Bringing Spring to the island guardians.

(Baonghean) - At 5:30 AM on January 17th (December 20th in the lunar calendar), after a horn blast pierced the night over Son Tra Peninsula (Da Nang), the KN 363 ship carried the scent of spring, feelings, faith, and pride from the mainland to the officers, soldiers, and people of Con Co and Ly Son island districts (Quang Ngai) as the 2017 Lunar New Year approached.

This trip, in addition to visiting and extending New Year greetings to the soldiers and civilians on the two islands, also saw the KN 363 ship on patrol duty in the sacred waters of the Fatherland. Onboard, pots of chrysanthemums displayed their vibrant yellow blossoms, and pots of kumquats laden with fruit mingled with branches of peach blossoms with their delicate pink buds. Beside them were bundles of dong leaves and banana leaves...

Everything was neatly arranged like the displays at a Tet market on the mainland, except that these flowers and gifts weren't for sale, but to support those living and working on the beloved remote islands as they prepared to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year.

After eight hours battling rough seas and strong winds, a small, lush, vibrant island, adorned with flags and flowers, appeared before us, surrounded by a sturdy breakwater. Because the harbor wasn't large enough for a modern, high-capacity ship to dock, and due to the extremely bad weather and the large amount of cargo, we couldn't unload the boat directly from the ship. Instead, we had to rely on the island's fishermen's boats to ferry us ashore.

However, everyone was excited, eager to set foot on the island as soon as possible to bring the spirit of spring and the messages from the mainland to the officers, soldiers, and people on the island.

Delivering Tet gifts to Ly Son Island. Photo: Canh Nam

Greeting us at the pier, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Con Co Island District, said jokingly: "We look forward to your arrival like children waiting for their mother to return from the market. Not only are you bringing Tet gifts, but you've also brought the warmth of the mainland to the island. Tet has arrived early for our island district."

After firm handshakes, the delegation's first activity was to lay flowers and light incense at the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs of Con Co Island - a place commemorating 103 heroes and martyrs from all over the country who sacrificed their lives for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, those who built an "unsinkable warship in the East Sea"...

Although there are still a few days until New Year's Eve, the traditional Lunar New Year celebration is being held earlier at Radar Station 540 on Con Co Island, with gifts from the Command of Naval Region 3 and the mainland... Captain Nguyen Ngoc Thai - Station Chief of Radar Station 540, said emotionally: "Every year, the station organizes an early New Year celebration for the staff so they can continue their duties, promptly grasping the situation in the sea area, avoiding surprises and being caught off guard in any situation."

"It's a constant duty, but we also believe that for our compatriots on the mainland to happily welcome the New Year, the sacred sea and sky of our Fatherland must also be peaceful."

It is known that compared to its founding date (October 2004), Con Co Island District has undergone significant transformation. Tourism, services, and fisheries have been identified as key priorities by the Party Committee, government, military, and people of the island district. In particular, in 2017, Quang Tri province will introduce high-speed boats for tourism, shortening the travel time from the mainland to the island from 2 hours to just 45 minutes, creating favorable conditions for tourists to visit the island.

It can be said that this is a very correct and timely direction because the tourism potential of this "rough gem" at the southern gateway of the Gulf of Tonkin is enormous, encompassing heritage tourism, scenic tourism, resort tourism, homestays, etc. Furthermore, to serve tourism, a series of infrastructure projects will be undertaken, especially electricity – a long-awaited dream of the officers, soldiers, and people on the island – which will also be invested in.

Naval soldiers at Radar Station 550 (Ly Son) decorate branches with apricot blossoms for Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Canh Nam

Therefore, the lives of the people on the island will certainly improve. Dong Van Quyen, a resident of Con Co Island who has lived there for 10 years, excitedly said: “We just learned that the government plans to extend the national power grid from the mainland to the island. This is a very meaningful and practical Tet gift for the soldiers and civilians on the island. With electricity coming, clean water will also be available, creating a significant change here.”

Through the stories told by the local people and the guidance shared by Comrade Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Council of Con Co Island District, we all believe that, in the near future, thanks to the attention of the Party, the State, and the Government, the joint efforts of the people nationwide in general, of Quang Tri province in particular, and of the cadres, soldiers, and people living and working on the island district, the "rough gem" of Con Co will be polished to become more radiant amidst the sun-drenched and windy sea.

Leaving Con Co Island district, the KN 363 ship continued its journey through the night, traveling 180 nautical miles to Ly Son Island. Unlike the slightly chilly weather typical of the North Central region, Ly Son Island welcomed us with abundant sunshine. Right at the harbor, the colors of spring were everywhere, with vibrant yellow apricot blossoms and chrysanthemums. Mr. Duong Anh from An Hai commune said: "I've been selling flowers for over a decade. Every year I bring about 400 pots of chrysanthemums and nearly a hundred apricot blossom trees from the mainland, but they sell out in just a few days. During Tet here, every house is decorated with fresh flowers, so they sell very easily, especially yellow chrysanthemums."

The Tet atmosphere became even more vibrant as we ventured further inland. Walking alongside vast fields of garlic, a renowned local specialty, our first stop was Radar Station 550. The Tet spirit was already evident there. We learned that, to ensure the officers and soldiers wouldn't feel deprived during Tet, the unit had prepared one cow, one pig, and 15 kg of chicken and duck. These were products produced by the unit's officers and soldiers through their own farming activities to provide food for the Tet holiday.

Expressing his delight at the thoughtful attention of the radar station officers, the Deputy Commander of the 3rd Naval Region, Colonel Nguyen Duc Nam, congratulated the unit on proactively securing food supplies locally, while also noting: “Don’t be complacent or negligent. The Tet holiday is relatively well-provided for. But while enjoying the holiday, you must remain highly vigilant and always be ready for combat. Therefore, you must have a plan for duty shifts, manage the sea area, and firmly grasp targets to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands.”

The officers and soldiers of Radar Station 540 (Con Co Island) still greet the visiting delegation. Photo: Canh Nam.

The Year of the Rooster has arrived at every home. In the strategically important island districts of the Fatherland, such as Ly Son and Con Co, spring has come early with gifts and New Year's greetings from officials, soldiers, and people throughout the country. This also reflects the responsibility and sharing of the entire Party, army, and people towards these island districts, which hold an extremely important strategic position in the defense and protection of national territorial and maritime security; and national and international maritime navigation.

Bidding farewell to Con Co and Ly Son islands, we believe that with such immense care, along with the willpower, determination, and silent but proud sacrifices of the officials, soldiers, and people on these island districts, our Vietnam will become increasingly prosperous, and Vietnamese territory will forever be preserved.

That trust was further reinforced when Captain Vo Van Thang, the head of Radar Station 550, said emotionally as he saw us off at the ship: “Commander, comrades, and those on the mainland can rest assured, we always keep our ‘all-seeing eyes’ on the sea. So that every time Tet comes around, we can welcome even more ships carrying heartfelt sentiments from the mainland.”

Canh Nam