Abstract: The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasizes strengthening the development of border regions and promoting prosperity, stability, and security. As a vital component of this national agenda, the reconstruction of rural governance in border villages plays a key supporting role. Based on fieldwork in three villages along the China–Laos border, this study examined their historical and structural transformations to identify common features in governance evolution. Findings suggested that, collective action formed the core logic of governance reconstruction, driven by the reconfiguration of subjectivity, social relations, and institutional norms. Effective governance renewal further requires coordinated efforts across economic, spatial, and regulatory dimensions.