Take away the feelings
Departing from Cam Ranh International Port (Khanh Hoa), and traveling nearly 1,000 nautical miles to eight destinations including Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Nam Yet, Da Lon B, Sinh Ton, Truong Sa Dong, Truong Sa, and DK 1/16 (Phuc Tan), the mission completed its entire planned program, achieving its objectives and requirements while ensuring absolute safety. This included visits, exchanges, and gift-giving to the military and civilians of the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK1 platform.
Delegation No. 14 comprises over 200 delegates from the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union ; the Ministry of Industry and Trade; the Ministry of Education and Training; the Ministry of Interior; the Central Information and Communication Department of the Vietnam Buddhist Association; the Truong Sa HQ 571-2014 volunteer group; MB Bank; along with a number of artists, journalists, and naval officers and soldiers.
The delegation was led by Colonel Nguyen Cong Thang, Deputy Head of the Political Department of the Navy; the deputy heads of the delegation included: Comrade Ngo Dong Hai, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; and Comrade Nguyen Tuong Lam, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth Union, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union.
At each destination, the delegation held working sessions, visited, encouraged, presented gifts, and participated in cultural exchanges with the military, civilians, and forces on the islands and offshore platforms. In particular, the delegation participated in the flag-raising ceremony and troop review on Truong Sa Island; and organized a memorial ceremony for the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands in the sea area near Co Lin Island and the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.
The delegation also offered incense at the Monument to National Hero Tran Hung Dao (Song Tu Tay Island), the General Vo Nguyen Giap Park (Son Ca Island), the Martyrs' Monument and the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House in Truong Sa town; visited and offered incense at cultural and spiritual sites on the islands… The No. 14 working group donated 838 boxes of gifts and items to the military and civilians on the islands and offshore platforms with a total value of 1.25 billion VND.
In particular, in response to the "Greening Truong Sa" program, a major initiative of the Navy aimed at planting new and additional trees on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, Task Force No. 14, MB Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank, and the 571-2014 Volunteer Group, in coordination with relevant agencies and units, effectively implemented the "HiGreen" program, planting over 1,000 new trees of various types, including casuarina, Con Dao almond, and lemon trees. This demonstrates a great sense of responsibility and commitment to the task of developing the Truong Sa special zone into a socio-economic center and a stronghold for national defense from the sea.
Throughout the sea voyage, the delegation successfully implemented the contents and targets of the "Unity, Compassion, Achievement, and Decisive Victory" emulation movement with many meaningful and practical activities that attracted a large number of delegates, officers, and soldiers to participate.
The working visit of Delegation No. 14 to encourage officers, soldiers, and people on Truong Sa Islands and DK1 platform in 2026 was a great success, ensuring absolute safety and leaving many deep feelings and impressions.
The visit provided the delegation and its members with vivid practical experiences of the lives, difficulties, hardships, and sacrifices of naval officers, soldiers, and the people who are tirelessly guarding the seas and islands of the Fatherland. This helped them gain a deeper understanding of the seas and islands, fostering a love for them in each individual.
The overall outcome for each member of the delegation was: Going to Truong Sa and DK1 meant "Bringing out affection, bringing back faith"; recognizing that sovereignty is sacred, noble, and inviolable; uniting and working together, upholding the responsibility to firmly protect the seas and islands of the Fatherland, contributing to building a prosperous, beautiful, and civilized Vietnam, rising to the level of the world.
The hardships are vivid.
The visit left many deep feelings and impressions. It provided the delegates with vivid practical experiences of the lives, difficulties, hardships, and dedication of naval officers and soldiers, as well as the people guarding the nation's islands and seas.
At the conclusion of the mission, the Naval Command decided to award 72 "For the Cause of Protecting the Sovereignty of the Sea and Islands of the Fatherland" badges and 123 "Truong Sa Soldier" badges to the members of the delegation; the head of the delegation commended the collective of officers and soldiers of Ship 571, the operational officer team, the service team, the Party and Political work teams, the artists, journalists, and outstanding individuals from the various teams and departments within the delegation.
Colonel Nguyen Cong Thang, Deputy Head of the Naval Political Department and Head of the working group, shared: "With the attention of the Central Military Commission and the Minister of National Defense, the Navy annually organizes trips for people nationwide and overseas Vietnamese to visit the military and people of the Truong Sa Special Zone. This trip by Working Group No. 14 visited and presented gifts to encourage the forces on the islands and offshore platforms, and especially conveyed the sentiments of people from the mainland to Truong Sa through the tree planting program - a green landmark on Truong Sa Island and other islands in the Truong Sa archipelago. We are very honored and feel a sense of love and responsibility to the people of the whole country to firmly protect the beloved sovereignty of our nation's sea and islands. In particular, this trip included the participation of the volunteer group HQ 571 - 2014, who went to the islands to plant trees with the people." Each lemon tree provides the soldiers with a bowl of sour soup after their training, making the hardships and fatigue less arduous... We are determined to stand firm with the forces on the Truong Sa archipelago, holding our weapons steady and steering steady, protecting every stretch of sea and every inch of our beloved homeland.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation to Truong Sa Island, Mr. Ngo Dong Hai, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, shared: "Coming to Truong Sa Island - the capital of the special zone - we fully felt the emotions and feelings towards the beloved Truong Sa archipelago of our Fatherland. The delegation, comprised of many different members, brought with them the warm and affectionate feelings and concern of the mainland for the officers, soldiers, forces, and people on the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago. Besides the heartfelt sentiments and gifts, the delegation planted trees and contributed to further beautifying, consolidating, and improving the lives of officers, soldiers, and civilians on the islands."
Emotions ran high, and most members of the delegation, including those who had visited the Truong Sa archipelago many times before, were deeply moved and filled with admiration for the sacrifices of the heroic martyrs.
"We feel even more deeply that, although the islands are now lush and green, with modern facilities and improved living conditions for officers, soldiers, and people on the islands, there are still many hardships, difficulties, and even dangers, and sacrifices made so that we can have a solid island system and, above all, a symbol of the indomitable and resilient spirit of our Fatherland," said Mr. Ngo Dong Hai.
Mr. Ngo Dong Hai also expressed his emotion at seeing many comrades who have spent a very long time stationed at sea and on the islands. Some comrades have traveled to many islands in the archipelago, and others have served at many different islands in various regions within the territorial waters of the Fatherland. Many of these comrades have overcome hardships, endured the scorching sun, and suffered deprivations to maintain the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands. It was even more moving to see soldiers who were very young, only 18 or 20 years old, with dark skin, but with unwavering eyes, unified will, and determination.
Each member of the delegation acknowledged this and felt even more strongly that the love for their homeland and the mainland was just a small contribution, a way to help the officers and soldiers continue to steadfastly and confidently carry out their duties.
Mr. Ngo Dong Hai also shared the warm feeling of returning home to each island, being welcomed and facilitated by the officers, soldiers, and people on the islands as if they were family members, with genuine and intimate closeness.
“On behalf of the delegation, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the meticulous preparation, the warm welcome, and all the heartfelt sentiments that you have shown to our delegation. We will spread this spirit, first and foremost the pride in our islands and seas, our homeland, and the sacred sovereignty of our Fatherland, the steadfastness of the Truong Sa archipelago in the face of storms and tempests; the resilience of the soldiers, officers, and people on the islands, to many different forces and components to further cultivate and contribute to maintaining the faith and pride of the Vietnamese people in the Truong Sa archipelago and our sacred maritime sovereignty,” said Mr. Ngo Dong Hai.
Speaking with reporters, Sergeant Luong Minh Tien, stationed on Truong Sa Dong Island, expressed his joy and pride at the visit of the delegation to the officers and soldiers on the island. Sergeant Minh Tien said: "Every time a delegation comes to visit and encourage us officers and soldiers, it's like we're given more strength to complete our mission."
Sergeant Luong Minh Tien has been stationed on Truong Sa Dong Island for five months, but he is proud to have chosen to be a pioneer on the front lines. Sergeant Luong Minh Tien shared: "Before coming to Truong Sa, I was very excited to carry out the mission. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity for young people to contribute. I want to send a message to young people: while you are young, be brave and volunteer to be on the front lines, contributing to the Fatherland."
Moments of Gratitude
During the trip, perhaps what resonated most with the delegates was not only the vivid portrayal of the hardships faced by officers and soldiers at the islands and offshore platforms they visited, but also the moments of remembrance for the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Truong Sa archipelago, on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.
The delegation was deeply moved as they recalled, expressed gratitude to, and showed appreciation to generations of Vietnamese people, their ancestors, and especially to the heroic officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy, the Vietnam People's Air Force, and other forces. They especially expressed their gratitude for the sacrifices of the soldiers who fell defending the sacred airspace and seas of the Fatherland.
In his memorial speech, Colonel Pham Van Ket, Deputy Head of Political Affairs, Political Department of the 4th Naval Region, emotionally stated: “We admire the exemplary heroic martyrs Lieutenant Colonel Tran Duc Thong, Deputy Brigade Commander, 146th Brigade; Captain Vu Phi Tru, Captain of ship HQ 604; and Lieutenant Tran Van Phuong, Deputy Commander of Gac Ma Island, who, before sacrificing their lives, bravely wrapped the national flag around their bodies, encouraging their comrades, ‘We must not retreat, we must let our blood stain the national flag and the glorious tradition of the Navy.’”
Heroic Captain, Major Vu Huy Le, faced with the imminent loss of the island, calmly and strategically commanded the HQ505 ship, simultaneously engaging in combat and swiftly maneuvering the vessel onto the Co Lin reef, transforming it into a steel fortress, an impregnable living landmark, affirming the sovereignty of Vietnam's seas and islands... These heroes departed with a radiant spirit of unwavering faith in victory, further illuminating the noble qualities of "Uncle Ho's soldiers - the heroic soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy."
Members of the delegation, returning to the mainland today, recalled the early morning at the memorial ceremony for the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland when Lieutenant Colonel Lai Van Tung, Deputy Political Commissar of Brigade 127, Region 5 of the Navy, shared: “For the past 37 years, generations of officers and soldiers of the Navy, especially the officers and soldiers of the DK1 Battalion/Region 2 of the Navy, have set aside the difficulties of their families and the hardships of many aspects, upholding a high sense of responsibility, strictly obeying orders, resolutely, persistently, bravely facing all challenges, standing firm at the forefront; overcoming many difficulties and challenges, successfully completing assigned tasks, many of which were completed excellently. The Battalion has been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and the State and received many other prestigious awards.”
In the development of the Economic-Scientific-Service Cluster, despite the constant attention and efforts of the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense, and Navy, creating favorable conditions for the officers and soldiers on the offshore platforms to fulfill their assigned responsibilities, the fierce and harsh natural conditions and the devastating power of the sea storms in 1990, 1996, 1998, and 2000 caused the collapse of several platforms... In moments between life and death, the officers and soldiers on the platforms demonstrated boundless loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the People; upholding the noble nature and traditions of the heroic Army and Navy, calmly and steadfastly holding their ground with the spirit of "As long as there are people, there are platforms, and there is the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands"...
"Since the comrades passed away, generations of officers and soldiers in the Air Force and the officers and soldiers of the DK1 Battalion have continued to uphold and emulate their example, overcoming all difficulties and hardships, standing firm at the forefront, and firmly protecting the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland...", Lieutenant Colonel Lai Van Tung said.
Amidst the sea, sky, and waves on the southern continental shelf; before the spirits of the outstanding officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy who have fallen; with boundless respect and gratitude, the entire delegation pledges to forever follow in the footsteps of the faith and ideals of previous generations, worthy of the sacrifices of the martyrs, and to dedicate all their strength to contributing even more to the cause of building and protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.
The Truong Sa archipelago, a homeland of Vietnam, has undergone many changes and developments today. Thanks to the attention of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, all levels and sectors, the entire nation's military and people, and overseas Vietnamese, with the spirit of "The whole country for Truong Sa – Truong Sa for the whole country," many solid economic, cultural, social, and national defense and security projects have been built, creating a beautiful and modern Truong Sa Special Zone that is "Strong in defense; Good in living standards; Beautiful in environmental landscape; Exemplary in military-civilian solidarity."
Voyage No. 14 concluded as the ship cut through the waves heading towards the mainland, but its impact lingers throughout the historic month of May for the nation in general and the traditional day of the Vietnam People's Navy in particular. Because the voyage was not only about conveying affection and bringing back faith, but also about expressing profound gratitude to the heroic martyrs who fell to protect every inch of land and every stretch of sea of the Fatherland, and gratitude to every officer and soldier who is guarding the sea and sky of our homeland day and night. As faith is nurtured each day, as the green color covers the resilient landmarks, Truong Sa will forever remain an inseparable part of our flesh and blood, rising strongly in the ocean alongside the beloved S-shaped land of Vietnam.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/hai-trinh-xanh-hoa-nhung-cot-moc-truong-sa-20260510180020717.htm
![[Image] Nearly 125,000 Hanoi students completed the Literature exam for the 10th grade entrance exam.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/30/1780117233041_ndo_br_thiet-ke-chua-co-ten-2-png.webp)
Comment (0)