Vietnam's lifeline connects it to the sea.

I've read these lines many times in the article " The Blood Cells of the Fatherland " by Dinh Vu Hoang Nguyen whenever I visit an island in the Southwest. I also believe that everyone has "matured" spiritually upon returning to the mainland, because they feel smaller and love their country more.

According to Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong, Political Commissar of the Navy, the southwestern sea region of Vietnam borders three countries: Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. This is a very important sea region, strategically significant in terms of economics, politics , national defense, and security. Furthermore, this sea region also has potential for fishing, aquaculture, tourism, minerals, and oil and gas.

Gift boxes from people in Ho Chi Minh City were brought to Hon Khoai Island.

Despite receiving investment and attention from the state, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong still assessed that many difficulties remain, especially on remote islands or islands with harsh terrain and climate such as Tho Chau, Nam Du, Hon Chuoi, and Hon Khoai.

"We also witnessed firsthand the lives of the people on the island, as well as the resilience and courage of the officers, soldiers, armed forces, and other forces stationed there. The military and civilians on the island are extremely united, closely coordinated, and genuinely supportive of each other," said Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong, expressing his desire to propose to the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense to continue to improve the lives of the military and civilians on the island; gradually overcoming the pressing issues that need to be addressed, such as infrastructure, fresh water, electricity, healthcare, and education.

"For fishermen, along with providing care and encouragement, we also assign the armed forces the task of motivating them to exploit marine resources legally, without violating foreign waters, while simultaneously engaging in fishing and aquaculture to protect marine resources for future generations, avoiding overfishing. Currently, marine resources in some areas have been depleted," Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Bong said, expressing his hope that officers and soldiers will continue to be resilient and steadfast in the face of adversity, continue to fulfill their assigned tasks, and live up to the trust and love of the people nationwide.

On this voyage, everyone shared a strong sense of responsibility. As shared by Ms. Tran Kim Yen, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, every year Ho Chi Minh City receives support from the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy to allow officials and citizens of Ho Chi Minh City to visit the islands in the Truong Sa archipelago, the southwestern sea region, and the DK offshore platforms. For her, each trip leaves many beautiful impressions. With this voyage to the southwestern sea region, each member of the delegation witnessed firsthand the development of the islands, the grandeur of the country, and, more importantly, saw the hardships of the officers, soldiers, and fishermen performing the sacred duty of protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sea and islands.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Tran Kim Yen (second from left ), visits and encourages soldiers at the DK1/10 offshore platform during her Southwest voyage.

"We admire the forces on the islands. It can be said that after each trip, each delegate becomes the most active communicator for the people of Ho Chi Minh City, bringing the feelings and messages from the distant islands back to the mainland. Then, the people of Ho Chi Minh City send back to the islands even small projects: water filters, vegetable gardens with shelters... to help the officers, soldiers, and fishermen live more conveniently. The greenery covering the islands confirms that our homeland is beautiful everywhere, and shows that the responsibility to protect our maritime sovereignty rests with every citizen," Ms. Yen said.

Since 2006, focusing on the islands and offshore platforms in the country's waters, Ho Chi Minh City established a fund called "For Beloved Truong Sa - For the Frontline of the Fatherland" (later renamed "For the Homeland's Seas and Islands - For the Frontline of the Fatherland"). At that time, many delegations visited the officers, soldiers, and people in Truong Sa island district. Since 2016, Ho Chi Minh City has organized delegations to visit and encourage officers, soldiers, and people on islands in the Southwest Sea region, with the first delegation consisting of 60 delegates traveling on the ship HQ 632; to date, Ho Chi Minh City has organized six delegations, with more than 600 delegates participating.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Kim Yen, although not all residents of Ho Chi Minh City have the opportunity to visit the remote coastal and island areas of the country, they always demonstrate their affection and responsibility, one of which is supporting this fund to assist officers, soldiers, and people in difficult circumstances.

Children on Nam Du Island

"There were generous donors who contributed a large amount of funding, but we were deeply moved when we saw retired people saving their pensions or students cutting back on their living expenses to make contributions," Ms. Yen recounted.

Over the past six years, the government and people of Ho Chi Minh City have donated numerous projects to officers, soldiers, and people in the southwestern coastal region, including freshwater reservoirs, gardens for cultivation and concentrated livestock farming, radar station embankments, rainwater harvesting and reuse systems, water filters, and various equipment, machinery, vehicles, and essential supplies for daily life, with a total cost of over 28 billion VND.

During this voyage, Ho Chi Minh City donated three concentrated farming and livestock areas on Nam Du, Ghenh Dau, and Phu Quoc islands; a seawall for the radar station on Hon Doc island; eight motorbikes for officers and soldiers on Nam Du, Hon Khoai, Hon Doc, and Tho Chau islands; two rainwater harvesting and reuse systems and two mobile water tanks for Hon Chuoi and Tho Chau islands; and machinery, equipment, household items, and cash for officers, soldiers, and people on the islands. The total value of the projects and gifts is over 4.5 billion VND.

Untouched Hon Khoai

Another unique aspect is that on each voyage, Ho Chi Minh City invites intellectuals, experts, and scientists to participate in research and provide advice to the Ho Chi Minh City government on more practical projects to meet the needs of officers, soldiers, and residents on the islands.

Ms. Yen affirmed: "Everyone, regardless of their position or perspective, is focused on the islands and contributing to making them stronger and more beautiful. Everyone understands and seeks peace for the country's development." Through this, the Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City also hoped that the trip would spread and receive contributions and support from people nationwide.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/bien-dao-tay-nam-mach-mau-viet-noi-lien-voi-bien-185231120213131583.htm