Truong Sa is in my heart.

In early May 2023, from Cam Ranh International Port, we began our sea voyage to visit the soldiers and civilians living and working to protect the sovereignty of our beloved Truong Sa islands.

The first island we set foot on was Da Nam Island. To visit the island, we had to leave the large ship and travel by small boat. In the vast ocean, the small boat, like a leaf, weaved through the waves, bringing the group to the island. At times, waves crashed against the sides of the boat, splashing seawater onto us, causing everyone a feeling of awe mixed with a little anxiety. This showed just how skilled the naval soldiers are.

Upon arriving at the island, at the sovereignty marker, a soldier stood solemnly on guard, his eyes fixed on the gently lapping waves of the sea. Although not assigned to the task, each member of the delegation proactively greeted the soldiers, trying to find out if any were from their hometown. I felt the same way, but in a different way. The first soldier I met was someone I hadn't had a chance to greet or ask about before I realized he was from my hometown – Ngo Duc Men from Tan Thuan commune, Ham Thuan Nam district. It was unbelievable that amidst the vast ocean, the first person I spoke to was someone from my hometown; a feeling of elation and pride welled up inside me. I hugged Men tightly, the embrace of a son far from home suddenly hearing the familiar voice of his homeland. At that moment, I couldn't control my emotions; my eyes welled up with tears, but fearing he would be saddened, I quickly turned away and wiped them away. Looking back, Mến's eyes welled up with tears, but she didn't cry because the resilience of a soldier wouldn't allow it… Due to time constraints and the travel schedule, the delegation left the island after more than two hours. The image of Mến standing by the border marker waving goodbye is unforgettable; it was like a message: "Don't worry, Uncle, I and my comrades will firmly defend our homeland's seas and islands."

Leaving Da Nam Island, we continued to Da Thi Island, Sinh Ton Dong, An Bang, Da Tay A, Truong Sa, and the DK1/9 platform. On each island, the living conditions of the officers and soldiers differed; but they all shared one thing in common: they were all very young, enthusiastic, and determined to guard the homeland's seas and islands. At the Co Lin – Len Dao and Gac Ma islands, the delegation stopped and held a memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers. The ceremony was very solemn, with nearly 300 white cranes and yellow chrysanthemum branches released into the sea by members of the delegation and soldiers from ship 561 to commemorate the spirits of the 64 soldiers who bravely sacrificed their lives to protect the seas, islands, and sovereignty of the Fatherland. A member of the delegation shared that, no matter how high the waves or how rough the sea, the petals would gradually drift towards Gac Ma Island after being released into the sea. It may be a coincidence of the ocean currents flowing through this area, but it also demonstrates that the Spratly Islands are always in the hearts of every Vietnamese person.

At the end of the voyage, the members of the delegation still retained the exhilarating feeling of the moments spent bobbing on board the ship 561, the sound of waves lapping against the hull, the whistling wind, and the fluttering of the national flag atop the ship as night fell, along with the steady hum of the engine on the open sea. The warm handshakes, affectionate glances, tight hugs, and gentle smiles exchanged from the moment they arrived on the islands and offshore platforms, and even at the farewell, were deeply moving – an unforgettable surge of emotion and affection between the members of the delegation and the officers, soldiers, and people living on the islands.