The 'green landmarks' in the Spratly Islands

(Chinhphu.vn) - Amidst the vast ocean, where islands year-round face scorching sun, strong winds, and the salty taste of the sea, saplings silently sprout and flourish. Behind that greenness lies the diligent care and nurturing efforts of the soldiers stationed on the islands, the ships carrying soil and trees from the mainland across the waves to the islands, and the affection of millions of people nationwide towards Truong Sa. During our journey through many islands of the Truong Sa archipelago and the DK1/20 platform, what resonated most deeply with us were the "green landmarks" growing day by day alongside the unwavering determination of the soldiers at the forefront of the waves.

Lieutenant Colonel Do Van Manh, Deputy Commander of Son Ca Island, and soldiers tending to the sapling garden - Photo: VGP/LS

A drop of cool, sweet water in the midday sun on the island.

At midday on Fairy Island, the sun was directly overhead. The sunlight, both from above and reflected off the coral reefs, made the air thick with heat. The sea breeze blew incessantly, yet it offered no comfort, as each gust carried the salty taste of the sea clinging to the skin. Amidst this scorching heat, a young soldier was diligently tending to a newly planted tree, so engrossed that he paid no attention to the delegates from the mainland who had just arrived on the island.

In his hand was a blue plastic cup. He bent low, slowly tilting the cup so that the fresh water dripped little by little onto the base of the tree, not a single drop spilling. Every movement was careful, as if he were cherishing something incredibly precious. And that was true! On the mainland, people could turn on the tap and water their entire garden without much thought. But in Truong Sa, every drop of fresh water had to be conserved and carefully saved, because it was the result of long sea voyages and countless efforts behind the scenes.

That moment made us understand that no shade of green in Truong Sa is accidental. Behind every leaf lies the hard work of human beings, behind every tree canopy is the perseverance of many years. And behind those rows of green trees is the special love that the soldiers have for this land at the forefront of the waves and winds.

The ship KN 490 took our delegation to the islands of Son Ca, Da Tay A, Truong Sa, Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton Dong, Nui Le C (part of the Truong Sa archipelago) and the DK1/20 platform on the southeastern continental shelf of our homeland. Each island has its own unique shape in the vast ocean, but they all share one thing that surprised us: the increasing presence of green in a place previously known only for its white coral, sun, wind, and storms.

Naval soldiers tending to vegetables on Nui Le C island - Photo: VGP/LS

When the remote island dons a new coat of color.

Those who visited the Spratly Islands decades ago often recount that back then, greenery was so scarce that every tree was a precious asset. Many islands had only a few solitary Barringtonia or Terminalia trees standing alone amidst the sun and wind. Limited land, scarce water, strong winds, and high salinity made planting trees almost a fierce battle against the harsh natural environment.

But today, upon arriving at Son Ca, we felt as if we were stepping into a different world. Rows of Barringtonia trees, Terminalia catappa, and many other species of trees lined the pathways. Ancient Terminalia catappa trees spread their wide canopies, shading the entire courtyard. Carefully manicured green lawns created a rare scene amidst the open sea. The rustling of leaves in the wind, combined with the sound of the waves, created a unique symphony that only Truong Sa possesses.

Son Ca Island has long been affectionately known as the "green park" of the Truong Sa archipelago. Indeed, if one didn't see the vast ocean stretching out before them, many would find it hard to believe they are standing on an island in the middle of the East Sea. Ancient trees, lush green gardens, and even the General Vo Nguyen Giap Park create a clean, peaceful, and vibrant living space.

What makes this place so beautiful is not just the trees, but also the people who have silently sown and preserved the greenery for many years. Each tree today carries within it the story of countless generations of officers and soldiers who have served on the island. They came and went, but the trees remain, continuing to grow alongside Truong Sa.

The green color on Da Tay A Island - Photo: VGP/LS

The people who sow green on the coral island.

One afternoon on Son Ca Island, after training, I met Sergeant Dinh Hoang Thang at the unit's agricultural production area. This young man from Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, was a first-year student at Gia Dinh University just last year. Now, he is serving with his comrades, guarding the islands in the open sea, hundreds of nautical miles from the mainland.

When asked what he remembered most about his first days on the island, Thang didn't mention the big waves or the stormy nights. He talked about the trees: In the early days on the island, what surprised him most was how the soldiers cared for the trees. Each tree trunk was carefully protected. Each sapling was monitored daily. Some trees took months to take root. Some trees were thought to be dead after the storm, but then unexpectedly sprouted vibrant green shoots.

Thang spoke while gently tilling the soil around a small tree. He said that in Truong Sa, seeing a healthy tree brings great joy because each green leaf is the result of perseverance and effort. When feeling homesick, many soldiers often seek out the garden, tending to the plants as a way to find a connection with the mainland.

Not far away, Corporal Nguyen Quoc Hau, from Khanh Hoa province, was inspecting the windbreak nets for the newly planted trees with his comrades. Hau smiled gently as he said that the trees on the island are like soldiers. To grow, they must endure the sun, wind, storms, and the harshest challenges. Indeed, there are many similarities between the rows of trees and the soldiers here. Both are holding their ground day and night at the forefront of the waves. Both must overcome the harshest challenges of nature, and both are growing day by day alongside Truong Sa.

Sweet watermelons are cared for daily by soldiers on Tien Nu Island - Photo: VGP/Quang Huy

Where trees and soldiers grow together.

On Tien Nu Island, Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Dung, the island's commander, led us along small, tree-lined paths. As we walked, he recounted stories of planting seasons, major storms, and the times when officers and soldiers had to stay up all night reinforcing each tree before a storm hit.

In recent years, many visitors from the mainland who come to Tien Nu Island will never forget the watermelons grown there. Offered to sample freshly cut, juicy slices, everyone is surprised by the uniquely sweet and refreshing taste. Amidst the salty sea, that sweetness embodies the hard work and affection of the soldiers stationed on the island.

Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Dung said that growing those melons was a long process. From selecting the seeds, improving the soil, shielding from the wind, to saving every drop of water, everything had to be carefully calculated. But in return, the lush melon fields have contributed to improving lives, enhancing the quality of meals, and more importantly, creating a close and familiar living environment in the middle of the ocean.

On Sinh Ton Dong Island, we met soldiers Dinh Quang Phat and Chuong Phuc Thien taking advantage of their break after their shift to tend to their vegetable garden. Under the summer sun, rows of water spinach, mustard greens, and jute mallow were thriving alongside clumps of sweet potato leaves, herbs, mint, and chili peppers... They explained that besides their training and guard duties, caring for the plants and increasing agricultural production has become an indispensable part of their daily lives.

The lush green gardens amidst the vast sea and sky of Truong Sa not only provide shade and food but also help soldiers alleviate their homesickness. Each vegetable patch, each gourd trellis, each tree bears the mark of their homeland, helping those far from the mainland feel more strongly connected to the country they are protecting day and night.

Shady trees line the Truong Sa Islands - Photo: VGP/Quang Huy

The journey of bringing land to the open sea.

To achieve the greenery we see today, a persistent journey spanning many years has been underway. According to the Navy, the "Greening Truong Sa" program, implemented by March 2026, has mobilized 315 billion VND, 730,000 saplings, over 200 tons of fertilizer, and nearly 15,000 tons of topsoil from social contributions. Currently, over 320,000 saplings have been transported to Truong Sa, and 210,000 trees of various types have been planted.

Colonel Nguyen Duy Thieu, Deputy Head of Logistics and Technical Services of the Navy, said that the cultivation and propagation of plants aims to proactively create a source of trees to supply the islands in the Truong Sa Special Zone, contributing to the effective implementation of the "Greening Truong Sa" program. Not only does this activity green the islands, but it also helps to limit erosion, prevent landslides, reduce the impact of saltwater intrusion, and gradually restore the ecosystem on the islands.

One highlight of the program is the establishment of seedling nurseries right on the island. By combining seedlings brought from the mainland with on-site propagation and grafting, many units have maintained thousands of seedlings, gradually becoming self-sufficient in supply and improving the adaptability of plants to harsh natural conditions.

Behind those numbers lie countless voyages across the waves. There are tons of fertile soil transported from the mainland to the islands. There are the dedicated officers and soldiers who tirelessly load, transport, and care for the plants. It also represents the affection of localities, businesses, and people across the country, poured into each seedling, each bag of soil, and each shipment heading to Truong Sa.

According to the plan, during the period 2025-2027, the Command of Naval Region 4 will continue to plan areas for tree planting, expand tree nurseries, and proactively prepare forces and means to transport soil, fertilizer, and seedlings to the islands. The journey to green Truong Sa will therefore continue, extended by the determination of the soldiers and the love for the sea and islands of the entire nation.

Milestones of Life

Late in the afternoon on Truong Sa Lon Island, the last rays of sunlight pierce through the leaves of the Terminalia catappa trees, creating patches of golden light on the island's courtyard. The bells of Truong Sa Pagoda ring in the wind, blending with the sound of the waves to create a strangely peaceful sound.

Standing under the shade of the trees, we recalled our journey of the past few days. From Song Tu Tay to Son Ca, from Tien Nu to Sinh Ton Dong, from Da Tay to Nui Le C and then the DK1/20 platform, everywhere we went we encountered the color green. It was the green of trees and leaves, of vegetable gardens, and also the green of youth and faith.

The leaders of the Navy have affirmed that the "Greening Truong Sa" program not only brings material and spiritual value but also demonstrates the affection and responsibility of the entire nation towards the task of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas, islands, and continental shelf. The rows of trees at the forefront of the waves today are not simply green trees but symbols of vitality and the will of the Vietnamese people amidst the vast ocean.

Those rows of trees also serve as very special markers of sovereignty. While concrete markers affirm territorial sovereignty, the rows of green trees growing day by day amidst the sea and sky of our homeland affirm the enduring vitality of the Vietnamese people. In that place at the forefront of the waves and winds, the Vietnamese people are not only guarding the islands and seas but are also building lives, constructing the future, and sowing seeds for tomorrow.

Amidst the windswept East Sea, the mangroves, Terminalia catappa, Terminalia chebula, and Casuarina trees continue to grow and bloom. The gardens continue to greener each day. And along with the growth of the trees and leaves comes the maturation of the young soldiers who are dedicating their youth to this distant island. As the years pass, these green shoots will continue to grow taller, becoming sturdy "green landmarks" in the ocean, forever telling the story of Vietnam's vitality, of love for the homeland, and of the people who have silently sown life at the forefront of the waves and winds.

Le Son

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nhung-cot-moc-xanh-o-truong-sa-102260601094627289.htm