A cup of strong tea amidst the salty wind.

(NLĐO) - After brewing tea for the delegation, the officers and soldiers on Tien Nu Island laughed and said that the tea on the island wasn't as fragrant and delicious as on the mainland.

The author is sitting and drinking tea on Fairy Island.

Amidst the roaring waves and the eternal blue of the ocean, beside that strong, dark red tea, I drank and silently expressed my gratitude to the officers and soldiers beside me. Those who live and guard this place day and night, this submerged island of Tien Nu (part of the Truong Sa archipelago, Truong Sa district, Khanh Hoa province), the most sacred and remote eastern part of our country.

The tea wasn't great, it even smelled a little musty, but what did it matter? After many days at sea, sitting on the old table and chairs, and smelling the faint aroma of the tea was enough to evoke a sacred, proud, and familiar feeling in me.

After brewing tea for our delegation, the officers and soldiers on Tien Nu Island – a territory located nearly seven hundred kilometers from the mainland – jokingly said that the tea on the island wasn't as fragrant and delicious as on the mainland. They explained that even with careful storage, the tea still absorbs the salty wind – a characteristic feature of this region. Because Tien Nu is a submerged island, with the tide rising twice a day, the island is just a tiny dot in the vast ocean.

The sea breeze, mingled with the waves, carried a salty scent that permeated everything. That salty wind could be felt by simply sitting still for a moment, breathing gently, and touching one's lips. However, contrary to the worries of the officers and soldiers, I found it to be a very fragrant and delicious cup of tea, something I'd probably never get to enjoy again in my life.

Just being here, holding that strong, fragrant cup of tea, taking a sip and gazing into the distance, where the red flag with a yellow star of our nation flutters against the backdrop of the peaceful blue sea and sky, is perhaps the greatest happiness for anyone with the blood of Lac Hong flowing through their veins.

(Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2025, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper).

Entry for the "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" contest, part of the 3rd "Celebrating Vietnamese Coffee and Tea" program, 2025, organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper. Contest rules for "Impressions on Vietnamese Coffee and Tea". Graphics: CHI PHAN

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ly-tra-dac-giua-bon-be-gio-muoi-196250502202208851.htm