A visit to An Bang Island - the heart of the homeland's sea and sky

An Bang Island is known as a very special island in the system of islands and island points in the Truong Sa archipelago. Although the island area is not large, it is located in an important position in the international shipping route. An Bang is also known for its unique boat tug team and a 23m high lighthouse that helps ships pass safely through the area. For many years, An Bang Lighthouse has lighted the way to help fishermen go out to sea and stick to the sea to affirm the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the fatherland.

An Bang Island Boat Pulling Team

On the seventh day of the voyage to visit and wish the officers, soldiers and people on Truong Sa archipelago a happy new year, ship HQ561 brought the working delegation to visit and wish the people on An Bang island a happy new year. An Bang island is one of the floating islands of Truong Sa archipelago, considered as the "heart" in the middle of the sea and sky of the homeland, always "keeping the beat" with each wave. Observing from the main side looking at the island, the long wave range with waves that look like hills of white seagulls flying in the middle of the vast sea and sky.

We arrived at An Bang Island when the weather on the mainland was in the last days of winter, preparing for the Spring of 2025. In An Bang, it was the season of big waves, strong winds combined with the Northeast monsoon, along with incessant rains. In the list of people visiting the island, we were fortunate to be chosen as representatives of the delegation to visit and wish the officers, soldiers and people on the island a happy new year. To bring the members of the working delegation and goods to the island to give to the officers, soldiers and people to celebrate the New Year in the weather conditions of big waves and strong winds was difficult, the officers and soldiers persevered through the waves, with their skills, experience, and the smooth coordination between the officers and soldiers on the HQ561 ship and the "boat pulling team" of An Bang Island towed the boat to bring us safely to the island. We set foot on the island amidst the joyful cheers of the boat pulling team who had just completed the task of bringing all members and goods to the island safely.

Major Duong Ngoc Tan, Political Commissar of An Bang Island, shared that due to the rugged nature and big waves, going up and down the island is quite difficult, especially during bad weather. To serve the working groups to safely reach the island, An Bang Island has established a boat pulling team specializing in pulling boats to and from the island. “The job of pulling boats to the island requires all members of this team to have experience and good health. The main members of the boat pulling team are young soldiers on the island. The job of pulling and pushing boats to and from the island requires not only experience but also good health to be able to conquer the big waves,” said Major Duong Ngoc Tan.

The work is always fronted by difficulties and dangers, so many people have compared the An Bang island boat pulling team to a suicide team, because of the bravery, intelligence, fearlessness of danger, and readiness to accept and complete the task of bringing and receiving groups and goods to and from the island safely of the team members. Through many generations, up to now, the boat pulling team of An Bang island has brought hundreds of boats and canoes in and out safely, without any related accidents. "1, 2, 3 pull; 1, 2, 3 push..." seems to have become the song of the boat pulling team of An Bang island.

An Bang Lighthouse lights the way

An Bang Island is located in the south of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. The island has a very important position, as a bridge between the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago and the oil and gas area located on the southern continental basis of the fatherland. Along with the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, An Bang Island is located near the international shipping route, which is considered the second busiest in the world. On An Bang Island stands a 23m high lighthouse. Over the years, An Bang Lighthouse Station has become a symbol in the East Sea, affirming the sovereignty of the sacred sea and islands of the fatherland.

Mr. Duong Dinh Thanh, an employee of the East Sea and Islands Maritime Safety Assurance Company, took us to An Bang Lighthouse Station. To reach the top of the lighthouse, we had to climb hundreds of wooden steps, spiraling inside the lighthouse. From the top of the lighthouse, we can have a panoramic view of the vast area around An Bang Island with coral reefs under the clear blue water, blending with the green patches that An Bang Island officers and soldiers are trying to green Truong Sa. "The weather in An Bang all year round is quite harsh; the sea waves and salty winds can blow up to the lighthouse. To keep the lighthouse working well, we have to clean and wipe the lights and the glass frames surrounding the lights every day to limit the salty sea air from causing humidity and damaging the equipment. With a height of 23m from the base and a sweep distance of 16 nautical miles, An Bang Lighthouse has become a symbol of the island, helping to light the way for fishermen to fish far from shore and to go out to the sea," Mr. Thanh shared.

Talking to us, Major Than Minh Phuc, Commander of An Bang Island, said that despite the harsh weather, the officers and soldiers on the island always strive to overcome and excellently complete the assigned tasks. On the island, along with the boat pulling team, the lighthouse on the island has become a symbol of An Bang.

While the boat pulling team helps transport working groups and goods to the island safely, An Bang Lighthouse, standing proudly in the middle of the ocean with its officers and soldiers, is helping fishermen day and night to maintain their fishing grounds, affirming sovereignty over the sea and islands.

Reported by Minh Duy – Translated by Vi Bao