Warmth in the middle of the ocean

(Baonghean) - Every year, when the Northeast monsoon brings rains to the Southeast sea, when the Banyan flowers gently spread their fragrance in the sea breeze, it is also the time to signal the arrival of Spring on the beloved Truong Sa archipelago! The New Year atmosphere in Truong Sa is not noisy, bustling, not full of peach and apricot blossoms, but it is warm and profound...

Morning on Truong Sa Island, after long gloomy days, the horizon, the dawn is a bright red. The sea suddenly becomes strangely gentle, the waves gently lap the white sand. A "very Tet" atmosphere has spread in the space! From early morning, the people of Truong Sa Town (Truong Sa Island), Truong Sa District (Khanh Hoa) have prepared, lit incense on the altar of Uncle Ho and the altar of their ancestors to be able to return to participate in activities organized by the officers and soldiers on the island. Adults are busy with countless nameless tasks, while children on the island are absorbed in innocently playing in the sun. It is hard to imagine that, in this place 250 nautical miles away from the mainland, the peaceful rhythm of life still takes place regularly like that!

People of Truong Sa Town wrap Chung cake with square almond leaves

As a tradition, on the morning of the first day of Tet, after the national flag-raising ceremony, cadres, soldiers and people of Truong Sa Town came to offer incense to pay respect to the soul of President Ho Chi Minh at the Uncle Ho Memorial House - a gift from the Party Committee, government and people of Nghe An province to Truong Sa island district, then burn incense at the Monument to heroic martyrs and the martyrs' graves. In the sacred space, each stick of incense was offered as a promise of the children of the Vietnamese land at the forefront, determined to protect and build the Truong Sa archipelago of the Fatherland to be sustainable and increasingly prosperous. Among them, there were many soldiers with youthful faces. They had been on the island for less than a month, but after days of training at the training ground, their skin had already turned dark and strong, exuding the salty taste of the ocean. Standing silently in front of the Monument to the heroic martyrs, Private Bui The Son (20 years old) - from Yen Dinh district, Thanh Hoa shared: “My father also spent his military career at sea, so I understand the silent sacrifices of soldiers, especially soldiers in Truong Sa. On the island, the affection between commanders and soldiers is as close as a family. Everyone taught me many good things and right reasons. Therefore, the first time away from home and also the first time celebrating Tet in Truong Sa, although I was a bit nervous and missed my family, I felt the atmosphere was very special and deeply moved. All of this created a sense of pride, urging us to strive to complete our mission excellently.”

Truong Sa soldiers make wall newspaper.

The precious emotions of the young soldier are also the spiritual vibrations of most people from far away who come to Truong Sa for the first time, like us. In this place at the forefront of the waves, the image of the beloved homeland is still present on every road around the island. Especially the presence of Truong Sa Lon Pagoda - a familiar destination for many people. The pagoda has the typical appearance of a pure Vietnamese pagoda that we can find anywhere on the S-shaped strip of land, but in Truong Sa, the pagoda is a symbol of the most sacred and dear things. The islanders come to the pagoda not only to pray for blessings and peace according to Vietnamese tradition, but also as an interesting spring destination on the island.

Amidst the vast waves, the temple bell rang far away, like a peaceful and steady note. Far away, right in the center of the island, the bustling atmosphere was no less than any Spring festival on the mainland. The island command and Truong Sa Town organized many folk games and sports such as tug of war, table tennis, and Spring wall newspaper contests between clusters... for soldiers and people to interact, both creating a bustling Spring atmosphere and adding to the close-knit relationship between the army and the people. In a space filled with Spring sunshine, mixed with the salty taste of the ocean, it would be difficult for even those with the most experience with Truong Sa to remain indifferent.

The atmosphere of Tet preparation is bustling and warm on Truong Sa island.

Along the wide concrete road, shaded by banyan trees, we visited the family of Mr. Nguyen Phong Danh, from Cam Lam district (Khanh Hoa) and his wife, Ms. Pham Thi Nhu Trinh, from Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province, along with their two children. Fate brought them together, they built a family life and then moved to Truong Sa to start a business. Life on the island certainly has many disadvantages compared to the mainland, especially during holidays and Tet, but according to the couple, as citizens of Truong Sa, they are very stable mentally, never feeling shaken. In the clean, spacious living room, the bright colors of peach blossoms are bringing a warm spring to the family. "The paper peach branches that the couple cut and pasted together bring the Tet atmosphere to the whole family. The flowers may not be real, but the spring is real, the joy is real!" - Mr. Danh excitedly shared.

In the story of Tet, we clearly felt the faith and hope in the sincere confessions of the couple's family because they have officers, soldiers, and very close neighbors. Closely connected to the family's life in Truong Sa, the children go to school every day, he joins the island's militia and works as a fisherman, and she spends time on the island's women's work when she was elected by the island's women to hold the position of President of the Women's Union of Truong Sa Town. "With the attention of the Party and State, as well as the wholehearted help of officers and soldiers on the island, the life of the whole family on the remote island is stable, warm, and happy," Mr. Danh shared.

Truong Sa soldiers decorate apricot trees to celebrate Tet.

Although the traditional Tet atmosphere on the island is a bit quieter than on the mainland, it is still very cozy. Everyone makes flowers and decorates their houses to welcome the Spring. Everyone shares their experiences in preparing traditional dishes and enjoys them together. We had a very interesting experience celebrating the traditional Tet of the soldiers and people of Truong Sa Town. From early morning, the island soldiers slaughtered pigs, divided the meat and wrapped Chung cakes and Tet cakes with the households. The interesting thing is that besides the traditional cakes wrapped in Dong leaves brought by the ships from the mainland, there are cakes wrapped in square Indian almond leaves.

It turns out that the square-leafed banyan leaves used to wrap the cakes were not because the island lacked dong leaves, but because they evoked many memories of the difficult times of the officers and soldiers on the island. Lieutenant Colonel Ly Hong Duyen - Political Commissar of Combat Group No. 1 confided: "Truong Sa soldiers were the first to create a way to wrap cakes with square-leafed banyan leaves. Over the years, the conditions for celebrating Tet on the island have improved, but this way of wrapping cakes is still preserved as a unique feature of Tet in Truong Sa. The national spirit and identity of Truong Sa seem to permeate and blend into each banh chung wrapped in square-leafed banh chung."

Transporting Tet goods to point A, Da Tay submerged island.

On the other corner of the island, in the small meeting room of cluster 2, the final preparations for Tet are almost complete. Two young soldiers are meticulously decorating the yellow apricot branches. On the altar of Uncle Ho, there are neatly placed plates of candy and a tray of five fruits. The tray of five fruits of the soldiers on Truong Sa island is very special, with the addition of the square-leaved almond and the tra fruit - fruits that can only be found on Truong Sa. Captain Nguyen On Luu - Head of cluster 2, Truong Sa island said: "The tray of five fruits on Truong Sa island must have these two fruits. It has become a tradition! A unique feature of Truong Sa". Indeed, in the midst of a land with only harsh sun, wind and rain, the square-leaved almond tree still diligently filters the rare drops of morning dew, persistently taking root deep into the thirsty soil to find life, to survive, and to grow strongly in the vast ocean. This tree brings to the island white petals, showing off its bright pink pistils, signaling that Spring is gently coming to the porch. Perhaps that is why the square-leaved almond or tra fruit has become an indispensable part of the island soldiers' lives, especially during important and sacred moments of the land, sky, and nation.

At Combat Group No. 3, we met Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Thang in Hamlet 1, Dien Yen Commune, Dien Chau District (Nghe An) who was working with his fellow soldiers in the unit to make a wall newspaper. Poems, hot news, and eventful photos about the country's socio-economic situation were updated very professionally by him and his teammates. Talking to us, Lieutenant Nguyen Duc Thang shared: "As a son of Nghe An, promoting the revolutionary tradition of my homeland, no matter what position I am in, I always try to complete my tasks excellently. Through Nghe An Newspaper, from beloved Truong Sa! I wish the people and my homeland a successful new year, with further development."

During the days on Truong Sa island, participating in the early Tet holiday with the officers, soldiers and people of the island, any of us could see the image of the Vietnamese countryside peacefully existing in the middle of the ocean. Only 30 nautical miles away from Truong Sa island - the heart of the archipelago, the beautiful spring days are also coming to Da Lat, Da Tay, Truong Sa Dong islands... The lives of soldiers on these islands, especially the submerged islands, are not necessarily without difficulties, but with the attention of the Party, the State and the people from the mainland, the material and spiritual lives of officers and soldiers on the islands in Truong Sa archipelago have improved.

Therefore, Tet holiday also became more prosperous and complete in all aspects. Our journey to Truong Sa encountered storms and rough seas. There was no wharf for ships to dock, so all goods and Tet gifts to the officers and soldiers on the island were transported by CQ boats. And the sea was rough, the waves were very big! The large-capacity CQ boat kept rising and falling. Sea water hit the side of the boat, splashing into people's faces and Tet goods. There were submerged islands like Da Tay, the journey to deliver Tet gifts to point A of the island was also the time when the bags of goods burst open, food spilled all over the boat's floor. The island soldiers had to use basins and pots to collect them and bring them to the island. The journey to Tet Truong Sa was arduous, hard, even dangerous in the middle of stormy seas, so when the dong leaves, sticky rice, giang bamboo tubes, pork meat... reached the island soldiers, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, all fatigue disappeared in the joy of meeting.

When we arrived at point B, Da Tay island, Sergeant Tran Van Nhan from Tuy An, Phu Yen, was meticulously trimming and decorating the maple tree on the island for the upcoming New Year's Eve. Celebrating Tet away from his family for the first time, he must have missed home, missed the moments of gathering with relatives and friends around the feast on the afternoon of the 30th of Tet. But then looking at the way he talked, whispered, and laughed with his comrades, we suddenly realized that the normal private nostalgia of a young soldier would quickly be filled by the love of comrades, teammates, and boundless affection for the mainland. "Accepting the mission in Truong Sa, I determined to have a steadfast mindset to work with peace of mind, to protect the sovereignty of my homeland's sea and islands. Only when the sea and islands are peaceful can the mainland celebrate Tet happily" - comrade Nhan shared.

About 7 nautical miles from Da Tay Island is Truong Sa Dong Island. This spring, the officers and soldiers celebrated Tet much happier than last year. In addition to gifts from the mainland, including a television, 4 pigs and a fresh kumquat tree, officers and soldiers from 12 provinces and cities on the island have worked together to overcome difficulties, increase production and improve their lives. Taking us to visit the livestock area with a huge number of pigs, chickens, ducks and lush green Malabar spinach trellises in the golden sunlight, Lieutenant Le Van Kim - who is considered a "general" in increasing production on the island, proudly said: "Currently, the island has 25 pigs, including 2 sows and hundreds of chickens and ducks. The output of livestock and poultry has exceeded the plan by 200%. The amount of clean vegetables increased has also basically met the needs on the island.

All are the results of the brothers' productive labor hours, helping to make life on the island more meaningful and poetic, and having a more fulfilling and prosperous Tet holiday. Going back to the island headquarters, standing from the high floor of the concrete block looking out at the vast ocean, but right next to the beach is an extremely bustling friendly football match welcoming the New Year. Lieutenant Colonel, Political Commissar of the island Nguyen Ngoc Vinh said: "Every Tet, cultural and sports activities are organized. Activities such as football, volleyball, and picking democratic flowers are organized very attractively, attracting the brothers to have fun, entertain and exercise, creating momentum to successfully complete the task of guarding the sea and sky of the Fatherland in the new year".

Having the opportunity to go and celebrate Tet early with soldiers in Truong Sa archipelago is a valuable experience in the life of a journalist. That joy is multiplied when having the opportunity to witness the daily changes on the remote island. The Party and State not only care about security and defense projects but also focus on improving the quality of life of cadres, soldiers and people in Truong Sa archipelago. At the same time, many programs towards beloved Truong Sa have been implemented by organizations and individuals, helping remote Truong Sa build a bridge of friendship with the mainland. Colonel Nguyen Van Thu - Deputy Political Commissar of Brigade 146 said: "Every year, the Navy, Region 4 and Brigade 146 organize to bring goods and Tet gifts to the islands and island points in Truong Sa archipelago. We always try to overcome all difficulties to ensure that Truong Sa soldiers have a better and better life, celebrate the most complete Tet, and connect Truong Sa closer to the mainland. Thereby, creating conditions for officers and soldiers to successfully complete the task of protecting the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland."

The traditional Tet holiday has a very sacred meaning for every Vietnamese. In this faraway place, in the middle of beloved Truong Sa, there are children of Nghe An who are bringing the colors of Spring to their homeland's islands in a very unique way that touches the soul of the nation. Now, the distance of 250 nautical miles from Truong Sa to the mainland no longer seems to evoke many worries, because the distance is nothing when Spring is filled with love.

Thanh Duy - Dao Tuan