Celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) at the DK1 offshore platform.

In the vast ocean, the naval soldiers at the DK1 platform still play their guitars and sing, wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and tend to the kumquat trees and flowers sent from the mainland. They celebrate Tet (Vietnamese New Year) joyfully while remaining steadfast at their posts.

Ornamental kumquat trees are transferred from the ship to small boats for transport to the offshore platform - Photo: BONG MAI

Traveling hundreds of nautical miles and spending more than half a month at sea, enduring rough waves sometimes exceeding level 7, the working group aboard the ships Truong Sa 02 and Truong Sa 21, organized by the Command of Naval Region 2 (under the Vietnam Navy), successfully delivered over 1,000 packages, equivalent to 20 tons, and cash to officers and soldiers on the DK1 offshore platforms, patrol ships, and radar station 590 just in time for the 2025 Lunar New Year.

Rope access to the offshore platform, wishing Happy New Year in the remote islands.

Braving the waves just before Tet (Lunar New Year), Captain Tran Minh Huan steered the ship Truong Sa 21 closer to the first offshore platform on its voyage (DK1/19, Que Duong cluster).

As soon as the ship docked, dozens of enthusiastic naval soldiers carried banana leaves, sticky rice, cakes, candied fruits, potted kumquat trees... containing the sentiment and flavors of the mainland, transferring them from the large ship to small boats, braving the waves to deliver them to their comrades at the nearby offshore platform.

As soon as the gifts were delivered, Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Thanh Tung - Deputy Chief of Staff of the 2nd Regional Command - disembarked from the ship and boarded boats with many members of the delegation to move to the base of the platform. He then climbed onto the platform using a rope, quickly inspected the combat readiness, and offered heartfelt New Year greetings.

Standing on the helicopter landing pad of the offshore platform, surrounded by the vast, turbulent sea, with strong winds lashing against them, the naval soldiers lined up solemnly, saluting the flag as the national anthem played, creating a deeply moving and proud atmosphere.

As a naval soldier serving on a remote offshore platform, Lieutenant Bui Thanh Hung shared his feelings upon receiving Tet gifts sent from the mainland: "For the traditional Vietnamese Tet holiday, everyone wants to celebrate with their loved ones and family, and we are no exception." The care and guidance from superiors at all levels, and the concern of the people nationwide, have become a great motivation for him and his comrades to successfully complete their duties.

Serving as a communications officer at the offshore platform, amidst the spring atmosphere, Pham Tien Dung expressed: "The team is cheerful, united, and highly ready for combat."

Standing on the DK1/21 platform (Ba Ke cluster), with the sky above and the waves crashing continuously below, Lieutenant Le Xuan Quy shared that despite the harsh weather and natural conditions, and living far from their families, the soldiers on the platform always remain united, help each other, and find joy through various activities.

As a soldier stationed on an offshore platform, Lieutenant Quy stated that protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands is a central and sacred duty. Naval soldiers also always extend a helping hand to fishermen who depend on the sea for their livelihood.

"On the offshore platform, we raise pigs, chickens, ducks, and grow vegetables, ensuring the soldiers' food needs are met. The Tet gifts from the mainland that the delegation just brought not only have material significance but also convey wishes for peace and good health to the soldiers," said Quy.

The banana leaves and other ingredients for wrapping banh chung (Vietnamese rice cakes) were delivered by naval soldiers to their comrades - Photo: BM

Celebrate the Lunar New Year joyfully while protecting our maritime sovereignty.

The first voyage of the spring season by the ships Truong Sa 02 and Truong Sa 21 successfully delivered over 1,000 packages (equivalent to 20 tons of goods, plus cash) to officers and soldiers on 15 DK1 offshore platforms, numerous patrol ships, and radar stations.

Specifically, the essential items according to the Ministry of National Defense 's Tet (Lunar New Year) standards for officers and soldiers celebrating the Year of the Snake (2015) include pork, chicken, sticky rice, banana leaves, mung beans, apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, kumquats, jam, and confectionery...

Colonel Pham Quyet Tien, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 2, affirmed that visiting, giving gifts, and encouraging officers and soldiers at the DK1 offshore platforms, patrol ships, and forces performing duties at sea during the Lunar New Year demonstrates the concern of the Party, the State, and the people for officers and soldiers serving on the front lines of the Fatherland.

During this Lunar New Year visit, despite the rough seas, strong winds, and cramped living conditions, the delegation visited the officers and soldiers at the offshore platform with all their heart and affection. They encouraged and shared in their difficulties and hardships, helping the officers and soldiers of DK1 to firmly hold their weapons to protect the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas, islands, and continental shelf.

Transporting gifts from the mainland to remote islands right at the beginning of the new year, we constantly encountered rough seas, the sky was pitch black during the day, and the strong waves caused the ship to rock violently. Due to the rough seas and strong winds, we were forced to transfer gifts via rope and send New Year greetings through a loudspeaker.

The gifts, wrapped in waterproof plastic bags, were tied to ropes and buoys, and floated gently from the ship to the offshore platform, pulled by the sailors. The weight of the gifts, the seawater, waves, and wind made sending and pulling them no easy task.

After a long sea voyage, there were times when we came very close to the offshore platform, seeing the soldiers' figures but unable to go up to greet them with bright smiles and New Year wishes. That moment deeply moved us and filled us with appreciation for the naval soldiers.

We bid them farewell with songs, good wishes, and three long, echoing tug-of-wars from the ship's horn. The sailors responded with optimistic and warm voices, sincere New Year's greetings, and the national flag fluttering proudly in the vast ocean.

Soldiers on a remote island wrap banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) in preparation for Tet (Lunar New Year) - Photo: BM

Avoid being caught off guard or surprised by attacks from the sea.

The DK1 platform complex ( economic - scientific - service) was built in the reef area on the southern continental shelf. Having endured over 35 years in the face of harsh conditions, each platform stands as a landmark of sovereignty, a "watchful eye" on the sea.

Each year, the offshore platform monitors, registers, and reports thousands of targets in the area. They promptly advise and propose solutions to the command center to effectively handle all situations, preventing any passive or unexpected events.

Naval soldiers also become a source of support for fishermen, giving them peace of mind to venture out to sea. This includes rescuing Vietnamese fishing vessels in distress, providing medical care to fishermen, supplying fresh water, fuel, food, and medicine to fishing boats.

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

In coordination with meteorological and hydrological stations, conduct observations and measurements of meteorological elements and changes in ocean currents to provide a basis for weather forecasting, disaster warning, and climate change mitigation. This directly serves the forces carrying out duties and activities related to marine exploitation, production, and economic development.

"We always bear in mind that as long as there are people, there will be offshore platforms, and we are determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of our country's seas and islands," Lieutenant Bui Thanh Hung shared amidst the spring atmosphere at the offshore platform, with the Lunar New Year fast approaching.

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