Springtime on Con Co Island

QTO - On a spring morning, while Cua Viet port was still shrouded in mist, the CH09, a patrol and rescue vessel of the Con Co Border Guard Post, picked us up to take us to the island. As the horn sounded, Captain Tran Xuan Dung, the captain of the CH09, and his crew carefully steered the ship away from the dock. Although familiar with the waterways and currents, with the estuary becoming increasingly silted, each turn of the steering wheel was meticulously calculated. Skillfully guiding the ship along the current, within minutes, the CH09 cut through the waves, heading straight towards Con Co Island.

Blue in the middle of the ocean

Located 17 nautical miles from the mainland, after nearly an hour and a half of sailing against the wind and overcoming large waves near the shore at the start of the journey, under the experienced guidance of Captain Tran Xuan Dung and his crew, the trip to Con Co Island went quite smoothly. As the ship was about to dock, everyone eagerly stepped onto the deck, gazing towards the island. Against the silvery sky, amidst the green of the vegetation, the national flag pole rose high, the red flag with a yellow star fluttering proudly. Con Co Island appeared lush, peaceful, and steadfast in the vast ocean.

Shaking hands with the officers and soldiers who welcomed the delegation at the pier, Colonel Doan Sinh Hoa, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Commander of the Provincial Military Command, could not hide the joy clearly visible on his face. Because the Con Co Special Zone today has undergone many changes, taking on a fresh new look every day after years of attention, investment, and development.

Con Co Island today - Photo: NM

The meeting between the delegation from the mainland and the officers and soldiers of the agencies and units on the island was warm and friendly. Stories about their homeland and the daily changes were shared, along with gifts carrying the warmth of the home front to the officers, soldiers, and people on the island. Amidst the vast ocean, driven by their love for their homeland and country, the military and people of Con Co Island silently and persistently contribute to building the island into an increasingly strong and secure place at the forefront of the waves, firmly safeguarding maritime sovereignty .

The small island is lush, green, and peaceful. Along with officers and soldiers of the armed forces and various agencies and units, the Con Co Special Zone currently has 24 households with nearly 100 inhabitants. In the summer, the island welcomes many tourists; during this season, the sea is rough, and most visitors come and go from the island, but life here remains stable, peaceful, and full of vitality.

For nearly 10 years since moving to Con Co Island, the family of Mr. Ho Ninh Canh (born in 1987) and Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai (born in 1988), along with their two children in grades 3 and 4, have truly become attached to the island, considering it their familiar home. Ms. Hoai works as a caregiver for a preschool, and Mr. Canh is a fisherman. In their free time, they harvest Gynostemma pentaphyllum to sell to tourists. Occasionally, the family goes to the mainland to buy more supplies, then quickly returns to the simple life on the small island.

They didn't say they loved the island, but the genuine affection in their eyes and smiles radiated from the couple. Mr. Canh proudly shared that his family had only been on the island for less than 10 years, while Mr. Ngo Van Phong had been here for over 15 years. Despite the difficulties and occasional longing for the mainland, everyone chose to stay, committed, and willing to build a better life on this small island in the middle of the ocean.

Mr. Ho Ninh Canh, a resident of the Con Co Special Economic Zone - Photo: NM

A love story on a small island.

The journey back to the mainland was smoother. Taking advantage of the moment when the ship was gliding quickly over the waves, and the soldiers were more relaxed, I spoke with Captain Tran Xuan Dung. He told me that he previously served in the 2nd Naval Squadron, Quang Tri Border Guard. In 2023, he was transferred to the CH09 ship as its captain, participating in patrol, control, and search and rescue missions at sea.

Talking about the Tet holiday as a soldier, Captain Tran Xuan Dung said that for many years he has rarely been able to celebrate New Year's Eve with his family. This year is no different; although the sea is calm and the situation at sea is stable, he and his comrades remain on standby, ready to carry out their duties, ensuring they are not caught off guard or surprised in any situation.

“Since getting married in 2017, I’ve only celebrated New Year’s Eve at home once. Since moving to the province, my wife and children have moved to Dong Hoi, so the family rarely has the chance to be together. But for us, duty always comes first,” Dung shared.

As the "support system" for naval soldiers, Ms. Pham Thi Hong Nga, an officer of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, said that even though she has been with them for nearly 10 years, family meals and a complete Tet holiday are still not easy to come by. Understanding and sharing, every time her husband is on duty during Tet, she brings her children to the unit, bringing the warmth of family to give him and his comrades more motivation.

I suddenly remembered the story of Duyen, a specialist in the Economic and Social Affairs Department of the Con Co Special Zone, during our conversation this morning. Duyen recounted that in July 2025, she left her child with her husband's parents and said goodbye to the mainland to work on the island. Since then, whenever the weather is calm, she manages to return home once every two weeks or so. “But this time it’s been almost a month, sister. I miss home and my child, but because of the unfavorable weather, I haven’t been able to go home yet. I feel sorry for my child missing both parents, because my husband is a Navy soldier stationed in Hue City, and he’s often away on duty…” Duyen confided.

Captain Tran Xuan Dung and his teammates operating the CH09 vessel - Photo: NM

I also learned more about their love story. During a business trip to Con Co Island, Duyen met and got to know her husband, who was then stationed there. Perhaps because their simple love began in this place, throughout the years, despite many difficulties and hardships, she has chosen to stay on the small island, quietly and diligently working, nurturing a lasting love amidst the vast ocean.

Island lovers

As I felt unsteady and exhausted on the journey to the island, I was even more impressed by the heroic soldiers and people of Vinh Linh 60 years ago who rowed boats to the island, steadfastly holding their ground and bravely fighting to protect every inch of this sacred land of the frontier island, serving as a solid shield for the vast sea and mainland of the Fatherland.

Many of them sacrificed their lives or shed their blood on Con Co Island. Hero of the People's Armed Forces Le Huu Trac (born in 1940, Truong Ninh commune) is one such person. Having served for over 1,000 days and nights defending the island from July 1965 to August 1968, he was severely wounded and blinded in both eyes. However, in the heart of this former soldier, the glorious years of Con Co Island, the image of his heroic comrades, and the loving support of the people of Vinh Linh have never faded.

I suddenly thought, if he were standing on Con Co Island today, Hero of the People's Armed Forces Le Huu Trac would surely feel a warmth in his heart. The island, once marked by years of bombs and bullets, where he and his comrades shed their blood and bones to defend every inch of sacred land, is now changing every day.

And it is there that young people like Captain Dung, Ms. Nga, and the couple Ms. Duyen and her husband are continuing their love for the island in a very ordinary way, through distance and silent sacrifice. Although each has their own circumstances, they still meet at a common point: their love for the small island, a love that cannot be expressed in words, but is strong enough to keep Con Co Island standing firm amidst the vast ocean.

Diep Dong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202602/mua-xuan-o-con-co-b9f1141/