The island "awakens" in the middle of the ocean.
These days, Hon Khoai Island is bustling with the sounds of machinery, the clanging of steel, the crashing of waves, all blending with the firm voices of engineers, combat engineers, and soldiers stationed on the island. This vibrant atmosphere began earlier, with General Secretary To Lam 's working visit on November 19, 2025.
Geological exploration work is being carried out urgently.
PHOTO: GIA BACH
Standing atop the 318-meter-high island overlooking the vast ocean, the General Secretary has opened a new chapter for the southernmost region of the Fatherland: Hon Khoai is not only a pristine beauty of forests and rocks, but also a "golden location" playing a strategic role in logistics, national defense and security, and the long-term development of the country.
" Ca Mau is the southernmost land, but it has never been the end of Vietnam's aspirations. In the new era, we need to consider Ca Mau as the bow of the Vietnamese ship venturing out to the open sea. Ca Mau must have a new impetus to rise to become a growth pole of the Mekong Delta, an important maritime economic center of the nation, a place that cuts through the waves to the open sea while also serving as a solid shield ensuring security and defense for the sacred southwestern sea region of the Fatherland," the concluding statement of General Secretary To Lam during his visit and inspection of work on Hon Khoai Island clearly stated.
The construction unit is conducting surveys and explorations for the construction of a dual-use general port at Hon Khoai.
PHOTO: GIA BACH
For many years, agricultural products from the Mekong Delta had to take a roundabout route through ports in the Southeast region to reach the world market. This increased costs and reduced competitiveness. However, with the Hon Khoai dual-purpose multi-purpose port, this story will change. Goods from the Mekong Delta can now go directly to the open sea, reducing pressure on upstream port systems and opening up a completely new direction for the region's development.
Most notably, as General Secretary To Lam emphasized, Hon Khoai Island has a dual purpose: economic development goes hand in hand with the task of protecting the Fatherland. The seaport and sea bridge not only serve the people's lives and the economy, but also serve as a pillar of national defense and security in the southernmost part of the country.
Therefore, planning here must be meticulous down to the smallest detail, clearly defining military zones, economic zones, and ecological zones; placing the deep-water port and logistics area within a solid security framework. All construction and operation activities must be strictly controlled, ensuring absolute safety at this border of the country.
3 major projects to open up the South
This strategic shift was clearly demonstrated when three major national projects commenced construction simultaneously in Dat Mui commune on August 19, 2025: the Ca Mau - Dat Mui Expressway ; the Dat Mui - Hon Khoai sea route; and the dual-use general port. From the moment the groundbreaking ceremony took place, Ca Mau officially entered a phase of proactive opening, connecting the mainland with the Hon Khoai island cluster with the largest infrastructure projects ever.
The construction unit is conducting surveys and explorations for the construction of a dual-use general port at Hon Khoai.
PHOTO: GIA BACH
The Ca Mau - Dat Mui expressway, over 60 km long, connects the North and South; the first nearly 18 km sea-crossing route from the southernmost point to the ocean; and the dual-use multi-purpose port, when completed, will both accommodate large cargo ships and serve the task of protecting the southwestern sea region. These three projects form the "backbone" of the maritime and island strategy, making Ca Mau a new driving force of the southern coastal economic corridor.
Mr. Lam Van Bi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, recognized that this was a "role-changing" moment for Ca Mau, shifting from relying on the mainland to proactively venturing out to sea. This role-changing moment began with the genuine belief of the people in the Ca Mau Cape region.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Thanh Su, Political Officer of Hon Khoai Border Guard Station, happily shared: "When the dual-use port comes into operation, it will not only create momentum for economic development but also contribute to strengthening national defense and security, enhancing the ability to protect the sovereignty and border of the Fatherland."
A view of Hon Khoai Island
PHOTO: GIA BACH
"The bow of the Vietnamese ship" reaches out to the open sea.
That vision was further affirmed when General Secretary To Lam personally inspected key projects and concluded in Notice 427-TB/VPTW on the special importance of Hon Khoai. The General Secretary emphasized: The seaport and sea bridge will serve both economic and social life, as well as a key defense and security pillar in the southernmost part. All items must be implemented with the spirit of "no delays, no link hindering the overall progress."
A view of Hon Khoai Island
PHOTO: GIA BACH
That profound message became a command for action on the construction site: "Build the port faster than the waves, construct the bridge stronger than the rocks, and open the way to the open sea with the steely will of the Vietnamese people." Amidst the rough seas and strong winds, the spirit of Uncle Ho's soldiers shone brightly in every group of workers, every construction team, and every engineering soldier. Each steel pile driven into the sea was not just a construction material, but a symbol of the nation's sovereignty.
On August 19, 2025, three major national projects – the Ca Mau - Dat Mui expressway, the Dat Mui - Hon Khoai sea route, and the dual-use general port – simultaneously commenced construction.
PHOTO: GIA BACH
Based on three strategic projects, Ca Mau is forming a new development structure. From Dat Mui to Hon Khoai, a green economic belt is being formed, featuring offshore wind power, coastal gas-fired power, high-tech aquaculture, ecotourism, and a modern island and maritime logistics center. The Hon Khoai island cluster is envisioned to become a repair, supply, and rescue center, as well as a logistics hub of approximately 1,000 hectares, developed in conjunction with a deep-water port and the longest sea crossing route in Vietnam.
On August 19, 2025, three major national projects – the Ca Mau - Dat Mui expressway, the Dat Mui - Hon Khoai sea route, and the dual-use general port – simultaneously commenced construction.
PHOTO: GIA BACH
From what was once the starting point of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on the sea more than half a century ago, Ca Mau today opens a new path – a path of integration, connectivity, and aspiration to reach out to the world. The people of Ca Mau understand that the bridges and deep-water ports being built not only connect the mainland with the islands, but also connect the present with the future.
The future, as the General Secretary once said, is one in which Ca Mau, though the southernmost land, has never been the end of Vietnam's aspirations. And from this spring, those aspirations have taken on a concrete form, beginning from Hon Khoai, where the Fatherland stretches out to the open sea.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hon-khoai-mo-loi-ra-bien-lon-185260130174136351.htm
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