The journey to the islands of Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Nam Yet, Da Lon (B), Sinh Ton, Truong Sa Dong, Truong Sa and the DK1/16 (Phuc Tan) platform is not simply a series of waves crossing the open sea, but a journey carrying emotions from the mainland to the distant islands.
Eight cultural exchange events took place in eight different locations, but wherever the singing was heard, warmth spread. There was no fixed stage, no dazzling lights; often, the performance space was just a small open area, a corner of an offshore platform, or the deck of a ship swaying in the waves.
It was in this rustic setting that the role of the mobile performing arts team became clearer than ever. They reached the officers and soldiers with songs, music, and sincere sharing, allowing music to become a bridge connecting hearts amidst the vast ocean.
Music on the island isn't confined to a specific time slot. In the morning, as the sun rises, the first melodies fill the fresh air, awakening a new day with the warmth of Mother Earth. In the afternoon, when the sea breeze is gentler, the atmosphere becomes more lively, and the distance between the delegation and the island soldiers narrows. At times, the program has no clear beginning or end; the singing continues seamlessly, like a stream of emotions flowing between the sea and the sky.
There, the singers and the audience were almost indistinguishable. The soldiers were both spectators and immersed themselves in the performances through their own singing. Applause, radiant eyes, and harmonious melodies created an emotionally charged atmosphere, where shared feelings became the strongest bond.
The soldiers who keep the rhythm of love alive.
In that mobile performing arts team, each person was a piece of the puzzle, silently but indispensable. Artist Nguyen Quang Bao Quoc, the musician and arranger, didn't stand at the center, but he was the one who set the rhythm for the entire program. Amidst the sea breeze and high humidity, he and his colleagues carefully crafted each key and melody to support the lyrics and allow emotions to fully permeate the performance.
Returning to Truong Sa for the second time, he was still deeply moved. Each time he came here, he understood even more profoundly the meaning of the journey to this remote island. In the context of many limitations in performance conditions, the artist had to be flexible and adapt to the circumstances. But what resonated most deeply wasn't those obstacles, but the eyes of the officers and soldiers when the program began. Just seeing them smile and listen attentively, he knew that the melodies from the mainland had truly touched the hearts of the island soldiers.
If people like Nguyen Quang Bao Quoc are the "rhythm setters," then artist Dang Hieu, with his nine visits to Truong Sa, is the "flame keeper." For him, each trip is an opportunity to slow down, to feel more deeply about the people living on the front lines. The years spent at sea, the long nights on the islands, the simple yet moving stories… all become an inseparable part of his memories.
He vividly remembers the night he stayed on An Bang Island in 2014. In the tranquil setting, the sound of the waves seemed closer, and he met a young soldier who had just finished his shift. The soldier told him about his marriage, which had only lasted two months, about his wife back on the mainland, and about the nights he missed home and could only express it through songs and poems. "He read poetry to me, very simple but full of emotion. At that moment, I understood that music is not just for entertainment, but also a way for them to express their feelings," he recounted.
It was through these stories that he and the members of the mobile performing arts team came to understand even more deeply the meaning of their work. They came to the remote island to share their feelings, to alleviate some of the longing for the mainland, and to share the quiet moments in the lives of the soldiers stationed there. As he shared, what touches the hearts of the listeners is not the sophistication of the performance technique, but the sincere emotions conveyed in each song.
When lyrics become memories
Besides professional artists, the mobile performing arts team also has "special voices"—those not belonging to the professional stage but who have left a deep impression. Teacher Dang Thi Huyen is one such case. For her, Truong Sa is not just a performance venue, but a truly immersive experience. There, music transcends the lesson plan, blending with the sea breeze, the island sunshine, and the warmth of human connection.
There are moments that are small but become big memories. On Truong Sa Lon Island, while she was singing, a group of children unexpectedly ran out, lined up, and moved around her as if it were part of the performance. There was no rehearsal, no arrangement, yet they blended in naturally. “The children blended into the performance so beautifully. At that moment, I felt that music truly transcended boundaries,” she recalled.
On small islands, the audience is often just a few schoolchildren. The audience is small, but because of that, each glance, each smile is more vivid, touching the singer in a very special way. One shy child offered her a small stone and said, "We don't have anything to give you." That simple gift became something she will always remember, because it contained the sincerity of the children on the remote island. As she shared, sometimes it is the simplest things that move people to tears.
There was no script, no pre-set model. She sang from her emotions, singing from what she saw and felt amidst the sea and sky of her homeland. Before the young soldiers standing guard in the sea breeze, she sang familiar songs as a natural way of sharing. What resonated most deeply with her wasn't the performance itself, but the moment of farewell. As the ship left Truong Sa Lon Island, under the dim lights of the pier, many silently wiped away tears. That moment made her understand that this place was not just a remote island, but also a place where many emotions were anchored.
The seven-day journey with eight performances has come to an end, but the lasting impact of the Mobile Arts Team of Task Force No. 8.2026 continues to resonate through the cultural exchange performances. They brought their songs to the islands and returned with unforgettable memories. They shared affection from the mainland and received profound memories of human kindness at the forefront of the waves. Above all, those songs contributed to rekindling faith and love for the homeland amidst the vast ocean.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/chinh-polit/loi-ca-giu-dao-giua-trung-khoi-222027.html
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