Celebrating Tet at DK1 rig

In the middle of the vast ocean, the navy soldiers at the DK1 platform still sit with their guitars, sing, wrap banh chung (square sticky rice cakes) and take care of kumquat trees and flowers sent from the mainland. They celebrate Tet happily while keeping their guns steady.

Bonsai kumquat trees are transferred from the ship to a small boat to be transferred to the rig - Photo: BONG MAI

After traveling hundreds of nautical miles and more than half a month at sea, with waves sometimes reaching level 7, the working group on the Truong Sa 02 and Truong Sa 21 ships, organized by the Naval Region 2 Command (under the Navy), has successfully transferred more than 1,000 packages, equivalent to 20 tons, and cash to officers and soldiers on DK1 platforms, duty ships, and radar station 590 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025.

Swinging on a rope to the rig, wishing a happy new year on a distant island

Turning the waves near Tet, captain - Captain Tran Minh Huan steered the Truong Sa 21 ship closer to the first platform in the voyage (DK1/19, Que Duong cluster).

As soon as they reached the port, dozens of navy soldiers rushed to carry dong leaves, sticky rice, cakes, candies, kumquat pots... containing the love and flavor of the mainland, from the big ship to a small boat, over the waves to their comrades at the nearby oil rig.

As soon as the gifts were delivered, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung - Deputy Chief of Staff of the 2nd Command - started to get off the ship, boarded a boat with many people in the group to move to the foot of the platform, then climbed up the rope to the platform, quickly inspected the combat work as well as warmly wished a Happy New Year.

Standing on the helicopter pad of the platform, surrounded by the scene of the big sea with rough waves and strong winds blowing against them, the navy soldiers lined up solemnly, raised their hands to salute the flag, and the national anthem played, creating a very emotional and proud atmosphere.

As a marine soldier working at a remote rig, receiving Tet gifts sent from the mainland, First Lieutenant Bui Thanh Hung confided: "For the traditional Tet of Vietnamese people, everyone wants to celebrate Tet with relatives and family, and so do we." The care and direction of leaders at all levels and the care of the people of the whole country have become a great motivation for him and his teammates to complete their tasks well.

Acting as an information officer at the platform, in the spring atmosphere, Mr. Pham Tien Dung expressed: "The brothers are happy, united, and ready to fight."

Standing at DK1/21 platform (Ba Ke cluster), with the sky above and the waves crashing continuously below, First Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy shared that despite the harsh weather and nature, living far away from family, the soldiers on the platform are always united, helping each other, and finding joy through many activities.

As a soldier on the oil rig, Lieutenant Quy said that protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland is a central and sacred task. The navy soldiers also always extend their arms to protect and help fishermen stay at sea.

"In the rig, pigs, chickens, ducks are raised and vegetables are grown, ensuring the food needs of the soldiers. The Tet gifts from the mainland that the delegation just brought not only have material meaning, but also convey peace and wishes for good health to the soldiers," said Mr. Quy.

Dong leaves and ingredients for making banh chung are delivered to their comrades by navy soldiers - Photo: BM

Celebrate Tet and protect sea and island sovereignty

The first spring voyage of Truong Sa 02 and Truong Sa 21 ships has just successfully delivered more than 1,000 packages (equivalent to 20 tons of goods, in addition to cash) to officers and soldiers on 15 DK1 platforms, many patrol ships and radar stations.

Specifically, essential goods according to the Ministry of National Defense 's Tet standards for officers and soldiers to celebrate the Lunar New Year include pork, chicken, sticky rice, dong leaves, green beans, apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, kumquats, jams, candies, etc.

Colonel Pham Quyet Tien - Deputy Commander of Naval Region 2 - affirmed that visiting, giving gifts and encouraging officers and soldiers of DK1 platforms, on-duty ships and forces on duty at sea during the Lunar New Year shows the care of the Party, State and people for officers and soldiers on duty on the front line of the Fatherland.

During this New Year greetings, despite the strong winds and waves and cramped living conditions, the delegation came to the officers and soldiers of the rig with all their hearts and love. They encouraged and shared the difficulties and hardships. They helped the officers and soldiers of DK1 to firmly hold their guns to protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and the sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Delivering gifts from the mainland to a remote island at the beginning of the new year, we encountered constant rough waves, the sky was dark during the day, and the waves were so strong that the boat rocked. The wind and waves were so strong that we had to deliver gifts via rope and wish them a happy new year through a loudspeaker.

The gifts were wrapped in waterproof plastic bags, tied to ropes and buoys, and floated from the ship to the rig under the tug of the marines. The weight of the gifts, the sea water, waves and wind made sending and pulling the gifts not easy.

Overcoming the long journey, there were times when we were very close to the rig, saw the figures of the soldiers but could not go up to the place to smile brightly and wish each of them a Happy New Year. Those moments made us moved and cherish the marine soldiers.

We bid farewell to them with songs, good wishes and three long, echoing waves of the ship’s whistle. The marines responded with warm, optimistic songs, sincere New Year wishes and the national flag fluttering in the vast ocean.

Soldiers on remote islands wrap banh chung in preparation for Tet - Photo: BM

Don't be passive and surprised from the sea

The DK1 platform cluster ( economic - scientific - service) was built in the reef area on the southern continental shelf. After more than 35 years at the forefront of the waves and winds, each platform is like a sovereignty landmark, a "divine eye" on the sea.

Every year, the platform monitors, registers, and reports thousands of targets in the area. Timely advises and makes recommendations to the command post to handle all situations well, avoiding being passive and surprised.

The navy soldiers also became a support for fishermen to confidently go out to sea. Such as rescuing Vietnamese fishing boats in distress, providing emergency treatment for fishermen, helping with fresh water, fuel, food, and medicine for fishing boats...

In addition, it also closely coordinates with the Vietnam Maritime Administration to maintain regularly operating lighthouses to guide and ensure maritime safety for tens of thousands of domestic and international ships passing through the area.

Coordinate with the hydrometeorological station to monitor and measure meteorological factors and changes in ocean currents to serve as a basis for weather forecasting, warning of natural disasters and climate change. Directly serve the forces performing tasks and activities of exploitation, production and development of the marine economy.

"We always keep in mind that as long as there are people and platforms, we are determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland" - First Lieutenant Bui Thanh Hung shared in the spring atmosphere at the platform, with Lunar New Year approaching.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/don-tet-o-nha-gian-dk1-20250124081811313.htm