Military officers and men are trained to use all sorts of weapons, but have hand dexterity in utilising scissors, clippers and razors? Well, that’s a cut above.

The young border guards giving free haircuts to residents at the Kim Lien Marine Cultural Center

One day in early July, the Kim Lien Marine Cultural Center in Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang was filled with bustling ambiance featuring joy and laughter thanks to the appearance of a special team of volunteer barbers. It is noticeable that they are young officers and soldiers wearing military uniforms from the Youth Union organisation of the municipal Border Guards.

Young military volunteer barbers donate their time to give free haircuts to local residents as part of meaningful social activities that young local border guards have carried out over recent years.

Remaking about the programme, Senior Lieutenant Mai Thanh Tai, an officer from the municipal Border Guards said, during their summer volunteer campaigns in remote communes of Hoa Bac and Hoa Phu in Hoa Vang suburb district, he and his colleagues paid heed to many children whose hair is not neat. That fact inspired the military men to come up with the idea of giving free haircuts to locals there. 

Previously, the 5-member team of volunteer barbers had provided free haircuts for officers and men from the municipal Border Guards, along with senior citizens residing in Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District.

It is worth praising, these volunteer barbers are willing to go to the residences of senior citizens with limited mobility who could not leave for a trim.

Local residents are in much better spirits after getting free haircuts, and new hairstyles, indeed, considerably lightened their moods.

Having fun with his newly trimmed hair, Mr Le Gia Huy, a resident of Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, eagerly said “I am very happy. Although young military volunteer barbers are amateurs, their skills are not worse than professional ones” .

A local man was very pleased when he looked into the mirror after getting a free haircut. “More active, strange, and daring,” he described his new haircut.

Giving free haircuts to local residents makes the young military volunteers  feel happy as they make something meaningful to the public and this creates a closer link between the military personnel and residents.

By XUAN SON - Translated by A.T