Son Cha Island - Where soldiers preserve spring amidst the sea and sky.

DNO - Amidst the vast sea and sky at the foot of Hai Van Pass, in an area without electricity and uninhabited, border guards silently hold their ground, safeguarding national sovereignty. During the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, by the fire, wrapping banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) on this remote island, spring manifests itself in a very unique way - quietly and sacredly.

Border guards are making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) on a remote island.

Deep in the open sea at the foot of Hai Van Pass, about 10 nautical miles from the mainland, Hon Son Cha emerges as a pristine green strip amidst the vast ocean. The island, approximately 1.6 km² in size and with a peak 235m above sea level, is uninhabited and faces strong winds and rough waves year-round.

Locals in the coastal region call this place by many names: Hon Chao, Hon Cho, Hon Son Tra Con, or Ngoc Island. But for the border guards who are stationed here day and night, it is simply a place where they dedicate their youth to maintaining peace on the mainland.

On September 18, 2024, the Government issued Resolution No. 144/NQ-CP, officially assigning Hon Son Cha Island to Da Nang for management after many years of historical issues regarding its administrative boundaries.

By March 11, 2025, the Da Nang City Border Guard Command will take over the responsibility of managing and protecting the sovereignty and security of the border and maritime areas in this region.

The Hai Van Border Guard Station is directly responsible for carrying out the task, managing infrastructure, organizing patrols, controlling the movement of people and vehicles, and ensuring security and order on the island.

Hon Son Cha will become an isolated eco-tourism resort island, catering to the high-end and ultra-luxury tourist segments.

In its marine economic development plan, Da Nang city has identified Hon Son Cha as an isolated ecological resort island, serving the high-end and luxury tourism segments. That is the planned future. Currently, however, it remains a strategic outpost in the middle of the sea, where soldiers are silently carrying out their duties under challenging conditions.

The past rainy season was particularly difficult. The rough seas lasted for more than two months, preventing ships from resupplying, making life very hard for the soldiers.

Corporal Pham Phuoc Nguyen, a soldier currently serving at the Hon Son Cha Border Control Station, recounted: “There was a time when, for more than two months straight, besides a little rice and dried fish, we had to find our own wild vegetables to supplement our meals. There is no national power grid here; we mainly rely on solar energy, so during prolonged rainy days, the electricity is weak, making daily life even more difficult.”

Discussing tasks before patrolling the island.

Fresh water had to be carefully conserved, and the island was isolated by storms for days on end – every day of work here was a challenge. But it was precisely in these circumstances that the spirit of the naval soldiers was further tempered. Patrol shifts remained regular, vehicle inspections were carried out rigorously, and the duty logbook was filled with entries.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Minh Tuan, Political Officer of the Hai Van Border Guard Station, said that after taking over the management of Hon Son Cha Island, the unit has both strengthened its infrastructure and done a good job of ideological work, encouraging officers and soldiers to feel secure in their temporary duties on the island.

"Despite the difficult conditions, all of us clearly understand that this is an important political task. Maintaining sovereignty and ensuring security and order in the region is our top priority," he emphasized.

Amidst these hardships, the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 was still complete. No fireworks, no bustling streets, no golden apricot blossoms in front of the house. But at the Hon Son Cha Border Guard Station, spring was still welcomed in a very special way: making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes).

Border guards and the crew of the Son Cha Lighthouse Station gathered together, building a campfire amidst the sea breeze, carefully wrapping each cake. Their hands, accustomed to guns, mooring ropes, and patrol logbooks, now skillfully wrapped leaves and tied strings. As night fell, the flickering firelight illuminated their sun-tanned but radiant faces.

What seems like a simple activity on the mainland holds special significance on a remote island. It's not just about preserving traditional customs, but also a way for soldiers to bond, share their homesickness, and encourage each other to overcome loneliness amidst the vast ocean.

"Even on a remote island, as long as we're still gathered around the pot of sticky rice cakes, and we can still preserve the Tet customs, it warms my heart," a young soldier said as he opened the lid of the pot of sticky rice cakes for the new year.

Spring on Hon Son Cha Island is not boisterous. But behind that quietude lie night-long guard shifts, patrols on windswept rocky slopes, and the heavy but enduring responsibility of border guards. They celebrate Tet not only with personal joy, but also with the awareness of keeping the mainland peaceful.

Currently, Hon Son Cha still faces many difficulties regarding infrastructure, electricity, water, and living conditions, but it is precisely in these hardships that the image of the officers and soldiers steadfastly holding their ground at the forefront of the waves shines even brighter. While the city aims for the future development of a high-end eco-tourism island, these soldiers remain "living landmarks" in the middle of the ocean.

Amidst the sea breeze and white-capped waves, spring on Hon Son Cha Island may not be vibrant with color, but it is steeped in warmth and affection. And it is from this frontier outpost that the peace of the mainland is maintained day after day, night after night.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/hon-son-cha-noi-nguoi-linh-giu-xuan-giua-bien-troi-3324607.html