Vietnam Sea and Islands Association completes the journey "Unified mountains and rivers"

On April 12, the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association solemnly and emotionally visited President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, marking the success of the 33-day journey in the program "Non song lien mot doi" towards celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025).

The program "Non song loi mot dai" organized by the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association with many meaningful activities to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; to unite national sentiment from the border, islands to remote areas.

The Vietnam Sea and Islands Association has had many positive activities to express deep gratitude.

Accordingly, Chairman of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association Tran Vu Thanh and some members will make a 9,000km journey through 20 national landmarks, the extreme points on land and at sea of ​​the Fatherland by motorbike. Four stages, including: Stage 1 - Spring route: Following the border from the Northeast to the Northwest, passing through the blooming flower seasons in time for spring; Stage 2 - Crossing Truong Son: Following the footsteps of "Uncle Ho's soldiers" in the past, crossing the East and West Truong Son; Stage 3 - Thousand-mile East Sea: Traveling the entire length of Vietnam, members will board a boat to the sea; Stage 4 - Through the white sand: Following the coastal road with long stretches of white sand, returning to the capital Hanoi.

The journey "The country is one strip" is conquered by motorbike.

Engineer and photographer Tran Vu Thanh has been attached to the border for decades; more than 10 times coming to Truong Sa archipelago, DK1 platform, having many meaningful activities, contributing to the sea and islands and sharing with the soldiers' rear. Among them are the seawater filtration machine into fresh water, the garbage compactor that he himself created, installed and transferred technology to Truong Sa archipelago. Since the start of the journey on March 9, up to now, after 33 days, the Chairman of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association and its members have completed 4 land stages as planned. Next, he continued his 1,000 nautical mile journey at sea, visiting Truong Sa archipelago, DK1 platform.

I have been fortunate to visit many regions of the Fatherland. In the midst of the vastness, the mountains and the sea, I feel more deeply the sovereignty of the Fatherland which is very close. Let us look deeply into the eyes of the soldiers, the sunburned skin on the border, islands, in each coral stone... Everywhere, there are people who are passionate, silently sacrificing to raise the Fatherland higher.

Chairman of Vietnam Sea and Islands Association Tran Vu Thanh

Sharing about the memorable journey, engineer Tran Vu Thanh emotionally expressed: "We have just gone through a journey with our hearts. Each step is a bow before the great sacrifices, a silence before the unforgettable memories. Standing at the extreme points of the Fatherland, Lung Cu, A Pa Chai, Mui Ca Mau, Mui Dien or Bo Y... we will not only see the border, but also meet the hearts of the people, meet the sacred soul of the mountains and rivers".

Engineer Tran Vu Thanh (right) with Navy soldiers.

"We are living in peace and development. But peace does not come by itself, and development cannot be sustainable if people forget their roots. I believe that everyone has their own journey, and it will be more meaningful if we dedicate it to showing gratitude to history, to awaken the pride and responsibility of today's generation to the country. I hope that, with very specific things such as each greeting, small gifts, photos taken at the homeland's border, a smart classroom in Truong Sa, or a tight handshake between people... will continue to extend the S-shaped strip of land with love, understanding and gratitude", engineer Tran Vu Thanh said emotionally.

Navy soldiers experiment with motorcycles.

At all stages of the program "Non song lien mot doi", the delegation performed incense offering and memorial ceremonies at cemeteries and monuments, inscribing the merits of heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the Fatherland; visited and presented gifts to Vietnamese heroic mothers and families with meritorious services to the revolution.

I believe that everyone has their own journey, and it will be more meaningful if we spend it to honor history, to awaken the pride and responsibility of today's generation towards the country.

Engineer Tran Vu Thanh

Following the journey, the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association also coordinated with a number of localities to organize many photo exhibitions with the theme "Pride of a strip of mountains and rivers" so that people across the country, especially the younger generations, can be more proud when admiring the beauty of the country and people with unique spiritual and cultural values.

The photographic works focus on border areas, islands, national landmarks, the country's extreme points and the economic and social achievements that the country has achieved over the past 50 years.

Lieutenant Ha Tan Dung used to be a Navy soldier, now a border guard.

"The country is one strip" is a journey filled with unforgettable memories. Until now, recalling it, engineer Tran Vu Thanh still remembers the story of Lieutenant Ha Tan Dung (born in 1997), Station Chief of Pac Bo Border Control Station, Soc Giang Border Guard Station (Ha Quang, Cao Bang).

At the exhibition at Pac Bo National Special Relic Site organized by the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association as part of the journey, he suddenly hugged the national flag with the Truong Sa island mark on it to his chest. It turned out that this was where he was stationed. His father, Captain Ha Quang Thep, who worked at Tuyen Quang Provincial Military Command, passed away when he was in second grade. After completing his service, Ha Tan Dung studied at the Naval Academy for a year and then passed the Border Guard Academy entrance exam.

Lieutenant Quan Anh Tuan teaches adopted children of Lung Cu Border Guard Station.

At Lung Cu Border Post (Dong Van, Ha Giang Province) - the northernmost point of the country, engineer Tran Vu Thanh took a photo series for Lieutenant Quan Anh Tuan. Although he is not married, he is an exemplary father to his children, who are adopted children of soldiers at the border post. Quan Anh Tuan was born in 1996 and is from Phu Tho Province.

In 2021, he graduated as the valedictorian of the university-level platoon-level officer training course at the Border Guard Academy, and was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of National Defense and a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee for his excellent academic achievements. Since graduating and working at the Station, he has taught 5 "children" who are H'Mong ethnic minority children, of which 2 have grown up: Tho Mi Va, a 12th grade student at Friendship School 80, and Tho Thi Dinh, a first-year student at the University of Mining and Geology.

An unforgettable memory with mother Le Thi Lan.

In particular, the Chairman of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Association could not hold back his emotions when mentioning the mothers of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives at Gac Ma Island in 1988. He took the first photo of mother Le Thi Lan, the mother of martyr Nguyen Huu Loc, 8 years ago, when her hair was just turning gray, and now she is 83 years old, her legs are almost gangrenous due to many diseases. Despite her old age and poor health, for the past 37 years, she has not stopped missing her son.

Mom still misses you so much...

Meanwhile, mother Huynh Thi Ke, 92 years old, the mother of martyr Nguyen Phu Doan, seems to have experienced a miracle. Six years ago, her leg hurt, the doctors at the hospital were very worried, and considered amputating her leg, but she firmly refused, because "she had lived this long". She moved in with her daughter in a small, old apartment, but thanks to her daughter and son-in-law's devoted care, her leg somehow healed on its own, and now she can walk well.

Thoughtful visit to the mother of Gac Ma martyr.

Mother Dang Thi Nhung, 83 years old, the mother of Martyr Le Van Sanh, used to have good living conditions, with many children and grandchildren, successful and close to each other, but now she is heartbroken because her young grandson needs a kidney transplant, her son has to sell the old house and move further away to have money for treatment. Her eyes are filled with sadness, far from her old neighbors, with few people to talk to every day, she is still not used to the new place. Mother Tran Thi Hue, 83 years old, the mother of Martyr Le The, is very lucky because her health is still good, she chants Buddhist scriptures and prays for her son every day...

The journey "The mountains and rivers are one strip" has ended, but the echoes still quietly sow in people's hearts many memories and longings. It does not stop at the experience of a long trip, across the north - central - south, but it is truly a return to the roots, a deep gratitude sent to those who sacrificed for the peace and independence of the Fatherland. Each landmark, each inch of land on the border or each wave in the far sea... are like reminders that: The sacred heartbeat of the Fatherland is always full in the heart of every Vietnamese person.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hoi-bien-dao-viet-nam-hoan-thanh-hanh-trinh-non-song-lien-mot-dai-post871972.html