During those historic days of April, a delegation of 10 officers from the People's Police College I, Ministry of Public Security, had the honor of representing the college's staff and students on a sea voyage to the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK1 platform, joining the Ministry of Public Security's delegation on Ship 561 of the Vietnam People's Navy.

The trip was not simply a sightseeing tour, but also a journey to learn about history, culture, and efforts to protect national sovereignty . Above all, it strongly awakened a sense of national pride in every Vietnamese citizen who set foot here, including the school's staff and teachers.

A delegation from the People's Police College I, Ministry of Public Security, is on Song Tu Tay Island.

Throughout our arduous sea voyage, we felt as if we were retracing the footsteps of the soldiers 50 years ago who, under difficult and deprived conditions, overcame all hardships to liberate the Truong Sa archipelago. During the journey, each time we set foot on the islands of Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton, Co Lin, Da Dong A, Da Tay B, Truong Sa, and the DK1 platform, witnessing firsthand the lives of the officers and soldiers, my heart was filled with emotion and nostalgia. I felt as if I were immersed in the four lines of the poem "Love Poem of a Soldier" by poet Tran Dang Khoa, written when he visited Truong Sa:

Perhaps I also see what the poet Tran Dang Khoa saw whenever he looked into the eyes of the naval soldiers here; in their minds and hearts, only the Fatherland, only the sacred Mother Vietnam reigns supreme. How beautiful, how proud!

Even now, having set foot on land, the emotions I felt during the sea voyage to the islands remain vivid in my mind and in the minds of the entire delegation.

After more than a day at sea, Song Tu Tay Island was the first island we set foot on during our voyage, and also the first place where we expressed our initial feelings of pride at being able to set foot on one of the important islands that protects the sovereignty of our nation's seas and islands. Just three short hours on the island left a lasting impression on the eyes of each member of the delegation. Here, looking out at the vast ocean, we were filled with pride in the history, culture, and efforts of previous generations who fought and defended every inch of land and sea.

We arrived at Sinh Ton Island early the next morning, in the glorious sunset light, the sea sparkling with silver waves, the lighthouse in the distance beckoning, and we were greeted with warm smiles and friendly handshakes from comrades who had left home for this sacred place of the Fatherland for duty.

No one can compare to the soldiers on the island; under their hands, amidst countless hardships, they have transformed Sinh Ton Island, a place exposed to the elements, into a lush green park in the heart of the East Sea.

Colonel, Dr. Dong Thi Hong Nhung, Vice Principal of the school, with the students on the island.

Here, we heard the joyful laughter of children echoing from the classroom, the distant sound of the temple bells, sounds that seeped into our subconscious and settled in our hearts as we lit incense sticks in gratitude and remembrance before the memorial plaque bearing the names of the 64 heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Truong Sa sea region on March 14, 1988.

Perhaps the ceremony commemorating the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the sea and islands left an unforgettable impression on us. Tears were shed as we remembered them. We were moved by pride. It was both tragic and glorious.

In that sacred atmosphere, the sea was strangely calm, as if to say that it had sheltered and protected the souls of the soldiers who had fallen here. In that moment, I felt fully immersed in national pride. Tình, Toàn, Nga, Ngọc Hà, Thanh, Hương… all the comrades in the delegation from the People's Police College I, and I, wept. What could be said at this moment, amidst the vast ocean, when all words were superfluous in the face of the noble sacrifice of the fallen soldiers?

The image of the legendary ship HQ 505 engulfed in flames, a desperate act to defend Co Lin Island, remains etched in the memory of the Vietnamese people. Co Lin of the past was resilient; Co Lin of today stands firm, guarding the sea and sky. The cool sea breeze still blows over the island, like the love for our homeland…

East A Reef and West B Reef, two unyielding submerged islands. Because the islands are small, the members of the delegation couldn't set foot on all of them, but everyone deeply felt the hardships of being on these submerged islands. The sacrifice and resilience of the soldiers there truly command our utmost respect.

The intimate, simple, yet quiet and resilient images of them on submerged islands like Da Dong have become symbols of spiritual strength and intense patriotism, a source of pride for the Vietnamese people. They are the silent heroes, who need no fanfare but have achieved great feats, deserving of respect and gratitude from everyone.

Never in my life has a trip left such a powerful impression on me as when I set foot on Truong Sa Island. I felt most clearly the sacred heartbeat of patriotism, the indomitable will, and the silent sacrifice of the sons and daughters who are day and night safeguarding our sacred sovereignty in this remote, windswept place.

The moment the ship docked at the island, my heart tightened – the red flag with a yellow star fluttered brilliantly against the azure sky, and two rows of officers and soldiers guarding the nation's waters greeted me with resolute voices and warm smiles. I was speechless at the soldiers' unwavering spirit, at their bright eyes brimming with faith in their noble ideals – despite facing storms, scorching sun, and countless hardships year-round.

Standing on the island, looking out at the vast ocean, I felt as if the sacred spirit of the mountains and rivers was present here. Each wave crashing against the concrete embankment was a heartbeat of the nation, reminding me of my responsibility, my pride, and above all, my unwavering faith in the strength of national unity.

The moment we set foot on the island, I was overwhelmed by the majestic beauty of this land in the middle of the ocean – where the red flag with a yellow star proudly flies in the sun and wind. Meeting the naval soldiers and the islanders, I was greeted with friendly smiles, warm hugs, and joyful eyes that always shone with hope and happiness – the eyes of the children who had come with their families to live and work on the island. Despite the hardships and the distance from the mainland, everyone's face radiated smiles, their eyes shining with faith – a light that resonated deep within me, as resilient and indomitable as the square-fruited Terminalia catappa and the Barringtonia acutangula trees on the island.

Visiting Truong Sa Pagoda, a sacred place amidst the vast ocean, I was deeply moved by the sound of the temple bells echoing across the boundless sea. The moment I lit incense before the Buddha statue, I fell silent, my heart turning towards my ancestors, to the soldiers and fishermen who sacrificed their lives to protect this sacred land. It was a profoundly spiritual moment that made me feel small, humble, and infinitely grateful.

But perhaps the moment of the flag-raising ceremony on the island was the one that stirred my heart the most. As the national anthem resounded amidst the vast sea and sky, I felt as if I heard a call from the heart of Mother Earth, from every wave, every gust of wind. Tears welled up in my eyes – not from sadness, but from an overwhelming sense of pride that I couldn't put into words. I clearly felt that Truong Sa is the flesh and blood of our nation, and every Vietnamese person has a responsibility to preserve and protect this beloved sea and islands.

The visit to the DK1 platform was a special journey, bringing me many profound and unforgettable emotions. As the ship gradually approached the platform amidst the vast, deep blue water, like a mirror reflecting everything, I was overwhelmed with pride and emotion. The DK1 platform stood tall and majestic, defying both time and space. As we stepped onto the first steps leading up to the platform, schools of fish of all kinds surrounded the base of the platform as if welcoming us.

Upon setting foot on the offshore platform, I felt more acutely than ever the hardships the soldiers are enduring, from the simple and harsh living conditions to their longing for the mainland and their loved ones. Especially, although the platform is now more robust, it still has to be prepared for the strong storms of the East Sea. But above all, there is the steely spirit and optimistic smiles of the people here. Looking at the lush green vegetable patches that the soldiers themselves cultivate and care for, utilizing the limited water resources, I was even more impressed by their willpower, resilience, and optimism – the soldiers who are day and night guarding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands, amidst the waves, storms, and loneliness at the forefront of the waves. Their unwavering spirit and indomitable patriotism left a strong impression on me. Here, the love for the country truly becomes greater than ever before.

The conclusion of this sacred journey has left me with profound, intense, and unforgettable emotions. Each island I set foot on holds a story, a special mark of patriotism, of the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people amidst the vast ocean. I met courageous soldiers, brave citizens – those who have dedicated their youth to the sun and wind of Truong Sa. Despite living far from the mainland and in harsh conditions, their eyes always shone with faith and optimism. The firm handshakes, the everyday stories imbued with love for the homeland, the songs about the country sung amidst the sea and sky always made my heart beat faster.

When the red flag with a yellow star flutters in the vast expanse of the sea, and the national anthem resounds across the ocean, I feel an invisible force connecting the mainland with the sea and islands, linking the glorious past with the hopeful present. I was deeply moved when visiting the temples on Song Tu Tay Island, Truong Sa... - places that are not only spiritual havens for the people and soldiers, but also symbols of the Vietnamese spirit in the middle of the ocean. The sound of temple bells, the lingering incense smoke, and the gentle waves silenced my heart with a profound sense of sacredness and boundless gratitude.

The trip left me with genuine feelings about a resilient yet incredibly familiar Truong Sa, and about its ordinary yet extraordinary people. I realized that Truong Sa is not only a sacred part of our territory, but also a part of the very blood and flesh in the heart of every Vietnamese person. Suddenly, the poignant and deeply familiar lyrics of the song "In the Distant Islands" resonated in my mind:

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/ky-su/giua-menh-mong-bien-troi-to-quoc-824480