Preserving the Ganh Dau sea

Stationed in the northern part of Phu Quoc Special Zone, Ganh Dau Border Guard Post is a strong outpost on the southwestern sea route. The officers and soldiers here are constantly present, maintaining peace in the sea and islands, and supporting local fishermen.

Ganh Dau Border Guard Station presents gifts to people in difficult circumstances. Photo: Provided by the unit.

Right in front of the Ganh Dau Border Guard Post, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quoc Phu, the post's political officer, stood before the memorial plaque dedicated to Comrade Lam Kien Tri, former Secretary of the Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee, and slowly recited each line etched with the passage of time: “This place, Ganh Dau hamlet, Ganh Dau commune, was formerly a revolutionary base of Phu Quoc district. In mid-August 1967, Comrade Lam Kien Tri (Nam Tri), Deputy Secretary of the Rach Gia Provincial Party Committee, with his resourcefulness, courage, and decisiveness, personally led a delegation of provincial cadres, undeterred by sacrifice and hardship, across the sea by rowboat, overcoming three layers of enemy blockade, and safely landing here. This marked a historic event: restoring communication between the mainland and Phu Quoc island after a two-year interruption due to enemy encirclement and isolation, opening a new era for the revolutionary struggle of the island district to achieve complete victory.”

The commemorative plaque recalls a special period in Phu Quoc's history and serves as a traditional education site for officers, soldiers, and youth union members in the area. "Young soldiers, upon returning to their units, are told these stories to better understand the value of the land where they are serving, thereby increasing their sense of responsibility towards their work," Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quoc Phu shared.

The Ganh Dau Border Guard Station currently manages a coastline approximately 33km long, from Ham Rong Mountain to Cua Can Beach; it is responsible for a historical Vietnam-Cambodia water area of ​​about 660km2, with the nearest section approximately 1.8 nautical miles from Cambodia. The area also includes many small islands such as Hon Bang, Hon Thay Boi, Hon Mong Tay, and Hon Doi Moi. The large area, the border sea, and the constant activity of fishing vessels and other means of transport at sea place a high pressure on the Ganh Dau Border Guard Station in terms of management and control. In addition to protecting sovereignty and maintaining security in the maritime border area, the unit also regularly handles cases related to illegal entry and exit, smuggling, and participates in search and rescue operations at sea.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Son, Commander of the Ganh Dau Border Guard Station, said that the unit's Party committee and command have comprehensively implemented all aspects of border guard work; maintaining good political and ideological education, and building a strong and comprehensive unit. The unit always maintains strict patrol and control work at sea and in its assigned area; proactively monitors the situation, promptly detecting and handling incidents arising at the grassroots level. "Having been stationed in the area for many years, the border guard force has built close relationships with the people living along the coast. Information from fishermen helps the unit promptly detect unusual signs at sea," Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Son shared.

In recent years, along with the rapid development of the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the number of residents, tourists, and coastal service activities has increased significantly. This has also placed higher demands on the border guard force in managing the area and maintaining security and order in the maritime and island border region. Besides patrolling and monitoring, officers and soldiers of the Ganh Dau Border Guard Post also regularly work alongside local people in social welfare activities.

In the "Spring Border Guard Program - Warming the Hearts of the Local People" in 2026, the unit coordinated with local authorities to clean up roads and the memorial area for Comrade Lam Kien Tri; supported disadvantaged households in repairing their houses for Tet (Lunar New Year); and packaged and donated hundreds of sticky rice cakes and scholarships to poor students. The unit also coordinated the organization of free medical examinations and provided free medicine to hundreds of local people. These meaningful activities help to bring the image of border guards closer to the residents of coastal and island areas.

Amidst the vibrant life of Phu Quoc Island, the soldiers at Ganh Dau Border Guard Post maintain their familiar routines. Each patrol across the sea, each night shift, each assistance to fishermen amidst rough seas… contributes to maintaining peace and security in the southwestern seas and islands of our homeland.

THU OANH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-bien-ganh-dau-a487387.html