Final article: Journalists arrive in Truong Sa.
In the evening, a cultural exchange program celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Snake took place right at the sovereignty marker on Song Tu Tay Island. All the soldiers and civilians on the island joined hands and sang enthusiastically. Songs about Truong Sa, about love for the homeland, moved everyone to tears: “Our homeland’s sea and sky, beautiful as embroidered silk. The country is one family, ships sail north and south…” Lieutenant Dinh Trong Hai of the People’s Army Newspaper quickly jotted down these emotional lyrics in his notebook in a dark corner under the stage… As a young journalist passionate about his profession and eager to explore, amidst the rocking of the ship and bouts of seasickness, he still kept his notebook and pen ready, his camera flashing continuously to capture the moments and feelings he considered beautiful and memorable. Hai said: "For me, the sea is an endless source of inspiration. Whenever I'm on the deck of the HQ 996, under the golden sun, with gentle waves lapping against the shore, looking out at the green islands and long stretches of white sand, I realize just how incredibly beautiful our country is."
Sing along enthusiastically with the young soldiers.
Meanwhile, reporter Nguyen Ngoc Quang from Thai Nguyen Radio and Television was impressed by the images of soldiers braving the cold rain on the eve of the Lunar New Year, battling the rough seas of a low-pressure system to guide and ensure the safety of the delegation visiting the islands. The meals, though simple, and the beds for guests lacking comfortable mattresses, were filled with the affection of the officers, soldiers, and people of Truong Sa. Both the above-water and submerged islands were incredibly clean, without a single speck of trash; each soldier demonstrated a high level of environmental awareness. For him, these were unforgettable scenes and images. Nguyen Ngoc Quang confided: “Going to Truong Sa was a great happiness. After the trip, I think I will change my lifestyle to be more responsible towards the Fatherland, the nation, and specifically towards the sea and islands.”
Journalists who visited Truong Sa wrote from their own experiences, smiles, and even tears of joy. Reporter Luu Trong Dat (Vietnam News Agency), visiting Truong Sa for the first time, sought out unique photographs of the square-fruited Barringtonia flowers and the storm-resistant Barringtonia trees. For him, Truong Sa is not just about the soldiers, but also about life and growth. His photo collections have been purchased by many newspapers and media outlets and reached readers. Dat shared that nothing is more joyful than having his moving articles and images about Truong Sa conveyed to readers nationwide, so that everyone can better understand, love, appreciate, and be more responsible for the country's islands and seas.
Reporting from the Spratly Islands.
For reporter Nguyen Nam Hai of Nong Thon Ngay Nay newspaper, this is his fifth visit to Truong Sa, having set foot on all the islands, both above and below sea level. But with Truong Sa, his emotions and the perspectives on the subject matter always feel fresh. During this trip, he plans to write about the maritime rescue work of the soldiers, with a report tentatively titled "The Saviors of Truong Sa." At Son Ca Island, Nam Hai met an old acquaintance – Captain Nguyen Duc Anh, from Nga Son district, Thanh Hoa province. They greeted each other warmly, and Captain Nguyen Duc Anh repeatedly thanked Nam Hai, explaining that while Duc Anh was still stationed on the remote island, Nam Hai had helped his son receive free heart surgery. Nguyen Nam Hai told us, or perhaps spoke to himself: "Meeting and parting, the gifts from the soldiers on the islands to the journalists are often simple seashells, white pebbles, square-fruited Terminalia, or coral branches, but they are full of affection and sacred mementos from the sea and islands of our homeland. Holding a seashell still wet with seawater in my hand, tears well up, and I only wish I could stay longer with the naval soldiers who are guarding the sea and sky of our homeland day and night."
Nearly 60 years old, having traveled to many parts of the country during his military campaigns and journalistic work, this was the first time journalist Nguyen Minh Thong of Nghe An Newspaper had visited Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), so the trip truly fulfilled his long-held wish. On the HQ 996 ship and on the islands, Mr. Thong was the oldest and most dedicated to his work. Everyone often called him "Uncle Ca" or "the old man from Nghe An." Journalist Minh Thong shared: Truong Sa is about 300 nautical miles from the mainland. But when I first set foot on Song Tu Tay Island, the feeling was strange... everyone I met seemed so familiar, like we hadn't seen each other in a long time. A group of children returning from school excitedly greeted me with folded hands, saying, "Hello, Uncle"; as I walked towards the family area, the hostess with a sweet Khanh Hoa accent said, "Please come in, sir, have some water." The young soldiers were so impressive, raising their hands to their caps in a solemn military salute, then rushing to surround me, saying, "Uncle, take a picture of us!" I recognized many accents: Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and even Quang Nam and Binh Dinh. I no longer remembered this was an island, nor did I think this was the easternmost frontier of our country. Before me were sons and grandsons from all over, gathered under one roof, surrounded by the roaring waves, yet I imagined the wind rustling through the bamboo groves behind the house.
During this trip, musician and journalist Huynh Lien, from the Khanh Hoa Literature and Arts Association, wrote a song that poured out his heart and soul for the islands of his homeland. The song, "Truong Sa - The Homeland at the Forefront of the Waves," is a call to arms, urging everyone to unite and resolutely defend the sacred islands of the Fatherland: "The Fatherland has given us the islands/ The Fatherland has given us the waves. We stand here under the sky, sun, and wind/ A strong shield for the peace of our motherland/ The islands remain lush green like the love of the soldiers/ The islands stand proudly amidst the waves of all directions. Neither sun, rain, nor storms can shake our will/ When our hearts are filled with the image of our homeland…"
Every year, hundreds of reporters from various newspapers and television stations are sent on field trips to report and write articles about the islands, including Truong Sa. Visiting Truong Sa is both an expression of affection and a burning desire for exploration and discovery for every journalist. Despite spending many days at sea on the vast ocean, Truong Sa remains a destination and a captivating subject for journalists, because it continues to beckon day and night, binding people together with unwavering loyalty and devotion. I know that many journalists have never been to Truong Sa, but like all Vietnamese people, they all have deep affection for it.
Thanh Chung; Photo: Minh Thong (Email from Truong Sa)