The last day of the year in Truong Sa.

The soldiers often refer to Truong Sa Island as "Big Truong Sa" to distinguish it from "Little Truong Sa," which is Truong Sa Dong Island. However, regardless of what it's called, everyone must acknowledge that Truong Sa Island is the center of the entire archipelago, as it houses Truong Sa town of Truong Sa District, Khanh Hoa Province .

Panoramic view of Truong Sa Island

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Having weighed anchor in the mid-afternoon, after more than an hour at the entrance to Cam Ranh Bay (Khanh Hoa), ship 561, despite being in such a large port, was still rocking violently due to the strong waves and winds.

After more than 36 hours battling rough seas with waves of force 5-6 pounding against the ship's hull, we finally saw Truong Sa Island appear amidst the vast expanse of white-capped waves. While wondering "how will we dock with such huge waves?", we saw the ship rev its engines, surge forward, and within minutes, it was nestled in the spacious northwest harbor of the island, completely free from the strong winds and waves.

Ship 561 (411th Squadron, 955th Brigade, 4th Naval Region) docked at the harbor of Truong Sa Island.

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According to locals in Truong Sa, the island has two ports: "Chua Port" (located on the east side of the island, right next to Truong Sa Pagoda) and "Tram Port" (in the harbor, behind the Truong Sa Town Medical Center).

During the calm season, from March to June, ships sailing to the Truong Sa Islands usually dock at "Chua Port". During storms and heavy rain, or at the end of the year, they dock at "Tram Port"...

The harbor on Truong Sa Island serves as a shelter from storms and ensures logistical support for vessels operating at sea.

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For Vietnamese fishermen, the Truong Sa harbor is a "must-visit" location for sheltering from storms, resting during voyages, and providing logistical support for fishing.

Even Mr. Nguyen Van Phong (33 years old, residing in Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan province ), captain of the fishing vessel NTh - 90409 TS, during the summer, he takes his son Nguyen Pham Su Min (12 years old, attending primary school) on a fishing trip and visits the harbor of Truong Sa Island so that his son can explore the islands for several days and nights to "truly understand what our country's seas and islands are like"...

Nguyen Pham Su Min, a young boy, plays football on Truong Sa Island.

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When ship 561 docked at the "port station," the island residents excitedly came out to receive Tet (Lunar New Year) goods sent from the mainland. These included sticky rice, banana leaves, pigs and chickens... and even apricot blossom trees with budding flowers.

Trees were transported to Truong Sa Island and planted during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Rabbit (2013).

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Mr. Lam Ngoc Vinh, head of household number 5 (Truong Sa town residential area), lingered until nearly noon to receive the casuarina saplings. While helping soldiers from combat group 2 load the saplings onto the truck, Mr. Vinh chuckled: “The other day, Hoai Nhon town, Binh Dinh province, sent Truong Sa several thousand coconut saplings to plant throughout the archipelago. The whole country is contributing to greening Truong Sa, and we’re also contributing a few trees specifically designed to protect the new trees from wind, sand, and salt, so they can be planted right before Tet…”

Some images showcasing the green landscape of Truong Sa Island on the last day of the year.

The sovereignty marker on Truong Sa Island stands amidst the green foliage.

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A sedimentary rock slab inscribed with Ly Thuong Kiet's poem "Nam Quoc Son Ha" (The Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country) is placed prominently in front of the Truong Sa Island Command Post.

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The vitality of Truong Sa

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White daisies on the island's observation deck.

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The watch crew on the observation tower

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Young soldiers on Truong Sa Island point to the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit 2023, as printed on the calendar of Thanh Nien Newspaper.

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Soldiers of Combat Group 2 - Truong Sa Island, receive lucky money envelopes from Thanh Nien Newspaper.

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The main gate of Truong Sa town on Truong Sa island.

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The national flag atop the assembly hall on Truong Sa Island.

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..."In addition to the standard allowances and holiday provisions stipulated by the Ministry of National Defense (an extra food allowance of 65,000 VND and 4 sticky rice cakes per person per day), the soldiers in Truong Sa also receive gifts from the Navy, the 4th Naval Region, Brigade 146, and gifts from agencies, units, and individuals both domestically and internationally."

In particular, the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund donated 700 million VND and many other gifts to the soldiers in Truong Sa, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit (2013)...

Lieutenant Colonel Luong Xuan Giap
Political Commissar of Brigade 146, Region 4 of the Navy

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngay-cuoi-nam-o-truong-sa-1851543746.htm