Early Tet celebration at the DK1 offshore platform.

Receiving kumquats, sticky rice, banana leaves, and pork sent from the mainland, the soldiers at the DK1/10 offshore platform made banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) early.

After many days braving rough seas, the working group of the 2nd Naval Region Command aboard the ship Truong Sa 04 arrived at the DK1/10 platform, located in the Ca Mau shoal area, on January 17th.

DK1/10 was the only offshore platform the delegation could directly visit. Due to rough seas (level five and six), the delegation had to send New Year greetings to the officers and soldiers on the four previous platforms (DK1/15, DK1/11, DK1/14, and DK1/12) via loudspeaker and deliver gifts through a rope.

Gifts were tied to ropes and lowered into the sea for the soldiers on the offshore platform to pull up. Afterwards, the delegation extended New Year greetings via radio from the ship's cabin. Video : Hoang Anh

Although the Lunar New Year of the Dragon is still nearly 20 days away, the spring atmosphere is already vibrant on the offshore platform. New member of the DK1/10 platform, Nguyen Tan Giau (left corner), and his comrades decorate flower pots to welcome the New Year.

According to the Trường Sa 04 ship that departed from Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu on January 9th, Nguyễn Tấn Giàu suffered from seasickness and had to rest for several days, but quickly regained his spirits and health upon arriving at the offshore platform. He will be serving there for the next year.

Military doctor Bui Van Tho (left), 50 years old, and his colleagues at the offshore platform are making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes). Dr. Tho has served in the military for 30 years, successively working on eight offshore platforms and spending seven Tet holidays at sea. He expressed his gratitude to his wife, who for decades single-handedly took care of the household and raised their two children.

The officers and soldiers, along with singer Le Anh Tuan (far left), sing the song "Offshore Soldiers Welcome Spring" : "Let the waves and storms be, we offshore soldiers are there / Let the precariousness be, / Offshore soldiers are not afraid of storms / Let the sun and wind be, / Offshore soldiers swear not to fear difficulties / Let the rain and storms be, / Offshore soldiers are still blooming like roses."

The delegation held a memorial ceremony for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the southern continental shelf waters of the Fatherland. In 1990, 1996, 1998, and 2000, major storms destroyed several offshore platforms where naval officers and soldiers were carrying out their duties.

Colonel Tran Hong Hai, Deputy Political Commissar of the 2nd Naval Region Command (far left), reads a eulogy commemorating the sacrifices of Senior Lieutenant Tran Huu Quang, Senior Lieutenant Tran Van La, and soldier Ho Van Hien at the DK1/3 platform in Phuc Tan cluster in 1990; Captain Vu Quang Chuong, Senior Lieutenant Le Duc Hong, and Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Van An at the DK1/6 platform in Phuc Nguyen cluster in 1998...

Flowers were released into the sea at the end of the memorial ceremony at the Phuc Nguyen reef area.

DK stands for "Service - Science and Technology," referring to services for civilian purposes at sea. DK1 is a series of offshore platforms built on the southern continental shelf of Vietnam, approximately 250-350 nautical miles from the mainland and in the southeastern waters of the country. The platforms' mission is to establish lighthouses to guide fishing and maritime transport vessels; to house meteorological and hydrological research stations; to provide shelter from storms and rescue for fishermen; and to maintain and protect the sovereignty of the southern continental shelf, ensuring peace and security for resource exploitation in that area.

Photo by Quang Tien

Vnexpress.net

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