Truong Sa changes

Becoming a special zone of Truong Sa is not just a name change, but opening up a new opportunity for this sacred sea and island area.

After Khanh Hoa province officially merged with Ninh Thuan , a large sea area stretching from Van Phong Bay to Ca Na was established. In this sea area, Truong Sa special zone is expected to not only be a fortress to protect sovereignty but also become a modern, green and sustainable economic development pole of the sea and islands.

Connecting Belt

According to Resolution No. 1667/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of commune-level administrative units of Khanh Hoa province in 2025, from July 1, Khanh Hoa province will have 65 commune-level administrative units, including 64 communes, wards and 1 special zone, Truong Sa.

Despite its new name, Truong Sa has long been mentioned as an irreplaceable strategic fulcrum of Vietnam in the East Sea. With more than 100 islands, rocks and coral reefs, Truong Sa not only plays a role in protecting territorial sovereignty but also holds enormous potential for economic development.

Since 2023, Khanh Hoa province has proposed to build Truong Sa into a multifunctional island special zone - both a fishing logistics base, an international maritime service station, and a center for oceanographic research and offshore renewable energy.

Soldiers practice combat readiness in Truong Sa

The fact that Khanh Hoa province has added the sea area from Ninh Thuan has further consolidated the "connecting belt" from the mainland to the islands, expanding the development space along the continuous sea and island axis. Khanh Hoa has become the province with the longest coastline in the country, with nearly 500 km of coastline, about 200 large and small islands; has many famous bays such as: Van Phong, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vinh Hy; has large seaports such as: Cam Ranh, Nha Trang, Ca Na...

In particular, Truong Sa special zone has become a fulcrum, a "steel fortress", a strong driving force for the development of the marine economy. Fisherman Cao Van Tho, residing in Nam Nha Trang ward, said that his fleet of four fishing boats has been attached to Truong Sa for more than 3 decades. Truong Sa is a familiar fishing ground, a common home for fishermen. He is also a witness to the constant changes of Truong Sa.

"I came to Truong Sa when there was no solar power, and water was collected from rainwater tanks. Now, the islands in Truong Sa are brightly lit. Fishing ports are located throughout the area, helping fishermen take shelter from storms, provide medical care, and refuel. Becoming a special zone of Truong Sa is not just a name change, but also opens up a new opportunity for this sacred island region," said Mr. Tho.

Most recently, on July 15, ship 950 of Squadron 411 - Brigade 955, Naval Region 4 docked at Cam Ranh port, bringing sick fisherman Do Minh Vuong (residing in Da Nang city, working on fishing boat QNa-91996TS) from Phan Vinh A island to the mainland for safe medical care.

Military medics promptly rescued a fisherman who had an accident while fishing in the Truong Sa sea area.

Or before that, on July 11, the military medical force of Song Tu Tay island promptly received and organized emergency treatment for fisherman Bui Van Tra (Quang Ngai province). Tra unfortunately slipped from a height of about 3 meters, his back hit the side of the ship and fell into the sea... Without such support, fishermen going out to sea would face many difficulties.

Strong fortress

Currently, on some large islands such as Truong Sa Lon, Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton, there are systems of houses, medical stations, schools, solar power, fresh water supply systems, meteorological stations and fishing logistics centers. These are the first nuclei for the goal of developing into a frontier marine economic zone.

Some economic models are being effectively piloted here: Small-scale aquaculture with grouper, sea cucumber, abalone using floating cage technology; solar power combined with seawater filtration stations for daily life and potential supply to boats; fishing logistics services: providing fuel, food, and rescue for fishermen who stay at sea for long periods.

In the new project, Khanh Hoa province will support the establishment of offshore fishing product transfer stations, allowing boats to refuel and sell products right at sea, thereby reducing operating costs and increasing income for fishermen. Fisherman Tran Khac Thach, owner of fishing boat KH-99766TS, said that each of his fishing trips currently lasts 2-4 months. The reason for such a long time is because the enterprise has a mother ship anchored in Truong Sa to collect fishermen's seafood. Fishing boats will exchange water, food, oil, ice... right at Truong Sa without having to go ashore. This not only saves travel time and fuel, but also preserves the best caught seafood thanks to the advanced technology of the mother ship.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tan Tuan, former Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee - before the merger, in order to build and develop Truong Sa, the Government established and assigned Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee to manage the Khanh Hoa Provincial Fisheries Development Support Fund. This will be an important resource, helping Khanh Hoa coordinate with relevant agencies to invest in a number of projects serving people's lives in Truong Sa. This fund is continuing to mobilize more resources to invest in socio-economic development in Truong Sa.

According to the leaders of Khanh Hoa province, Resolution 09-NQ/TW dated January 28, 2022 of the Politburo on building and developing Khanh Hoa province to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identifies the goal of promoting the construction and development of Truong Sa to become the economic, cultural and social center at sea of the whole country, a solid fortress to protect the sovereignty of the Fatherland. For that goal, the whole country joins hands and unites to create a new Truong Sa that transforms and develops more strongly.

Lieutenant Colonel Bui Xuan Binh - Party Secretary, Political Commissar of Naval Region 4 - said that in the next 5 years, Naval Region 4 will continue to thoroughly grasp the situation and tasks, grasp the goals, viewpoints, and guiding principles of the strategy to protect the Fatherland in the new situation; protect Truong Sa, firmly protect the sovereignty of assigned sea and island areas, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development.

Towards a marine energy hub

With the advantage of being far from shore, with abundant sunshine and wind all year round, Truong Sa is considered one of the places with the best potential for developing offshore wind power and floating solar power in Vietnam. Domestic and foreign investors are interested in deploying a floating power station system combined with storage, both serving the people on the island and providing for fishing boats, sea routes and even connecting to the national grid if there is a submarine cable connection. It is expected that in the next 5 years, Truong Sa will be a model of self-sufficient marine energy, not dependent on supplies from the mainland, gradually building a green - smart - self-reliant sea area.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/truong-sa-chuyen-minh-196250719212520115.htm