The vitality of Truong Sa

The painful and heroic past is over. Countless generations of officers, soldiers, and civilians of Truong Sa have sacrificed their sweat and blood to reclaim the islands, transforming the barren rocky islands of the past into the lush green Truong Sa of today, like an ecological park in the East Sea. Trees flourish, and miniature "cities" full of life rise strongly amidst the vast ocean and sky. Truong Sa is gradually transforming, becoming a maritime economic, cultural, and social center of the country, a steadfast fortress protecting the sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands.

Flag-raising ceremony on Truong Sa Island.

Fifty years after Liberation Day, thanks to the attention and investment of the Party, the State, the Ministry of National Defense , the joint efforts and support of central and local ministries and agencies, the people of the whole country and overseas Vietnamese; along with the willpower, creativity, and enthusiastic labor spirit of the military and people on the island, the appearance of Truong Sa Island today is changing day by day, becoming more spacious and beautiful. Proof of this change is the 150-meter-long pier, like a strong, sturdy bare arm reaching out to welcome ships from the motherland, overcoming countless waves and storms to reach this beloved island.

Defense facilities combined with civilian services, such as airports, docks, television and satellite telephone transmission stations, meteorological and hydrological stations, lighthouses, cultural facilities, and medical centers, have been built, improving the lives of soldiers and civilians on the islands and contributing to the successful implementation of the Party and State's socio -economic development program in the sea and island regions.

Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son, Commander of Truong Sa Island and Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Sa Town, told me that April in Truong Sa is a very special time, considered by the locals as a "festival month," when the military and civilians on the island welcome many delegations from the mainland who come to visit, inspect, and interact with the islanders. Perhaps the most unforgettable image for Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son, who has been closely associated with Truong Sa for many years, is when the delegations set foot on the islands. The glances, smiles, and handshakes of the delegation members with the military and civilians on the islands were incredibly warm, full of human kindness and solidarity. This image is proof of the patriotic spirit and unity in protecting sovereignty in Truong Sa.

Soldiers on patrol in the Truong Sa Islands.

Visiting Truong Sa, one will see guesthouses funded by the Party Committee, government, and people of Hanoi; a football field donated by the Party Committee, government, and people of Hoa Binh province; a memorial to President Ho Chi Minh built by Nghe An province; a memorial to the heroic martyrs; Truong Sa pagoda; a traditional hall; and a school, all serving as places for cultural exchange and traditional education for the military and civilians of Truong Sa town. “Currently, the cultural and spiritual life of the military and civilians on the island is quite well-maintained. 100% of households and military units are equipped with televisions and satellite signal reception systems; modern digital karaoke systems are installed in all combat units. The island has a reading room with nearly 4,800 books and 28 different newspapers, and a legal library,” Lieutenant Colonel Can Ngoc Son stated.

As someone who frequently spends long periods at sea, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Khanh Hai, Captain of Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao, Brigade 162, Region 4 of the Navy, shared his heartfelt thoughts with me, his emotions overflowing: “Protecting the sovereignty of our seas and islands is the responsibility and dedication of every Vietnamese citizen, including myself and my comrades. This is the motivation for us to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in our work, striving to complete our tasks well, and being a support for fishermen venturing out to sea and maintaining their livelihoods.”

Friendship amidst the vast ocean

Currently, the Truong Sa island district has many well-equipped military and civilian medical centers and clinics with modern medical equipment, staffed by doctors and medical personnel from military hospitals. This is a favorable condition that plays a crucial role in providing regular and timely healthcare, fostering confidence and motivation for officers, soldiers, and the people to stay on the islands and at sea, making a practical contribution to safeguarding the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands.

The bond between the military and civilians in the Spratly Islands.

At the Song Tu Tay Island Medical Clinic, Major Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tung, the clinic's head, stated: The medical team on the island consists of doctors and medical staff from the Central Military Hospital 108, who are assigned to perform duties. They are comprised of doctors, medical assistants, and nurses specializing in internal medicine and surgery. Their mission is to ensure the health, examination, and treatment of officers, soldiers, civilians, forces on duty on the island, and fishermen fishing in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands. In 2024 and the first three months of 2025, the Song Tu Tay Island medical team examined and treated 177 fishermen, providing medical assistance worth nearly 112 million VND.

The work of the military medical team may seem simple over time, but there are cases where failure to promptly admit, diagnose, and treat patients can affect their lives. Doctor Tung recalled: “On May 5, 2024, the Song Tu Tay Island Medical Clinic simultaneously received two fishermen for emergency treatment: La Thanh Loi and Tran Minh Hai. Patient La Thanh Loi, born in 1983, from Binh Dinh province, was transferred to the clinic with a diagnosis of peritonitis due to a ruptured appendix. Immediately after receiving the patient, the doctors and nurses on the island promptly prepared and performed surgery to remove the appendix and clean and drain the abdominal cavity. The timely surgery helped the patient recover from critical condition. After the surgery, the patient was stable, conscious, and received resuscitation and recovery care at the clinic.”

Meeting Truong Sa.

Fisherman La Thanh Loi shared: “We regularly go to the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands to fish. The Navy soldiers not only take care of our health, provide medical examinations and treatment, but also help fishermen find safe shelter from storms, promptly repair any damage, and supply food, fuel, ice, etc., at the same prices as on the mainland, which is very convenient for fishermen who stay at sea for extended periods. We feel very secure when going out to sea to fish in this area.”

April is also a favorable time for the whole country to turn its attention to Truong Sa with the most sincere feelings. From hastily written letters from students across the country to the soldiers in Truong Sa, to the gift packages that mothers and wives hurriedly buy and ask their comrades to deliver to their sons and husbands. These gifts, though simple, carry a whole sky of longing and affection from the mainland to the distant islands... All of these things have given Truong Sa a very unique and special character, a blend of Truong Sa's waves and the warmth from all corners of the country.

Text and photos: DUY KHÁNH

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/vung-vang-va-nghia-tinh-giua-trung-khoi-to-quoc-824604