(Baobnghean.vn)- As the second largest floating island in the Truong Sa archipelago (after Ba Binh island which is illegally occupied by Taiwan), Nam Yet Island is located in the center and has an extremely important strategic position in the East Sea.
Nam Yet Island is located in the North of the Truong Sa archipelago, about 13 nautical miles southwest of Son Ca island, about 11 nautical miles south of Ba Binh island illegally occupied by Taiwan, and about 7 nautical miles east of Ga Ven submerged island occupied by China. This is an island located in the center of the Truong Sa archipelago. Previously, the Saigon puppet government built Nam Yet as the command center, the capital of the naval force on the Truong Sa archipelago.
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| Nam Yet Island seen from afar |
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| Nam Yet Island seen from above |
During the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, immediately after winning a number of strategic fronts on land, the Vietnam People's Navy coordinated with a part of the 5th Military Region's troops to boldly, secretly and rapidly advance to Truong Sa, secretly liberating a number of islands such as Son Ca, Sinh Ton,... On April 27, 1975, when the surrounding islands fell, the commanding force on Nam Yet Island of the Saigon puppet government was also exhausted, shaken and quickly surrendered unconditionally to the liberation army. Nam Yet was taken over and built by us from then until now.
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| Lighthouse on Nam Yet Island |
The first impression when arriving in Nam Yet is a peaceful green color. Although this is a coral and white sand island, it is very difficult for plants to live and survive. However, with the hands, brains, sweat and tears of generations of cadres and soldiers, Nam Yet island has been truly covered in green with trees such as square banyan, windmill, mu u, banyan, sanh and many other types of trees such as sea morning glory, sea chrysanthemum,... Seen from afar, this oval-shaped island is slightly narrow in width like a forest in the middle of the stormy sea with ancient green trees inside and a range of windmills covering the outside. Standing out in the middle of that forest are the national flag, the sovereignty landmark, the lighthouse and the wind turbines that operate day and night.
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| Sandbar on Nam Yet Island |
From the pier to the island, next to the spacious, green youth road with ancient morinda and morinda trees, there are flocks of fat chickens, ducks, pigs and dogs playing with the waves, making the atmosphere on the island no different from that on the mainland. After the touching flag-raising ceremony and the solemn and majestic parade under the sovereignty marker, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Nhu Hai, the island chief of Nam Yet Island, led the delegation from the mainland to visit the works on the island such as the spacious cultural house, the pagoda being restored, the Vietnamese sovereignty stele erected in 1956 and the martyrs' cemetery - the resting place of Vietnamese people who died to protect the sacred sea and sky of the fatherland. When burning incense and commemorating the martyrs at the cemetery, we were surprised and moved to know that among the 5 martyrs' graves on the island, there was a martyr from Nghe An. He is Nguyen Van Ha from Quynh Giang commune, Quynh Luu district, who heroically sacrificed his life while on duty to build and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands.
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| Central Propaganda Department presents gifts to officers and soldiers of Nam Yet Island |
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| Hundreds of years old candleberry tree on Nam Yet island |
Located right in the center of Nam Yet Island is a spacious 3-storey cultural house, a project sponsored by the staff and workers of Viettin Bank with a modern interior system and full functional rooms. The highlight of the cultural house is the first floor hall, where there is a miniature museum with artifacts affirming Vietnam's sacred and inviolable sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.
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| Soldiers on Nam Yet Island take care of chickens and ducks, increasing production |
Although there is absolutely no fresh water, having to use rainwater stored in tanks, in Nam Yet, increasing production has become a regular and continuous task of units and soldiers. Under the roots of the candleberry trees and the trenches are carefully covered and green vegetable gardens. Young soldier Phan Dong Di in the air defense unit said that the soil for growing vegetables was brought from the mainland, and the islanders took advantage of using maple leaves to make green manure, so the vegetable gardens are all lush. Island leader Tran Nhu Hai said that in recent years, the island has done a very good job of increasing production and growing green vegetables. In 2013, the unit produced 9,000 kg of green vegetables, nearly 3,000 kg of fish, more than 2,000 kg of meat,...
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| Sovereignty marker on Nam Yet island |
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| The sovereignty marker on the island was built in 1956. |
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| Phong ba flowers on Nam Yet island |
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| The area displaying artifacts on Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in the Nam Yet island cultural house |
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| Multi-purpose cultural house on the island |
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| Visiting martyrs in the cemetery on the island |
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| Trucks carrying goods from the pier to the island |
“The most difficult thing now is not being far from home, far from the mainland or lacking water or electricity because that is completely normal for island soldiers. Currently, in the context of the tension in the East Sea, countries with ambitions in the East Sea are constantly making spying and aggressive moves, maintaining sovereignty over the islands in peace, not falling into the enemy's provocations is always a constant concern for officers and soldiers on Nam Yet Island. However, promoting the heroic tradition, officers and soldiers on Nam Yet Island are determined not to be afraid of hardship, ready to sacrifice to absolutely protect the safety of the airspace and sea of the homeland,” said Lieutenant Colonel Hai.
Nguyen Khoa
