The love and gratitude for our homeland's islands and seas.

"Homeland's islands and seas" - a phrase that has long become dear to our hearts, a bridge connecting the feelings of Vietnamese people living abroad with their motherland.

The delegation from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and overseas Vietnamese delegates pose for a commemorative photo in Truong Sa town. (Photo: Phan Hai)

Over the course of 11 voyages organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Naval Command, from 2012 to the present, nearly 600 overseas Vietnamese delegates from more than 40 countries and territories have visited Truong Sa island district and the DKI platform.

During those trips, overseas Vietnamese engaged in many concrete and practical activities, contributing both materially and spiritually to the homeland's islands and seas, such as donating to support the construction of sovereignty boats, joining hands in building several facilities on the islands, contributing to purchasing gifts and necessities to send to the islands and the DK-I platform, with the total amount of support reaching nearly 30 billion VND.

The positive effects of those meaningful trips include the establishment of forums and clubs for the Hoang Sa Islands, and funds for Vietnam's islands in many countries by overseas Vietnamese; increased research into new methods and inventions to improve the lives of officers and soldiers on the islands; and the regular organization of numerous seminars, exhibitions, and literary and poetic creations.

David Nguyen, an overseas Vietnamese living in the US, vividly remembers his 2014 trip, where he experienced and collected many valuable documents and images. From someone with dissenting views, he changed his perspective, participating in numerous debates and refuting distorted arguments related to maritime sovereignty.

Having joined a delegation of overseas Vietnamese visiting Truong Sa in 2017 from Africa, Mr. Le Hong Quan, a Vietnamese expatriate from Angola, has been involved in the "Truong Sa - DK1 Platform, Journey of the Heart" project with practical activities such as printing Truong Sa calendars, gathering resources to support officers, soldiers, and people on the islands, and caring for the families and children of the soldiers.

This year's trip is even more meaningful as it coincides with the 49th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification (April 30, 1975), the Liberation of the Truong Sa Archipelago (April 29, 1975), and the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Navy (May 7, 1955).

Nearly 70 overseas Vietnamese delegates from 22 countries expressed their heartfelt devotion to their homeland, sharing the hardships and difficulties faced by the soldiers who guard the country's seas and islands day and night.

Ms. Cao Hong Vinh, Vice President of the Vietnamese Women's Association in Poland, expressed her delight at witnessing the all-round development in this strategically important land, demonstrating the strong determination of the Party, the State, and the entire people and army in asserting sovereignty over the sacred waters of the Fatherland.

On her first visit to Truong Sa, Ms. Tran Thi Chang, President of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association, brought with her the heartfelt sentiments and gifts of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia. These acts of kindness from overseas Vietnamese hope to "warm hearts," "green the islands," and alleviate some of the difficulties and hardships faced by the soldiers and civilians in the islands.

After 12 years, organizing visits for overseas Vietnamese to their homeland's islands and seas has significantly contributed to spreading love for the islands and seas among the Vietnamese community abroad, allowing them to witness firsthand the determination and achievements of the Party and State in safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's islands and seas.

This is also an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese from all over the world to meet, interact, and strengthen national unity, affirming their devotion to their homeland and working together to build, protect, and develop Vietnam.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/an-tinh-bien-dao-que-huong-270657.html