Truong Sa, not far away…

Truong Sa Diary

I was born and raised in peacetime. From childhood until now, every time I listen to the song “Faraway Island” or hum the melody to myself, watching the Navy soldiers in uniform in the sun and wind, I secretly wish that one day I can set foot on Truong Sa.

Once, during a volunteer trip, a monk told us: “When you have a good wish in your heart, send it to the universe – that wish will surely come true”. I believed, and I sent my wish like that for many years after that and today, that miracle has come!

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), the 50th anniversary of the Truong Sa Victory (April 29, 1975 - April 29, 20250) and the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Navy's Traditional Day (May 7, 1975 - May 7, 20250), my name was named in Decision 3420/QD-TU of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, participating in the Working Group to visit Truong Sa and DK1 Platform. When I read the decision, I burst into happiness, I pinched my cheeks to believe it was true: I was about to go to beloved Truong Sa!

On the afternoon of April 28, 170 members from 3 working delegations: Central Committee of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and 2 provinces: Nghe An, Thai Nguyen gathered at Brigade 125, Navy Region 2, Ho Chi Minh City to form Working delegation No. 16, which we later affectionately called "working family No. 16, happy and grateful KN290" with 7 platoons, from Platoon 1 to Platoon 5, including 106 members of the Central Youth Union, who are Youth Union members, businessmen, singers, actors, writers' association, overseas students, representatives of the Vietnam Student Association, excellent and exemplary, press reporters..., led by Central Youth Union Secretary Nguyen Minh Triet as Platoon Leader; Platoon 6 consists of 29 members of Thai Nguyen province led by comrade Dang The Vinh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Board as Platoon Leader and Platoon 7 consists of 35 members of Nghe An province led by comrade Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Bui Dinh Long, Deputy Head of Working Group No. 16, Head of the Provincial Working Group as Platoon Leader.

In the bustling atmosphere of the country's major holidays, we officially "joined the army" with very "soldier" and affectionate titles: the leaders of the Working Group were called "chief", and we were "privates", everyone was excited and anxiously waiting for the moment the "marine soldiers" set sail.

Sacred moments of life

In the echoes of the song “As if Uncle Ho were here on the great victory day” and the heroic atmosphere of the live broadcast of the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the country’s reunification, the KN-290 ship left the port. In our hands, those on land and those on deck, were red flags with yellow stars raised high, flying proudly. Singing, laughter mixed with tears... At that moment, my heart felt like it was choking! The truth was we were heading towards Truong Sa - where the heart of the Fatherland was beating in the middle of the vast ocean.

The voyage took us to the sacred islands: Da Thi, Sinh Ton, Len Dao, Co Lin, Tay A, Truong Sa… and DK1 Platform. Each destination is an unforgettable page of emotional memories.

Here, we witnessed the resilience of the island soldiers who carry out their sacred and noble mission day and night; personally handed out gifts of gratitude, met, interacted, and confided in the island soldiers and islanders, attended "cheerleading" classes with the little angels, saw the clear eyes of the children - the "little citizens" carrying the soul of the Fatherland in the middle of the ocean, and joined the youth union members, singers, musicians... to give precious "spiritual food" to the island soldiers. Songs praising the love of homeland, country, praising the Party, Uncle Ho... resounded, and the most memorable was the refrain: "Day after day, night after night, we stand here to protect our homeland. This sea is ours, this island is ours. Truong Sa..."

Here, we could not hold back our tears during the memorial ceremonies for the heroic martyrs who fought steadfastly and sacrificed heroically to protect Gac Ma Island, to protect the sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland in the southern provinces. The flowers and paper cranes carried our thoughts and prayers of deep gratitude to you in the universe and the vast ocean.

Here, we “soldiers” strictly follow the orders about mealtimes, sleeping hours, urgent summons on deck for Regimental meetings, performing arts practice, worrying about making wall newspapers, composing poems about the sea and islands… These are the days waiting for dawn and dusk to “hunt” for beautiful, meaningful photos in the middle of the vast and peaceful sea and islands. These are the nights filled with laughter that drowns out the sound of the waves of the big family working on No. 16-KN290 in performing arts competitions… These are the efforts of athletes participating in sports: jogging, soccer and pickleball in extremely harsh weather with the slogan “Stay healthy to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands”…

It was also a moment of overwhelming emotions when at the closing ceremony of the contest for the journey for the homeland's sea and islands, the 7th Platoon of Nghe An was awarded the first prize (literature and art), the third prize (wall newspaper) by the Organizing Committee and a number of other individuals of the Platoon also received consolation prizes for the contest, certificates of merit, certificates for their outstanding achievements in carrying out the mission of the business trip, and I myself also won the third prize "Writing about the sea and islands of the homeland". I will never forget the very real emotions of the journey and the efforts of a seasick night when I woke up with a suitcase to write about my love for the sea and islands...

And more than that, here, we always receive the close, affectionate affection like family, the attentive and thoughtful care and attention of the Navy soldiers who, in this common house KN290, are sailors, soldiers on duty, doctors, nurses, and "foster brothers"...

I also cannot forget the rice balls mixed with sesame and peanuts, the hot porridge that the brothers brought to the crew members during the days of seasickness. After the seasickness, everyone went back to help in the kitchen, picking vegetables with the sisters and the children, humming "Not far away, Truong Sa! Still close to me because Truong Sa is always with you, Still close to me because Truong Sa is always with you..." to overcome the feeling of swaying and tossing in the middle of the ocean.

Where the heart stays

On the last night, saying goodbye to Truong Sa, after the solemn ceremony, songs praising the Fatherland and Uncle Ho's soldiers resounded again. The ship's whistle sounded to signal the preparation to leave the island for the mainland, "on the wharf and on the boat" choked up and shouted back and forth: "Truong Sa for the Fatherland! The Fatherland for Truong Sa!"....

The ship cut through the waves and left the dock. When the ship was quite far away, we still saw the phone flash lights of the soldiers and people of Truong Sa island waving goodbye in the dark night. We all burst into tears like children, not because of the farewell, but because our hearts remained there - where there were brave people at the forefront of the storm for the peace of the Fatherland, where the Fatherland exists sacredly!

As a child in a family with many relatives who fought, heroically sacrificed or left behind a part of their blood and bones on the battlefield for the cause of fighting and protecting the Fatherland, with a heroic Vietnamese Mother, I deeply understand the loss and pain of war, the value of peace and independence. Being able to set foot on Truong Sa during the historic days of the country is a priceless gift, a deep impression reminding me to live more responsibly towards my homeland and country, contributing my small part to continue writing the story of peace that many generations have exchanged with blood and bones. I am deeply grateful to the island soldiers - the "living milestones" in the middle of the ocean, considering "Island as home, Sea as homeland", and am extremely proud to have been able to engrave with them the love for the Fatherland on the journey "For the Sea and Islands of the Homeland".

Truong Sa is not far away, Truong Sa is always in my heart like a promise, a sacred belief that never fades in today's generation of soldiers - those who continue to write the heroic tradition of the Vietnam People's Navy: "Fight bravely - Be creative - Master the sea - Fight determinedly, win determinedly".

I am deeply grateful to have lived a meaningful and sacred journey with the “big family of Mission No. 16 – KN290” with Truong Sa from April 28 to May 7, 2025. We returned to the mainland, carrying with us our full emotions and some good plans for the island soldiers after this mission.