Aspiration from the sea - Part 1: Ly Son's resilience

QTO - From the mainland heading out to sea, the local working group went to survey and grasp the situation of the sea and islands near the shore in 2025, overcoming the waves on ship 390, carrying the sentiments of the rear to those who are protecting the islands and seas day and night. In Ly Son and Con Co, two outpost islands of the Central region, each person and each national flag lit up the belief in a Vietnam strong in the sea, rich from the sea, steadfast in the East Sea.

In mid-October, when the East Sea waves were still murmuring in the new wind season, ship 390 of the Coast Guard Region 2 Command carried a delegation of local officials to survey and grasp the situation of the sea and islands near the shore in 2025, traveling more than 200 nautical miles towards Ly Son special zone. From the mainland to the remote islands, the voyage carried the affection of the rear, the sharing and the trust of the mainland placed at the forefront of the waves.

Steadfast at the forefront

For generations, Ly Son has been considered the "eastern fence" of the Fatherland, the origin of the Hoang Sa heroes of the past. In the middle of the blue sea and sky, the small island is like a flower standing proudly in the waves, both simple and strong. Today, on the island area of ​​only more than 10 km2, life is changing every day. Ly Son has a diverse tropical marine ecosystem. The community is dense, close-knit, following both village culture and the island's own identity. The special zone also preserves many valuable Vietnamese historical and cultural relics, associated with the process of building and defending the island, such as: the Hoang Sa soldiers' memorial ceremony or the boat racing festival at the beginning of the year, which is still solemnly held.

Under the sea there are colorful coral reefs. The sea has many precious seafood of various kinds, creating famous specialties of Ly Son. The island has fine white sand beaches, adjacent to natural landscapes, forming beautiful beaches. All have created the difference, uniqueness, and attractiveness of the sea and island tourism picture with full of humanistic and natural tourism resources. Ly Son owns and exploits many tourism products from sea and island ecology to spiritual tourism and cultural exploration, both community tourism and research tours.

The working delegation of Quang Tri province surveyed and grasped the situation of the coastal sea and island areas in 2025, taking souvenir photos at the Flagpole on Ly Son Island - Photo: QN

Having overcome the struggles of the past, Ly Son today is weaving a vivid story about the will and resilience of a resilient island region. According to statistics, since the beginning of the year, the total production value of the entire special zone has reached more than 1,300 billion VND, an increase of nearly 7% over the same period last year, of which trade and services accounted for more than 570 billion VND. Tourism welcomed more than 82,000 visitors, including more than 1,000 international visitors, the highest number since Ly Son officially became a special zone.

On the fine sand slope at the foot of Thoi Loi mountain, rows of garlic stretch out white. People still diligently cultivate, sun-dry, and preserve the craft as if preserving the memory of their ancestors. Now, Ly Son garlic is not only a product, but also a pride, a cultural brand of a land that knows how to get rich from the sea and from salty soil. Ly Son garlic, the "white gold" of the island, is grown on 290 hectares of sandy soil, yielding more than 1,000 tons per year, bringing in nearly 300 billion VND in revenue.

In the development orientation for the coming period, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ly Son special economic zone Nguyen Van Huy said: "In Resolution 26 of the Politburo on socio-economic development of the North Central region and the Central Coast, orienting the development of the marine economy, Ly Son is identified to develop into the province's sea and island tourism center.

In fact, tourism now accounts for about 50% of the socio-economic development structure. Ly Son garlic has just been recognized as a 5-star OCOP product, along with 3 related products meeting 4-star standards. We aim to build a clean agricultural product brand that both increases economic value and cares for the health of people and consumers.

Chatting on the edge of the wharf, comrade Dang Dai Tinh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, Head of the Quang Tri Province working delegation, commented: "From the southern sea area like Quang Ngai to the gateway to the Gulf of Tonkin where Con Co is guarded, each small island has its own position in the marine economic development strategy. That is the direction that demonstrates the vision of the Central localities, exploiting the potential of the sea to reach out to the ocean."

Trust sent to remote islands

Amidst the salty breeze, stories about Ly Son fishermen always move people. At the forefront of the waves, they not only earn a living but also guard the sacred sea left by their ancestors. Fisherman Bui Van Cuu in Tay village, Ly Son special zone shared: "Now people understand the regulations better, know which areas are allowed to fish, everyone reminds each other to obey the law to both keep their jobs and protect the sea. With the support of the Coast Guard and the government, we feel secure going out to sea."

For over 20 years, officers and soldiers of Coast Guard Region 2 have always been present in the central sea, both enforcing the law and doing mass mobilization work, propagating to fishermen not to violate regulations on combating illegal fishing, not to violate foreign waters, and towards responsible fishing. They are the support for fishermen to feel secure in staying at sea and on islands. This is also the force that contributes to creating a solid "people's heart position" in the middle of the sea.

The flags have been replaced on Ly Son fishing boats - Photo: QN

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thi Phuong, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of the Department of Mass Mobilization, General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, shared her feelings: "The first time I set foot on the outpost island, my emotions were overflowing. The scenery and people here are wonderful. The fishermen are honest and determined to stick to the sea, showing their patriotism and attachment to the sea and islands to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland."

These shares were followed by the feelings of Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Ly, Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee: “Through social security activities and exchanges with fishermen, I feel more deeply the close relationship between the army and the people. The Coast Guard and the localities have created a strong and close relationship between the rear and the front line as if it were a continuous strip.

Colonel Tran Hong Que, Deputy Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 2 Command, affirmed: “Protecting the sea to get rich from the sea, getting rich to protect the sea. That is the proud journey that the people of Ly Son are continuing to write in the middle of the Fatherland's ocean.”

On the wharf, the chirping of children mixed with the sound of the ship's engine starting. The bright red flag in the sea breeze seemed brighter, as hands clasped hands, extending solidarity from the mainland to the distant islands. From the mainland rear to the stormy frontline, those bridges are adding strength to Ly Son to be more steadfast on the path of development.

As the afternoon falls, ship 390 leaves Ly Son wharf in the red sunset. Behind is a small, resilient island, ahead is a new journey of faith and aspiration. The sea still sings, the wind still blows, and the hearts of people on the remote island are still filled with faith. The resilience of Ly Son today is the aspiration to reach out to sea of ​​an entire Central region. At the forefront of the waves and winds, people know how to use difficulties as motivation, and use the ocean as a space to build the future.

Quang Ngoc

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202510/khat-vong-tu-bien-bai-1-suc-bat-ly-son-70f6705/