At that moment, all the fatigue from the storm suddenly disappeared, giving way to excitement mixed with pride: We were setting foot on a cluster of outpost islands, where the army and people day and night guard the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.
Outpost island greets new day
Nam Du archipelago belongs to Kien Hai Special Zone, An Giang province, more than 100km southeast of Rach Gia coast. The whole archipelago has 21 islands. The people here are mainly engaged in fishing, aquaculture and tourism services.
From the deck of the ship, Nam Du is as beautiful as a watercolor painting. The green mountains on Hon Lon cast their shadows on the sea, the white sand beaches curve, the clear blue water seems to be able to see all the way to the bottom. Tourists who have been here still tell each other that Bai Men, Bai Ngu, Hon Mau, Hon Nom... all remind them of the landscape of Ha Long Bay in the north. Therefore, Nam Du is known as "Ha Long of the south".
Hon Lon is the central island of the archipelago, appearing as a towering natural landmark, signaling that the voyage has reached Nam Du. The closer the ship gets, the clearer the shape of Hon Lon becomes: the mountain slopes stretch out, the roofs of houses loom at the foot of the mountain, and the curved Ngu beach embraces the wharf like a warm embrace welcoming guests from far away.
When the ship docked, the bustling pace of life on the outpost island appeared with fishing boats anchored close together with colorful painted hulls, small shops along the busy harbor, rows of motorbikes lined up ready to take tourists around the island. In front of the Nam Du Border Guard Station, the red flag with yellow star and hammer and sickle flag fluttered proudly, brilliantly against the clear blue sky and sea.
Nam Du archipelago belongs to Kien Hai Special Zone, An Giang province, more than 100km southeast of Rach Gia coast. The whole archipelago has 21 islands. The people here are mainly engaged in fishing, aquaculture and tourism services.
Stepping onto the island, right near An Son wharf, a memorial was erected to commemorate nearly 500 fishermen who died in storm No. 5 in 1997 (also known as storm Linda), which had a severe impact on the southern provinces, including An Son and Nam Du areas. The storm destroyed houses, boats and infrastructure, causing many losses of life and property, which used to be a haunting memory for the people here. In the strong sea breeze, we stood silently before the stone stele, listening to the stories told by the people. The storm swept through at night, hundreds of boats were sunk or damaged, many families could never find their loved ones. That pain became an indelible memory, at the same time reminding today's generation of the strength of solidarity and resilience at sea.
According to comrade Ly Van Quyen, Secretary of the Party Committee of An Son sub-region where we visited, Nam Du archipelago currently has nearly 5,000 people with more than 1,100 households, living on 11 out of 21 islands. Previously, the area was divided into four communes, now arranged into two remaining communes: An Son and Nam Du. The education system on the island now has three levels: preschool, primary and secondary school.
However, due to difficult conditions, most of the secondary school students study in the form of continuing education; teachers all come from the mainland to the island for long-term work. The national electricity grid has not yet reached Nam Du, people mainly use generators for daily activities. In return, the high-speed ferry connecting Nam Du with Rach Gia has brought the island closer to the mainland, opening up opportunities for tourism, service and trade development.
The relationship between the army and the people is closely linked by blood.
As one of more than 150 islands in the southwest sea of the Fatherland, Nam Du is not only beautiful but also carries a special responsibility for national defense and security. On the top of the high mountain, Radar Station 600 of Regiment 551, Naval Region 5 is like a "divine eye" guarding the southwest sea of the Fatherland. Here, each radar signal is a trust sent to the mainland; each flag on the island is a sovereignty marker.
The road leading up to the station is winding and steep, with green forests on both sides. In the dry season, the sun is blazing hot, but everyone tries to climb the slope to visit the officers and soldiers here. Welcoming us are the tanned faces, clear and determined eyes of the young soldiers. The station chief, Major Dinh Quoc Chon, shared: “The conditions on the top of the mountain are very harsh. Fresh water must be saved drop by drop, green vegetables were always in short supply, and the wind was constant. But thanks to the attention of the Party, the State and support from the mainland, the soldiers' lives have gradually improved significantly.”
Indeed, when we entered the station's vegetable garden, we were surprised. The rows of green vegetables stretched out under the roof, a project worth 400 million VND donated by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. "This is not only green vegetables, but also the love sent from the home front to the island", a soldier excitedly said when we visited.
Every year, the army and people on Nam Du Island receive the attention of the people of Ho Chi Minh City and the Navy. During this trip, the delegation of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee brought to Nam Du many meaningful gifts such as: equipment for daily life, national flag, map of Vietnam, water purifier, television, necessities, seeds... Not only that, the delegation also visited 12 policy families and gave gifts to children on the island. The gifts, though simple, were full of affection, contributing to giving strength to the army and people on the remote island, helping people feel secure in doing business, living, and working with the forces to protect the homeland's sea and islands.
As one of more than 150 islands in the southwest sea of the Fatherland, Nam Du is not only beautiful but also carries special responsibilities regarding national defense and security.
Besides Radar Station 600, on the island there are also Nam Du Border Guard Station, Nam Du Lighthouse Station, Maritime Port Authority, An Son Primary School, Secondary School and Kindergarten. All join hands with the island commune people to create a seamless battle formation, both developing the economy and protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands.
During the working session on the island, Rear Admiral Do Van Yen, Standing Member, Deputy Political Commissar of the Navy, Head of the working delegation, kindly advised the officers and soldiers: "I wish you good health, solidarity and always complete the assigned political tasks well." The wishes were short but contained faith and expectation, as if giving strength to the soldiers at the forefront.
Life in harmony with the country
In Nam Du, the military-civilian relationship is present in every little detail. We witnessed everyone sharing the same atmosphere of the meeting, they joyfully welcomed the working group, there was no distance between the rear and the front. Amidst the sound of the waves lapping against the ship, songs about the sea, islands and the country were sung, blending with the laughter of the soldiers, the working group and the islanders. I suddenly realized that it was this close bond that created the strength to protect the island and the sea.
We walked to An Son market, a small market, which looked like a spontaneous market on the mainland but lacked nothing: seafood, meat, vegetables, fruits... The prices were not expensive, and the seafood was both delicious and cheap. Hearing that the tofu here was homemade and very delicious, journalist Hoang Ha immediately invited me to buy some to try on the ship. I laughed and teased my colleague: "Hanoi's tofu is this delicious!"
For comparison, I asked Duy Phuong, a close friend who had been to Nam Du when there were almost no tourists. Phuong said that Nam Du is now very different from the memories of more than ten years ago, when she first set foot on the island. “There used to be very few tourists, now it is much more bustling and crowded. Nam Du is still beautiful, like a girl who knows how to put on makeup, but I still prefer the pure emotions of the past,” Phuong shared.
Indeed, in recent years, Nam Du has welcomed a large number of tourists to visit and experience. Because of that, the island cannot avoid problems such as waste, noise, etc. However, the cuisine here still retains its own appeal - fresh, rich seafood and affordable prices. Along the port are rows of restaurants, visitors can freely choose their favorite dishes without having to worry about the price. The accommodation system is also diverse, from homestays to resorts, with room prices ranging from 1-3 million VND per night.
Mr. Huynh Van Loi, Vice Chairman of Kien Hai Special Zone, said: “After the merger, Kien Hai Special Zone has only been in operation for three months, but the government apparatus has quickly stabilized and operated smoothly. The special zone government always strives to ensure that the settlement of administrative procedures for people and businesses is increasingly convenient and effective.”
Late in the afternoon, the ship left An Son wharf, taking us on our journey to other islands. Looking back, Nam Du gradually receded in the sunset, leaving only the red flag with a yellow star fluttering brightly against the pale purple sky. Nam Du today is not only an attractive tourist destination, but also a symbol of the will and strength of the great military-civilian solidarity. The presence of naval and border guards, the steadfast spirit of the people sticking to the sea, and the support from the rear of the whole country, all combined to create a solid wall to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands in the southwest of the Fatherland.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/chuyen-ke-o-nam-du-post916353.html
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