Over 30 years ago, the Song Tu Tay lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in the Truong Sa archipelago. Thirty years later, that lighthouse still stands tall amidst the sea and sky, along with many other lighthouses, affirming the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.
The Song Tu Tay lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in the Spratly Islands more than 30 years ago - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
Arriving at Song Tu Tay on a sunny afternoon, the image of the lighthouse standing proudly amidst the green of casuarina and Terminalia trees evokes fond memories for those from the mainland. The Song Tu Tay lighthouse is considered the "elder brother" of the lighthouse system in the Truong Sa archipelago, a structure built in 1993 with a height of 36 meters.
The Song Tu Tay lighthouse stands proudly amidst the Vietnamese sky and sea - Photo: Nguyen Hien
Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Cao Van Giap - vice chairman of Song Tu Tay island commune - said that for more than 30 years, the Song Tu Tay lighthouse has been one of the lights in Truong Sa helping ships and boats find their way when passing the island.
From afar, the sturdy lighthouse on Song Tu Tay Island is easily visible - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
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The construction process for the lighthouse was not extensive; soldiers and civilians carried sacks of sand and cement. Giap recounted that regardless of whether it was midday or evening, as soon as the tide receded, they would rush out to carry materials and gather them in one place before starting construction. Bringing bricks and stones to Truong Sa was no easy task; it required the efforts of the entire nation and the brothers on the island. "At 2 AM, without anyone telling us to, we all rushed out to work as quickly as possible to meet the construction schedule. Now, the Song Tu Tay lighthouse is becoming more beautiful and durable. The lighthouse is our pride – the people who participated in its construction," Giap said emotionally.
Song Tu Tay Island, lush and green amidst the sunshine and wind of Truong Sa - Photo: Nguyen Hien
On An Bang Island, the lighthouse, built in 1995, is a cylindrical tower approximately 24.9 meters tall. Standing beneath the canopy of the Terminalia trees, the An Bang lighthouse peeks out from the green foliage.
The An Bang lighthouse, with its 24.9m high tower, is located on An Bang Island – a forward outpost protecting the southern waters of the Truong Sa archipelago. - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN
When it was first built, the lighthouse was cement gray, but now it is painted in two colors: yellow and purplish-pink. Below the lighthouse tower are the living and working quarters of the An Bang Lighthouse Station staff. Following the wooden steps up to the top of the tower, the vast expanse of the sea and sky of our homeland unfolds before your eyes.
Da Tay Lighthouse is one of the first lighthouses in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, and to this day, it continues to shine brightly in the Vietnamese sea - Photo: HA THANH
Besides Song Tu Tay, Da Tay was also one of the first three locations surveyed for the construction of a lighthouse in the Spratly Islands more than 30 years ago. The Da Tay lighthouse was built after the Song Tu Tay lighthouse, with a tower height of 22m and a flashing cycle of 10 seconds. Amidst the turbulent waves, the Da Tay lighthouse continues to shine brightly, guiding ships at sea.
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People from the mainland check in at Da Tay Lighthouse - Photo: HA THANH
There are currently nine lighthouses in the Truong Sa archipelago: Song Tu Tay, An Bang, Da Tay, Da Lat, Nam Yet, Sinh Ton, Son Ca, Tien Nu, and Truong Sa Lon. These lighthouses not only ensure the safety of passing ships but also serve as landmarks affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the sea.
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