The islands of the Southwest welcomed the working delegation of Naval Region 5 and many press agencies to visit and work.

At Hon Chuoi Island in Song Doc Town, Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau Province, the working delegation including the Naval Region 5 Command and leaders of 10 southern provinces and 24 press agencies visited and presented gifts to units of Radar Station 615 under Battalion 551, Naval Region 5; Border Guard Station 704/Ca Mau Provincial Border Guard and Hon Chuoi Lighthouse Station under the Ministry of Transport.

The delegation presented gifts and New Year wishes to officers and soldiers on Hon Chuoi Island. Photo: Phan Hai

Hon Chuoi Island is one of the important outpost islands in the Southwest of the Fatherland. The island's terrain is very complex, steep, with very harsh climate conditions, little rain, lots of sunshine, and two distinct windy seasons. Hon Chuoi is an inhabited island. Currently, there is a self-governing people's group on the island with 68 households and more than 202 people. The islanders live mainly by cage fish farming and fishing. There are also 3 military and civilian units stationed on the island.

Charity class on Hon Chuoi island. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The island is not far from the mainland, however, the living and traveling conditions of the soldiers and people on the island are still very difficult. Currently, Hon Chuoi Island does not have a medical station or a national school system. In order for children on the island to study, the self-governing people's group has coordinated with Border Guard Station 704 and Radar Station 615 to open a charity class taught by Major Tran Binh Phuc - Deputy Head of the Mass Mobilization Team of Hon Chuoi Border Guard Station. Currently, the charity class has 21 students from grades 1 to 7. The school has been recognized as an educational institution in the educational system of Song Doc town.

Next, the delegation visited Hon Khoai Island located in the Southeast of Ca Mau Cape, Tan An Commune, Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province. Hon Khoai is located in the Hon Khoai Island cluster, including small islands: Hon Khoai (also known as Doc Lap Island), Hon Giang Tien, Hon Sao, Hon Tuong, Hon Doi Moi and Hon Da Le.

The delegation presented gifts to the forces stationed on Hon Khoai Island. Photo: Phan Hai

Hon Khoai is an island with very rich natural conditions and an important position in national defense and security. This place is considered an outpost guarding the sky, sea and southwestern strip of land of the Fatherland. Hon Khoai is not only known for its wild and diverse natural scenery. It is also famous for the Hon Khoai Uprising of the heroic martyr, teacher Phan Ngoc Hien in the resistance war against the French colonialists. There is also a nearly 100-year-old lighthouse built during the French colonial period.

Currently, stationed on the island are the following forces: Radar Station 595 of Battalion 551, Naval Region 5; Border Guard Station 700 of Ca Mau Provincial Border Guard; Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station of the Ministry of Transport and Hon Khoai Forest Ranger Department of Ca Mau Provincial Forest Ranger Department; Battalion 887 of Engineering Brigade 83, Navy is constructing works for the Station.

Visiting and giving gifts, wishing the officers and soldiers on the island a happy new year, the delegation sent New Year greetings. Wishing the officers and soldiers good health and always being steadfast at the front line of the Fatherland.

Tho Chu Island is located in Tho Chau Commune, Phu Quoc District, Kien Giang Province. Photo: Thanh Cuong

On Tho Chu Island, the delegation offered incense at Tho Chau Temple. Here, the delegation commemorated President Ho Chi Minh and the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the offensive to liberate and protect Tho Chu Island. The delegation also held a minute of silence to commemorate the innocent people murdered by the Khmer Rouge.

The delegation offered incense at Tho Chau Temple. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Colonel Luc Duc Tien - Deputy Commander of Naval Region 5 Command, Head of the working delegation offered incense to the soul of President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Tho Chu Island is the southwestern outpost island of the Fatherland, the island has an area of ​​about 14 km2.², is the largest island of the 8 islands of Tho Chu archipelago. Currently, Tho Chu island is an administrative unit of Tho Chau commune, Phu Quoc district, Kien Giang province.

In 1993, Kien Giang province sent the first 17 households to the island. To date, the island commune has more than 541 households with more than 1,869 people. The islanders live mainly on aquaculture, fishing and tourism services. In addition to the Party Committee, government, Fatherland Front and organizations, there are also civilian and military units stationed on the island such as: Radar Station 610 of Battalion 551, Naval Region 5; Lighthouse Station of the Ministry of Transport; Hydrometeorological Station of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Regiment 152 - Military Region 9; Tho Chau Border Guard Station of Kien Giang Provincial Border Guard; Brigade 25 - Military Region 9; Coast Guard Station of Coast Guard Region 4 and units under Military Region 9.

Soldiers of Regiment 152 increase production. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Due to the distance from the mainland and the harsh climate, the living conditions, activities and travel of the people and forces on the island still face many difficulties.

However, in recent years, with the attention of the Party, the State and localities, especially the southern provinces and cities, the life and work of cadres, soldiers and people on Tho Chu island are increasingly renewed and developed with many social security works and spacious and solid cultural institutions. On the island, investments have been made to build works such as: power grid system, medical station, post office, kindergarten, primary and secondary schools, temple to President Ho Chi Minh and cadres, soldiers and more than 500 people murdered by the Khmer Rouge army...

The delegation presented gifts to officers, soldiers and people of Tho Chu island. Photo: Phan Hai

The attention of the Party, State, Army and localities has contributed to changing the appearance and life on the island. Thereby, motivating the army and people of Tho Chu island to overcome all difficulties, build a prosperous island commune, and contribute to firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.