Spring warmth comes to the remote island

Spring and Tet are sacred moments for all Vietnamese people to gather and reunite with their families. However, on the border and islands, many officers and soldiers temporarily put aside those moments, always holding their guns firmly at the frontline to protect the sacred sovereignty of the fatherland.

Meet the Binh Duong soldiers

During a working trip to Truong Sa archipelago before the Lunar New Year 2025, we met Private Vu Thanh Tho, who lives in Chanh Phu Hoa ward, Ben Cat city. Amidst the murmuring sound of the ocean waves and the incessant rain, young soldier Vu Thanh Tho shared that this would be the first time he and many of his comrades to celebrate Tet away from home and the mainland. He felt happy and warm when a working delegation from the mainland came to visit and wish him a happy new year. Knowing that I was from Binh Duong, Tho was very happy to confide: "I consider the guys here as my relatives from Binh Duong."

“5 months ago, when I was a new soldier, in the first days of my assignment on Truong Sa archipelago, there were times when I missed home and the mainland. Thanks to the help of the officers, soldiers and people on the island, I now consider this place as my second family, and will always try my best to complete the assigned tasks, protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the fatherland,” the soldier from Binh Duong confided.

During the visit and wish a happy new year to people on islands and island points of Truong Sa archipelago, we met young soldier Trinh Xuan The from Tru Van Tho commune, Bau Bang district. At the moment of saying goodbye to his comrades on Da Dong island after completing his mission, The could not hide his emotions when he had to leave his second home, where he and his comrades had overcome many difficulties, holding their guns firmly to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. "The island is my second home, the officers and soldiers are my beloved family members. The days on the island are memories I will never forget," the captain from Binh Duong emotionally said.

Warm military-civilian relationship

Receiving us in his warm, well-built house, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, a resident of Truong Sa Lon Island, said that his family has lived on Truong Sa Lon Island for many years. The atmosphere of Tet At Ty 2025 has come to the island when the mainland delegation visited, gave gifts, and wished the soldiers and people on the island a happy new year.

Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son, Commander and Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Sa town, Truong Sa island district (Khanh Hoa) informed that the town has prepared many activities for officers, soldiers and people on the island to have a full, joyful and warm Tet holiday. "The atmosphere of welcoming the Spring of At Ty 2025 to the soldiers and people on the island was doubled when the working delegation from the mainland, including reporters from central and local press agencies, brought good wishes and gifts bringing the "warmth of spring" from the mainland to the soldiers and people on Truong Sa Lon island", Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son shared.

Having the opportunity to visit Truong Sa, we saw the strong solidarity of the army and people on the island. Although the weather on the island is quite harsh, with solidarity and unity to overcome difficulties, the army and people of Truong Sa have overcome everything, wholeheartedly considering "the island as home, the ocean as homeland". This has created the strength and solidarity of the army and people, all for the homeland's sea and islands. The working group left Truong Sa Lon island on a late winter afternoon with incessant rain, the emotions at the moment of farewell are hard to describe. The farewell echoed, overwhelming the sound of the waves: "Truong Sa says goodbye to the mainland - The mainland says goodbye to Truong Sa", "Truong Sa loves the Fatherland, the Fatherland loves Truong Sa", "Truong Sa loves the mainland - The mainland loves Truong Sa"

Those are also messages expressing the sentiments of the people of the whole country always towards Truong Sa; they are a great source of encouragement for the army and people on Truong Sa archipelago to continue to unite to overcome all difficulties, firmly hold their guns to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, and continue to be a solid support for fishermen seafaring.

Reported by Minh Duy - Translated by Vi Bao