Coming to beloved Truong Sa

Part 1: Bringing love…

To celebrate the 68th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 5, 1954 - May 7, 2022), the 67th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Navy (May 5, 1955 - May 7, 2022) and 132^nd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2022), a delegation of Binh Duong province had a meaningful journey to Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on the days of historic May.

Emotion on way to Truong Sa

At 4 p.m. at Cam Ranh Military Port, the ship's whistle sounded for 3 long periods of time, along with officers and soldiers’ greeting and waving to say goodbye to the delegation to visit Truong Sa archipelago. Fishery surveillance ship KN-491 carried members of the delegation No.7, including more than 200 delegates, to visit the islands, island points of the Truong Sa archipelago and platform. With the journey, the delegation visited 10 points on Truong Sa island, including Da Thi, Sinh Ton Dong, Phan Vinh B, Toc Tan C, Boat Fish B, An Bang, Da Dong A, Da Tay B, Da Lat, Truong Sa and DK1/12 platform (or called Tu Chinh).

Members of Binh Duong province’s delegation before leaving for Truong Sa

The delegation of Binh Duong province consisted of 15 members, led by Nguyen Loc Ha, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee. As a child of Vietnam, everyone has the desire to once come to Truong Sa. Most members of the delegation were those who had never been to Truong Sa, so everyone was in an eager mood. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Xuan, Secretary of provincial Youth Union, a member of the delegation said that she was very honored, touched and proud of being one of the delegation’s delegates visiting troops and people on this remote island this time. This is the first time she has been able to visit cadres, soldiers and people, especially Youth Union members on duty on Truong Sa island. “Earlier, I only heard and knew about Truong Sa through books, photos, mass media... This is the first time I've been able to set foot on the sacred lands of the Fatherland, feeling the fighting strength and labor of the army and people on the remote island. That is the motivation that helps me constantly study, strive to improve myself and complete entrusted tasks excellently. As Secretary of Binh Duong provincial Youth Union, I will communicate the unyielding dedication of our army and people on remote islands to the local young generation and Youth Union members. The local youngsters will further strive to emulate learning, training and working to build a richer and stronger Binh Duong, contributing to firmly defending the country's sacred sovereignty over sea and islands, defending and building up a more and more powerful Fatherland ".

During this journey, there were also a few people who were forced to stay for health reasons, leaving the trip unfinished. The task of ensuring Covid-19 prevention and control was strictly implemented. Therefore, 3 days before departure, the delegations of ministries, sectors, localities, businesses... must be present in Cam Ranh city in Khanh Hoa province for Covid-19 tests. A case was forced to cancel this trip when being found to be infected with Covid-19, what a pity!

Contributing to defending sovereignty over sea and islands

Nguyen Loc Ha, member of Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee said that together with ministries, central sectors, economic groups, businesses, socio-political organizations and localities, Binh Duong province was one of the country’s localities with many practical activities towards the sacred sea and islands of the country over the past years. In addition to promoting coordination in propaganda about sea and islands, raising the local cadres, Party members and people of the country's sacred sovereignty over sea and islands, Binh Duong also regularly coordinated with relevant units to organize working delegations to pay periodic visits to troops and people to live and perform tasks on remote islands while having many practical activities on spiritual and material support for them. Through these activities, the Party, government and people of Binh Duong province, together with compatriots throughout the country have contributed to firmly defending the country's sacred sovereignty over sea and islands.

The delegation No.7 leaves Cam Ranh Military Port to begin a loving journey to Truong Sa

During the trip to Truong Sa - the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland this year, provincial delegates brought all the local hearts and sentiments of the Party Committee, government, army and people to the beloved Truong Sa. The delegation directly brought meaningful gifts to units on duty and people on the island, especially soldiers from Binh Duong. These gifts were worth VND 5.4 billion, including specialized canoes and electronic devices such as computers, projectors, and many other necessary items, contributing to motivating the army and people here to successfully complete their task of defending the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Rear Admiral Pham Van Giang, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Navy Command’s Political Department said that the sea and islands are always a part of of ​​our country’s sacred territory. Over the past times, being deeply aware of the position and role of sea and islands, especially Truong Sa archipelago and eastern continental shelf and in order to meet the aspirations of our compatriots at home  and abroad. Every year, the Navy is assigned by the Ministry of National Defense to organize delegations to visit and mobilize the troops and people of Truong Sa and the DK1/12 platform. “Through our trips, we always deeply felt the affection of soldiers and compatriots at home and abroad to the sea and islands of the Fatherland, the army and the people of Truong Sa, including the precious affection and support of the Party Committee, authorities and people of Binh Duong province. Each trip was a profound imprint and memory, contributing to motivating cadres, soldiers and people on the front lines of the Fatherland in order to always stand firmly in the face of storms and challenges to defend and build up a stronger and stronger Truong Sa archipelago that will be the socio-economic center of our country's sea and islands," said Rear Admiral Pham Van Giang.

The activities of visiting and encouraging, giving gifts, exchanging warmly with soldiers and people... from delegates of Binh Duong in particular and the delegation No.7 of the Navy Command in general will give confidence and strength for the army and people in Truong Sa island district, officers and soldiers of the DK1/12 platform. All will contribute to creating a great motivation for the Vietnam People's Navy to overcome the heavy-but- glorious responsibility entrusted by the Party, State and people. (to be continued)

Reported by Do Trong-Translated by Kim Tin