Hue City officials visit Truong Sa Town (April 2025). Photo: Le Hoang Tung

During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, our Party determined the strategic direction of attack at sea to liberate the beloved Truong Sa archipelago of the Fatherland. This policy demonstrated the Party's strategic vision in its determination to regain all territorial sovereignty on the mainland as well as the islands, seas and airspace of the Fatherland.

In early April 1975, receiving secret orders from the Commander-in-Chief of the campaign - General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Navy Command urgently prepared elite special forces, closely followed the situation and mobilized the highest number of transport ships to serve the transport of troops and combat vehicles to the battlefield. When the land forces of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign began to attack the puppet defense line at the eastern and southern gateways of Saigon, the sea forces silently overcame big waves and strong winds to liberate the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago. That was the Vietnam People's Navy force that crossed hundreds of nautical miles, avoiding radar, avoiding enemy aircraft, maintaining communication in silence, transport ships disguised as fishing boats, crossing the open sea, secretly bringing commandos to approach the islands occupied by the Saigon army.

On April 14, Navy soldiers landed, attacked and took control of Song Tu Tay Island. Under favorable conditions, forces from Song Tu Tay Island landed and opened fire to liberate Son Ca Island. Next, we seized the opportunity to quickly liberate and take control of Nam Yet Island, the enemy's command center on the Truong Sa archipelago. With the spirit of rapid attack, our troops quickly liberated Sinh Ton Island, and on the morning of April 29, 1975, completed the mission of landing and taking control of the large Truong Sa island. The liberation of Truong Sa contributed to completing the offensive strategy of land, water and air in the campaign to completely liberate the South and unify the country. This victory affirmed Vietnam's undeniable sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago, bringing the Truong Sa archipelago into a new phase.

Since its liberation, Truong Sa has gradually transformed from a poor, remote coastal area into a strategic, economic and humane area of Vietnam. Anyone who has had the opportunity to visit Truong Sa in the past decade and today has witnessed the remarkable changes in the appearance of Truong Sa island district.

With the spirit of “The whole country for Truong Sa, Truong Sa for the whole country”, Truong Sa today has a fairly spacious and increasingly modern infrastructure. Floating islands such as Truong Sa Lon, Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton... all have housing systems, clinics, schools, administrative headquarters, radio stations, solar power systems... The green of vegetables, flowers, phong ba trees, and banyan trees is full of vitality. The system of submerged islands and rocky islands with important strategic positions in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands has also been invested in construction with solid houses, radar stations, lighthouses, sovereignty markers... firmly present in the middle of the ocean.

The modern defense system has been strengthened to protect sovereignty in all situations. The large Truong Sa airport has been expanded with a 1,300m runway to serve transport planes and helicopters. The island district has 4 ship locks at Song Tu Tay, Da Tay, Truong Sa and Sinh Ton with the capacity to accommodate hundreds of large-capacity ships to anchor to rest and avoid storms.

Schools and clinics were built spaciously. The Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, the Martyrs' Memorial, pagodas, cultural houses on the islands... are places to educate the army and people of the island district about revolutionary traditions and national culture, making the island district closer to the mainland. The government and people of the island district actively and proactively overcome difficulties, promote production, improve the efficiency of fishing and aquaculture, contributing to improving the economic life of the army and people. At the same time, special attention is paid to and all favorable conditions are created for local fishermen to exploit and catch seafood in the Truong Sa archipelago, which is a solid foundation for fishermen to confidently go offshore and stick to the sea, contributing to building the island district "Strong in defense, good in lifestyle, beautiful in landscape and environment, exemplary in military-civilian solidarity".

Mr. Le Hoang Tung, Head of the Party Organization Department - Party member of the Hue City Party Committee's Organization Board, recently had an emotional journey to visit Truong Sa archipelago: "We have heard and learned through the media about the changes of Truong Sa island district. But in the past few days, when we have seen it with our own eyes, each of us cannot help but feel special emotions about the innovation, modernity but also the peace of Truong Sa archipelago in the middle of the ocean."

On the same trip, Ms. Hong Nga, Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the City Party Committee, confided: "It is an honor to visit the island district on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. We were moved when we walked under the green trees and watched children running and playing with clear laughter under the flag and with modern civil works next to the square banyan trees, sea grapes, and wind-blown trees... we felt more clearly the strong vitality of Truong Sa in the middle of the ocean."

After 50 years of liberation, Truong Sa archipelago is not only a symbol of sacred sovereignty but also a living proof of the indomitable will, aspiration for peace and strategic vision of our Party and State. These days, together with the whole country, the army and people of Truong Sa archipelago joyfully celebrate the 50th anniversary of liberation. With the attention of the people of the whole country, Truong Sa island district is determined to rise up to become a political, cultural and social center at sea, a solid citadel protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Nguyen Anh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/suc-song-moi-o-truong-sa-153021.html