Rubber miracle continues: [1] Tapping 'white gold', safeguarding border

Greening the borderlands

Under the scorching sun of southeastern Viet Nam, the vast green rubber forests of Tan Bien Rubber Joint Stock Company (Tabiruco) stretch like silk ribbons along the border of Tay Ninh. Few people know that this fertile land was once barren and devastated by war. Over 40 years have passed, and the company’s journey has not only turned wasteland into green plantations, reshaped rural landscapes, and improved local livelihoods but also shown its significant efforts to safeguard border security.

In its early days, Tabiruco managed just over 341 hectares of rubber plantations. Through gradual land reclamation, restoration, replanting, and expansion, the company has now greened more than 6,000 hectares of borderland. In 1995, its rubber latex processing factory began operations, marking the transition from land reclamation to industrial production and opening a new development phase for both the company and the locality.

The journey feels more worthwhile, as plantation development has gone hand in hand with rural infrastructure investment. Guided by the principle that “where plantations grow, infrastructure follows,” hundreds of kilometers of rural roads have been built, connecting residential areas with commune centers and major transport routes. Thanks to these roads, electricity has reached residential areas, and trucks can access farms to collect agricultural products. Life in the border region has steadily improved.

Spending more than 20 years as a latex tapper, Bui Van Yen, a worker originally from Ninh Binh, now considers the Tan Bien rubber forests his second home. He recalled the time when he first arrived: roads were muddy, and travel was extremely difficult, so children had to cross muddy paths to reach school.

Today, the region has taken on a new look, improving the lives of workers and residents alike. “Not only has infrastructure improved, but workers’ income and working conditions in the rubber sector have also steadily increased. My current income is around VND 8 - 10 million per month. The company fully implements all policies and benefits, so workers feel secure staying for the long term,” Yen said.

Warmth from “Comrade Houses”

Throughout more than four decades in the borderlands, Tan Bien Rubber has done more than green barren land with vast plantations. It has steadily built homes for workers. Its philosophy of putting people first has been embodied in meaningful programs such as “Comrade Houses.” These homes provide stability and security, helping latex tappers remain committed to both the company and the frontier.

The sturdy home of Phan Thi Hoa Huong Duong, a technical officer at Bo Tuc Rubber Farm in Tan Hoa commune, is one example. She joined in 2011 as a latex tapper and, through dedication, was promoted to technical staff and admitted to the Communist Party in 2018. Despite ample efforts, her family continued to struggle financially and lived for years in a temporary house that leaked every rainy season. In 2023, a turning point came when the company’s Party Committee provided VND 70 million through the “Comrade House” program.

“Without support from the company and the trade union, it would have taken many more years before my husband and I could dream of a solid home and continue our work with peace of mind,” Duong said.

From 2021 to 2026, voluntary contributions from Tabiruco staff and Party members helped the “Comrade House” program support housing construction and repairs for many disadvantaged Party members, with total funding of VND 210 million. Meanwhile, the “Trade Union Shelter Fund” has provided timely support to low-income workers, offering VND 50 - 80 million per house.

According to Pham Quoc Binh, Vice Chairman of the company’s Trade Union, since the rubber industry depends heavily on weather, workers’ income is often affected at the start of the harvesting season or during prolonged rainy periods. To ensure no worker is left behind, the union consistently thinks and acts one step ahead.

Last year, the company provided rice support for workers during periods of low production and VND 400,000 per worker at the start of the off-tapping season. In addition, activities such as wellness trips, healthcare support, and assistance during illness or workplace accidents have continued regularly. This thoughtful and compassionate support has become Tan Bien Rubber’s “secret weapon” for retaining skilled workers and providing a strong foundation for employees to contribute with confidence.

A “green steel shield” on the frontier

If rubber forests provide livelihoods, they also contribute to building a strong people-based national defense system along the frontier.

Along the 14.5-kilometer border with Cambodia, workers of Tan Bien Rubber and border guards have maintained close coordination for many years in protecting local security and order. Workers stationed near border plantations are often seen as the “eyes and ears” of authorities. Any unusual signs, from strangers appearing, latex theft, or other security-related issues, are promptly reported for handling.

According to Major Duong Trong Khoi of the Suoi Lam Border Guard Station, rubber workers and residents in border areas are vital sources of information for authorities. In 2025 and the first five months of 2026 alone, the Bo Tuc Production Team coordinated with the Suoi Lam Border Guard Station on 12 patrol and enforcement operations, uncovering multiple violations and recovering hundreds of kilograms of stolen rubber latex.

“Beyond maintaining security, the company also works closely with border guards in social welfare activities, legal awareness programs, support for disadvantaged residents, and strengthening civil-military solidarity,” Major Duong Trong Khoi said.

“In its next development phase, Tabiruco aims to achieve sustainable forest management under VFCS/PEFC standards, combining green growth with social responsibility and environmental protection. On this journey, the company continues to affirm its role not only as an efficient business but also as a trusted partner of local authorities in promoting economic development, ensuring social welfare, and maintaining peace along the border,” said Tran Van Toan, Deputy General Director of Tan Bien Rubber Joint Stock Company.