Coc Phuong village has 45 households, all of which are Hmong households; on the other side of the border, Tam Binh Ba's group is also mostly Mong ethnic people. Similar cultural features, especially the attachment of people of the same ethnicity, so residents on both sides of the border often have frequent trading exchanges and visits. This is also the important basis for functional agencies to advise the Party committees and authorities of the two sides to organize for two united residential groups. This idea became reality after 6 contents of coordination which were discussed and unanimously approved by the people of Coc Phuong village and Tam Binh Ba group at the Signing Ceremony (August 17^th, 2013). This is also the village-level memorandum of understanding - the first to be formed on the entire Vietnam-China border line. 

Ban Lau border guards help people harvest pineapples.

As the first local pair on the Vietnam-China border to implement the uniting model, there is no precedent for reference and study, but with the initiative of the Party committees, authorities and people of the two sides, the cooperation has brought many results, becoming more and more practical. On Tet holidays and important days of the two countries, the people of the two villages organize to visit, congratulate and exchange arts and sports to strengthen solidarity. Especially, they actively help each other in production activities, economic development, exchange of experiences, transfer of farming techniques, supply of banana and pineapple varieties, fertilizers and output products. As a result, the family economy of the people of the two sides has grown, the poverty rate has disappeared, and the number of better households has increased.

From the scatteredly planted areas with household scale in Coc Phuong village, now banana and pineapple trees have been planned and expanded by the Party committee and government of Ban Lau commune to become the major agricultural commodity area of Muong Khuong district. From having to rely on the State's support all year round, now most of the people in Coc Phuong village have escaped poverty, the number of well-off and rich households has also increased significantly.

The uniting relationship between Coc Phuong village of Vietnam and Tam Ba Binh of China also has an important meaning in carrying out the task of protecting sovereignty and border security. With the length of about 10 km on the border line, mainly shallow streams and inland streams, this is the favorable condition for criminals to operate, and at the same time, it is also easy to create complicated problems in the task of border management. Since uniting, the people of Coc Phuong village and Tam Binh Ba's group have regularly encouraged each other to voluntarily abide by the Agreements and Border Regulations; prevent property theft, illegal border crossing; always respect and protect the border, landmarks, do not damage landmarks; coordinate in clearing border lines and border markers; together protect the environment, green, clean and beautiful border landscape; there is no longer the phenomenon of cutting trees and burning fields across the border... When the incident happened, the people of both sides sat together to resolve the matter in a reasonable manner, while ensuring compliance with the law and preserving the relationship, solidarity, friendship. 

The drum of gratitude of the people of Coc Phuong village and Tam Binh Ba's group.

One of the symbols of solidarity and friendship between people on both sides of the border is the cowhide drum carved with beautiful dragons and phoenixes. In 2016, the Mong people in Coc Phuong village and Tam Binh Ba group contributed more than 40 million VND to make this drum. When someone dies, the drum is used to perform a ritual according to the Hmong custom. The drum is considered as a sacred and indispensable symbol in religious activities of the Mong people on both sides.

Currently, on the border line of Lao Cai province (Vietnam) with Yunnan province (China) there are 06 united pairs of population. The process of implementing these models has been promoting effectiveness in the management and protection of territorial sovereignty. United pairs of populations such as Coc Phuong village and Tam Binh Ba village are being replicated and promoted with positive effects on the Vietnam - China land border. The model has been deployed at the smallest community level, but has brought great benefits, making an important contribution to cultivating good relations between the two countries, clarifying and deepening solidarity, strengthen the people diplomacy of the two parties and two countries in the new development period./.