the dedication, professionalism and sense of urgency demonstrated by AMACCAO-VINADIC and the participating units.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the construction of multi-level boarding schools in border areas is far more than an investment in educational infrastructure. It carries profound political and social significance, serving as tangible evidence of the commitment of the Party, the State and the People’s Public Security Force to social welfare and to nurturing the younger generation in the nation’s frontier regions
Standing in construction attire covered in red dust, Tran Hung, chief site commander for the boarding school projects, shared his thoughts: “It seems that AMACCAO-VINADIC has a special affinity for difficult tasks. We regard this not only as a responsibility but also as an honour, as it allows us to make a small contribution to the efforts of the Party and State to care for mountainous communities and help safeguard the country’s borders. No matter how great the challenges, we will spare no effort to overcome them, accelerate construction and ensure the quality of every project.”
In these remote frontier areas, children often have to cross deep streams, climb steep slopes and trek through dense mountain forests just to reach school. Every new school built therefore becomes a lifeline, helping children stay in school and giving local communities greater confidence to remain in their villages, on their land and along the frontier.
Amid the clouds of the north-western mountains, these “milestones of knowledge” are quietly being erected through the iron discipline of the Public Security Force and the tireless dedication of hundreds of engineers and workers from AMACCAO-VINADIC, who remain at the construction sites day and night. Before long, children in the highlands and communities living on the nation’s frontier will begin their lessons in safe and modern classrooms.
