At 11 p.m., among the many illuminated windows of the headquarters at 47 Pham Van Dong, lights always shine on the 19th floor - home to the Center for Technology Transfer and Technical Support, Information Technology Department, Ministry of Public Security.

Inside, officers in green uniforms pore over their screens, typing lines of code and debugging. Behind that window, for the past 15 years, Lieutenant Le Thi Phuong and her team have dedicated much of their youth to software projects for the police force.

In the quiet space, the rhythmic clicking of keyboards is punctuated by the occasional urgent ringing of a phone from other units: "Why isn't the software working?", "The data is stuck, can you help?". For Phuong, these calls are as urgent as an emergency siren for officers in the field.

"We also have shifts like criminal investigators and firefighters, except ours are system shifts. Whenever there's an error report, the whole team has to jump in, no matter the time," Phuong said.

Lieutenant Le Thi Phuong. Photo: Pham Du

Lieutenant Le Thi Phuong. Photo: Pham Du

At 18, Phuong never dreamed of becoming a programmer. Good at math, she wanted to study pharmacy or international trade. But fate led her to the Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, to pursue information technology.

After graduating, she was assigned to the Ministry of Public Security's Information Technology Center. Armed only with theoretical knowledge, she felt like "a rookie on the battlefield" when faced with real projects. Hundreds of lines of code danced on the screen, but didn't produce the desired results.

Describing herself as "stubborn," she said that giving up was never an option. She was determined to learn from her seniors. Sometimes she would stay up all night just to find a misplaced semicolon. "I didn't choose this field, but it chose me. And since I'm here, I've learned to love it," she shared.

"Soft power" in the digital age

The first software she worked on was a temporary residence management project for the Dong Nai Police Department. It sounded simple, but to program it, she had to pore over thousands of pages of laws, circulars, and decrees.

"Writing code involved reading legal documents like a never-ending story. Every manual process, from receiving applications and verifying information to archiving, had to be 'translated' into computer language," she recalled.

In those days, she and her colleagues tirelessly wrote, tested, and revised code. "Sometimes we'd be glued to our computers past midnight. When the software worked correctly, it felt like solving a major case."

With the project's success, local officers no longer had to sift through piles of paperwork for statistics. A few clicks brought the data up on the screen. It was the first time Phuong truly felt the value of her behind-the-scenes work.

The lieutenant recalled a local officer telling her: "Before, processing residency applications was a nightmare. Paperwork piled up, and people had to wait. Now everything is faster, and we're less stressed. That's thanks to you, the officers people rarely see."

That simple compliment was enough to make her forget all the difficulties and obstacles.

Out of 11 programmers at the Center for Technology Transfer and Technical Support, only 3 are women. Photo: Pham Du

Out of 11 programmers at the Center for Technology Transfer and Technical Support, only 3 are women. Photo: Pham Du

Over 15 years in the profession, Phuong and her team have helped build numerous systems, from residence management and electronic passports to electronic document management and personnel policy software. The dozens of software programs they've developed not only save paper and time, but also contribute to a more modern and approachable image of the police force.

Among these, the electronic document management software was a turning point. Previously, a document had to be printed and photocopied dozens of times, circulating for signatures. Now, with a few clicks, the document reaches the relevant person instantly. "No one uses paper documents anymore. It makes me very proud," she said.

Unlike programmers in the private sector, police programmers must adhere to strict security requirements and address network infrastructure challenges. But these difficulties have honed their meticulousness, patience, and creativity - qualities that define the "programmer in green".

Youth spent behind lit windows

If she had to choose an image to represent her youth and that of her colleagues, Phuong said it would be their office lit up until midnight. "When I first graduated, I was at the office almost every night. Sometimes I was so tired I'd sleep at the guest house. Back then, I just wanted to finish the task on time," she recalled.

The most intense period was during the deployment of the electronic passport software, when they traveled to train local personnel. During a trip to Hai Phong, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team, clad in raincoats, worked right at the airport, hastily eating boxed lunches before diving back into installation, training, and troubleshooting. One dedicated colleague, overworked to the point of hospitalization, still asked, "Is it running smoothly?"

"I've passed out from many sleepless nights, but I'd wake up and keep going because the work doesn't wait for anyone. The police also have deadlines," she said with a laugh.

Spending 10-14 hours a day in front of screens, she and her colleagues often joke about "getting old-age ailments like back pain and dry eyes" at a young age.

Chu1ecb Phu01b0u1ee3ng and her colleagues at the Center for Technology Transfer and Technical Support working at Cat Bi Airport, Hai Phong in 2019, during the deployment of the electronic passport project. Photo: Provided by the interviewee

The "price of the profession" is not only physical health but also time away from family. Phuong is fortunate that her husband, "a classmate," also works in information technology, so he understands and is supportive, occasionally offering professional help.

Often, at home, her mind is still preoccupied with unfinished software. Her son, after asking 4 or 5 questions without getting a response, joins the family in teasing her, "Her body is here, but her mind is at work."

But asking her how she balances work and family is probably the wrong question. Phuong says that when work becomes a passion, she doesn't have to force herself. The support and time spent with loved ones recharge her, while her work and its value are a dose of dopamine - the "happiness hormone" - that gives her life meaning.

In a technical field dominated by men, with constantly evolving technology, she knows she has to work twice as hard to keep up. "Young people today are quick and eager to learn. I have experience. In this profession, the most important thing is persistence, never giving up," she said.

Many people ask, "Why not find a job in the private sector with a higher salary and more flexible hours?" She just smiles: "I'm used to this window. Here, I do work that few people know about, but everyone benefits from the results."

In the bustling city, thousands of windows remain lit each night. Police programmers like Phuong are the unsung heroes essential to the force's digital transformation, ensuring that people can complete many administrative procedures with just a few clicks from home.

Hai Thu - Pham Du