37 years ago (March 14, 1988) at Gac Ma Island - Truong Sa, 64 soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy fought bravely, steadfastly holding on in an immortal circle, remaining forever in the heart of the ocean, turning themselves into sacred landmarks, affirming the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
In March, people from all over the country flocked to the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial (Cam Ranh Peninsula, Khanh Hoa ). People quietly offered incense and flowers to their roots, expressing gratitude to the heroes who continued the heroic epic of their ancestors to defend the country.
The Gac Ma Soldiers Monument is over 15 meters high at the memorial site, with the theme "Those who lie on the horizon", inspired by the image of 64 soldiers holding hands determined to protect the national flag, affirming Vietnam's sovereignty at Gac Ma Island on March 14, 1988.
PHOTO: HOANG DUC
Standing in front of the "heart" of the memorial - the monument "Those who lie on the horizon", Mr. Dang Ngoc Tung, former President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor , had red eyes. 10 years ago, Mr. Tung was one of the people who laid the first stone to build the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor started construction of the memorial in 2015 on a 2.5-hectare land area, completing phase 1 of the project in 2017. The funding for the construction of the memorial came from contributions from union members, workers, businesses, and people at home and abroad, with the wish to have a sacred space for families, relatives, and compatriots nationwide to visit and commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland.
Mr. Dang Ngoc Tung, former President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (middle), offered incense to commemorate the heroes and martyrs of Gac Ma on March 13, 2025.
PHOTO: HOANG DUC
The former President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor still remembers clearly the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the memorial site (March 13, 2015). That day, the mothers of the heroes and martyrs burst into tears because their children's bodies were still left in the sea on Gac Ma island, not yet brought back. "I still remember, a mother of a martyr hugged the stone and cried so hard that all of us could not hold back our tears," Mr. Tung choked up.
He also expressed that the emotions he felt each time he returned here remained intact and unchanged. Not just once a year, every year Mr. Tung repeatedly visited the memorial site to visit the soldiers of Gac Ma. "Every time, I was filled with very special emotions, because they sacrificed and died to protect the homeland's sea and islands, to protect the territorial integrity of the Fatherland. They have passed away but always exist in the hearts of the Vietnamese people. I will never forget them," Mr. Tung was moved.
Young soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy respectfully bow before the souls of the heroes and martyrs of Gac Ma.
PHOTO: HOANG DUC
The Gac Ma Soldier Memorial is now one of the red addresses chosen by many agencies, units, and schools as a place to return to the source to educate about sea and island sovereignty and love for the homeland and country.
Since 2017, the memorial has welcomed more than 2,700 delegations, with more than 570,500 visitors. Since the beginning of 2024, 20 party organizations and 30 youth organizations have chosen the memorial as the place to hold ceremonies to admit new party and youth union members...
Mr. Nguyen Hoa, former Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial Labor Federation and the first stone to build the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial
PHOTO: HOANG DUC
In July 2024, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee issued a decision approving the results of the architectural and landscape design competition for the Truong Sa Museum, part of the second phase of the Gac Ma Memorial Project. The overall architectural shape of the Truong Sa Museum with 3 branches reaching out to Truong Sa - East Sea connects with the Gac Ma Soldier Memorial towards the sea.
The project is expected to start construction this year. When completed, each exhibition area will have its own theme, most notably about the sea and islands, and Truong Sa. "I highly appreciate and agree with the plan to build the Truong Sa Museum of Khanh Hoa province. The project promises to create a place for sightseeing, learning about culture and history to contribute to educating and raising awareness of sea and island sovereignty for generations and classes of people," said Mr. Tung.
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