Filled with emotion, imbued with deep affection.

Kinhtedothi - Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the delegation could only directly visit, extend New Year greetings, and present gifts to two offshore platforms. Although the time was short, it was enough to convey feelings, warmth, and affection from the mainland to these remote locations amidst the vast ocean.

The offshore platform stands proudly in the middle of the ocean.

During the 16-day voyage at sea, the delegation only managed to visit and extend New Year greetings directly to the DKI/9 and DKI/21 offshore platforms. When the ship stopped, everyone was taken aboard a small boat and "rode the waves" to the base of the platform. After a thrilling rope-swinging exercise over the sea, we finally set foot on the platform – what a moving and proud moment: the platform stood tall and majestic amidst the vast ocean, a "fortress" safeguarding the maritime sovereignty of our Fatherland!

Colonel Vu Duy Luu, Deputy Head of Political Affairs, Naval Region 2 Command (far right) and Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung, Head of the working group of the Truong Sa 21 ship (far left) present Tet gifts to officers and soldiers of the DKI/21 platform - Photo: Van Ha

Although their stay at the offshore platform was short, the members of the delegation managed to convey gifts and sentiments, both material and spiritual, from the mainland and the home front to the officers and soldiers stationed at the border outpost. In the warm atmosphere of camaraderie and the bond between soldiers and civilians, everyone gathered to wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), singing songs about love for the homeland's islands and seas, and about the soldiers on the offshore platform...

During a New Year's visit to the offshore platforms, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung, Head of the Truong Sa 21 ship's working group, acknowledged that the platforms had successfully completed their tasks in all aspects, ensuring operational readiness – especially combat readiness; maintaining strict combat readiness, and not missing or overlooking any targets. At the same time, they provided advice and recommendations to relevant agencies and the National Defense Force to successfully complete their missions.

Stepping into the New Year of the Snake 2025, on behalf of the delegation, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung extended best wishes to the DK1/21 platform for a warm and harmonious Spring season, with the motto "Enjoying Spring without forgetting our duty," and "As long as there are people, there is a home, and there is sovereignty"; fulfilling our mission and avoiding being caught off guard or surprised by anything from the sea.

Although the delegation only directly visited and extended New Year greetings to 2 out of 10 offshore platforms, all the goods transported to the platforms were sufficient, ensuring that the officers and soldiers on the platforms could celebrate Tet and enjoy the Spring festival as fully as they would in their hometowns...

Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung shared that when the delegation received the assignment, they all wanted to personally deliver Tet gifts and supplies to the officers and soldiers at the offshore platform to boost their morale. However, due to difficult weather conditions, the Tet greetings and delivery of goods had to be flexible to ensure that the soldiers received the goods in time to welcome the New Year.

The offshore platform stands tall and proud amidst the vast sea and sky - Photo: Van Ha

"Giving New Year greetings casually, exchanging gifts via wire."

This phrase has become familiar to officers and soldiers when carrying out the task of transporting goods and Tet gifts because the weather at the end of the year is often unfavorable, with the influence of the northeast monsoon causing big waves and strong winds, so Tet greetings must be done via walkie-talkie and gifts are delivered via rope.

At the offshore platforms, via radio, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung inquired about the preparations for Tet (Lunar New Year) and the spring atmosphere on the platforms; he also conveyed the mainland's hopes that the officers and soldiers on the platforms would be cheerful and united in order to fulfill their duties.

Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Region 2 Command, Head of the working group on the Truong Sa 21 ship, extends New Year greetings to officers and soldiers at the offshore platform via radio - Video : Van Ha

Although he couldn't meet the delegation, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Trung, Commander of the DKI/20 platform, was deeply moved and delighted to hear the warm New Year greetings from the mainland transmitted via radio: "These New Year greetings show the special care and affection of the commanders of the Naval Region 2 Command, the commanders of agencies and units throughout the region, and the comrades in the delegation. This is a great source of encouragement for all officers and soldiers on the platform to work with peace of mind, understand their duties well, and be ready for combat."

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Trung also said that during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Snake, the offshore platform organized many activities such as democratic flower picking, weightlifting, ring tossing, etc., for officers and soldiers to enjoy celebrating the New Year.

Extending the love

On the ship carrying the spirit of Spring from the mainland to the offshore platforms, along with essential supplies and gifts with the flavor of Tet from home, there are also gifts filled with love and affection from the home front, sent to loved ones who are on duty guarding the nation's maritime borders.

Present at the dock on the day the ship departed, Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Chi from Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh, asked the delegation to send some Tet food to her husband and, especially, a mobile phone so he could contact home. Her husband has been assigned to work at the offshore platform for two years and rarely comes home for Tet.

Ms. Duong Thien Huong and her two sons came to ask the delegation to deliver a New Year's greeting letter written by her son to her husband - Photo: Van Ha

"During Tet, seeing couples decorating their homes together makes me feel a little sad, but since I married a soldier, I have to accept and support him so he can focus on his work. I hope he and his comrades can confidently complete their mission, and that the home front is always thinking of him," Quỳnh Chi shared.

Along with her two young sons, Ms. Duong Thien Huong asked the delegation to deliver a letter to her husband, Mr. Dao Van Diep, a communications officer at the DKI/16 offshore platform. The letter was carefully written by their second-grade son. "In the letter, I asked about Dad's health and wished him good health and success in his work. I hope Dad has a happy Tet holiday, and that the three of us at home are healthy," Ms. Thien Huong's son revealed, standing next to his mother.

The gifts and sentiments from the mainland were personally delivered by the delegation to the soldiers on the offshore platforms. This helped bridge the gap and strengthen the bond between the home front and the front lines; between the mainland and the border regions facing the waves and winds.

Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy, Political Officer of the DKI/21 platform (wearing a white shirt), said: "When we heard that the delegation was coming to wish us a Happy New Year, the brothers on the platform eagerly awaited it every day." - Photo: Van Ha

Welcoming the delegation, Senior Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy, Political Officer of the DKI/21 platform, clearly showed his joy: "Hearing the news that the delegation was coming to wish us a Happy New Year, for the past week the brothers on the platform have been excited like children, eagerly anticipating and waiting every day."

"When the ship appeared, all the brothers on the platform were filled with happiness. Everyone was worried seeing the members of the working group having to climb up the platform using rope ladders, but deep down, everyone was eager to welcome the commander and the working group to celebrate Tet early with the officers and soldiers," Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy confided.

Receiving gifts from the mainland, Captain Pham Tien Dong of the DKI/9 platform said, "The brothers on the platform feel the warmth and affection from the mainland. Everything here has been thoughtfully prepared, with plenty of sticky rice cakes, pork sausage, sweets, jams... Thank you for the concern of the leaders at all levels and the people of the whole country. Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful Tet holiday, and rest assured that the soldiers on the platform will continue to fulfill their duties."

(To be continued)

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/mua-xuan-tren-vung-bien-tien-tieu-bai-2-chua-chan-tinh-cam-lang-dong-nghia-tinh.html