The Vietnamese word "đồn ải" translates to "border post" in English. A border post is a designated location where government officials monitor and control the movement of people and goods across a border. These posts are important for maintaining security and regulating immigration and customs.
In more complex discussions, "đồn ải" can be part of phrases related to border security, such as "hoạt động tại đồn ải" (activities at the border post) or "kiểm tra tại đồn ải" (checks at the border post).
While "đồn ải" primarily refers to border posts, in a broader sense, "đồn" alone can refer to various types of stations (like police stations), and "ải" can refer to any kind of checkpoint, not just borders.