Towards the forefront of the waves...

There are trips to islands for exploration and relaxation. There are also trips for reflection, to experience life in the harsh conditions of the open sea, where each wave carries not only the salty taste of the ocean but also the pride in the sacred sovereignty of our nation's maritime territories. Our journey to Hon Chuoi, a small island in the vast southern sea, evoked such a feeling...

Báo Cà Mau•29/07/2025

Engineers on Hon Chuoi Island overcome difficulties and show creativity.
Fish farming in cages around Hon Chuoi Island.
The Political Commissar of the 5th Naval Region inspects radar stations on Hon Khoai and Hon Chuoi islands.

Seen from afar, the Hon Chuoi island cluster features small houses clinging precariously to the sheer cliffs, where people live amidst the turbulent waves, bravely defending the island.

From the Song Doc estuary to Hon Chuoi Island, a distance of more than 18 nautical miles, in the tranquil morning air, Hon Chuoi Island emerges majestically from the open sea. The island is only about 70 hectares in size, but its rugged terrain with a slope of nearly 45 degrees makes it a challenging climb for anyone visiting for the first time.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai presents gifts to encourage officers, soldiers, and residents on Hon Chuoi Island.

Currently, 46 households with 156 inhabitants live on Hon Chuoi Island . Their main occupations are cage fish farming , small-scale trading, or working as laborers. The island has no electricity grid and no well water. Life depends entirely on rainwater and electricity from generators or old batteries. During the dry season, every drop of water is as precious as gold. At night, the air is dim, and children study by the light of flashlights or mobile phones.

Cage fish farming on Hon Chuoi Island is the main livelihood for many households there.

In a place that seems to offer nothing but rocks and sea breezes, there is a small, warm classroom where children on the island learn to read and write, and to become good people. This charitable classroom, opened by the Hon Chuoi Border Guard Post in 1995, has been running for over 20 years, with seven teachers, all officers and soldiers of the post, over a total of 72 students. Of these, 43 have gone on to higher education, and six have been admitted to university and found stable jobs on the mainland. These are small numbers, but they reflect the immense efforts of both teachers and students.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai visited a charity class on Hon Chuoi Island, where teachers in military uniforms daily sow the seeds of knowledge and nurture the young children in this remote island.

Currently, the teacher is Major Tran Binh Phuc, a soldier in green uniform who has been with the class for over 15 years. There are no school bells, only chalk and a blackboard, but it is a real school, a place where dreams of knowledge are nurtured in this remote island setting.

" Every time I see the children learning to spell, it warms my heart. Guarding the sea and islands is our duty; but preserving knowledge and imparting literacy to the children – that is their future," shared Major Tran Binh Phuc.

The small classroom has only 12 students from grades 1 to 5, the light flickers from solar panels that have gradually deteriorated over the years, but the students' eyes still shine brightly with aspirations.

On the edge of the road leading to the border guard post, we met Mrs. Hong Thanh Trang, with her sun-tanned face and calloused hands. This woman has lived on the island for over 30 years, since she was a young girl who followed her husband there. She sincerely confided: "Every storm season is a time to flee the waves; houses collapse, rafts drift away… and then we rebuild. Life here is very hard, but it's our home, our land, so we have to protect it." Mrs. Trang hopes that one day she will have a sturdy house, so she won't have to flee the waves seasonally; she hopes her children will receive a proper education so they can have a better future.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Ho Hai visited and presented gifts to the family of Ms. Hong Thanh Trang, a resident of Hon Chuoi Island.

Living conditions and logistics on the island are still lacking in many ways, but amidst all these difficulties, the spirit of overcoming adversity, sharing, and solidarity between the military and the people shines brightly.

“ Despite the many hardships in life, the officers and soldiers on the island always clearly understand the sacred duty entrusted to them by the Party and the State. We remain here not only to safeguard the sovereignty and security of the maritime border but also to stand side by side with and support the local people with every can of rice, every bottle of water, every pill... Many nights on guard duty, the wind howls and the sea is rough, but we still steadfastly hold our position so that fishermen can confidently go out to sea and make a living,” shared Lieutenant Colonel Doan Cong Nghiep, Commander of Hon Chuoi Border Guard Station.

In the remote and challenging location of Hon Chuoi Island, amidst the vast ocean, love for the homeland and loyalty to the nation are not only expressed through words but also affirmed through concrete actions: through every shift, every patrol, every trip delivering fresh water to the people, every hour spent tutoring children in literacy; through supporting fishermen in venturing out to sea and adhering to regulations; and through the close, blood-bond relationship between the military and civilians on the island...

Border guards patrol the seas, day and night watching over the sacred waters and islands of the Fatherland, serving as a pillar of support for fishermen venturing out to sea and maintaining their livelihoods.

During his recent working visit to Hon Chuoi Island, Comrade Nguyen Ho Hai, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, personally visited, assessed the situation, and encouraged the officers, soldiers, and people performing duties and living on the island. Acknowledging and directing many important issues, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee expressed his hope that the Hon Chuoi Border Guard Post and other forces stationed on the island would continue to build upon their achievements, strengthen the unit's regularization efforts, overcome difficulties, and serve as a solid support base on this frontline island of the Fatherland.

Hoang Vu

Source: https://baocamau.vn/ve-noi-dau-song--a121071.html