Bach Long Vi – The outpost island of the Fatherland, where hearts return

On a stormy monsoon day in January 2024, the working delegation chaired by Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van, Secretary of the Party Committee, Political Commissar of Naval Region 1, and representatives of agencies, localities, leaders and commanders of units under the Naval Region 1 Command, reporters from news agencies inside and outside the military visited, wished a happy new year and gave gifts to Bach Long Vi Island. The journey to the most remote island in the Gulf of Tonkin, as Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van said, "was windy and rough, basically unfavorable, but all reporters from newspapers and radio stations as well as officers and soldiers of Naval Region 1 shared a common will, determination, faith and high determination".

"Today, we have set foot on Bach Long Vi, a remote island in the North of the Fatherland. This journey brings the warmth of the mainland, and is also a source of great encouragement and motivation for the army and people on Bach Long Vi Island," said Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van.

The journey from the mainland to the island takes 6-7 hours at sea with big waves and strong winds. As the most remote island of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, about 140 km from the mainland, Bach Long Vi has an area of about 2.5 km2 at high tide and 4 km2 at low tide. Although the natural land area is not large, Bach Long Vi is an outpost island with important significance in economic development as well as national defense and security.

Head of Radar Station 490 Duong Van Hon of Regiment 151, Naval Region 1 Command said that for economic development, Station 490 ensures observation and target management within the assigned scope, especially helping people develop the marine economy.

Accordingly, Station 490 is the core force to observe and direct targets for the military forces in the area to grasp and monitor the situation to help people during the monsoon or when ships are in distress. This is an important time, clearly demonstrating the role of Station 490 as well as the armed forces in the area, contributing to the economic development at sea as well as on the island.

Besides, Bach Long Vi island also has important significance in national defense and security protection.

“We identify this as the most important task for the military force. Our task is to observe and manage assigned targets. Specifically, during the monsoon season, fishing boats often come to the island to take shelter, but we do not exclude elements that are bribed, connected, and carry out sabotage activities on the island. Therefore, based on each time, we will coordinate with local forces, especially the military and armed forces, to grasp and identify each subject, arrest the ringleaders, and then hand them over to the police force for handling according to regulations.

There are also smuggling activities. We consider this an important task in our observation work. We often focus on observing suspicious ships that are smuggling ships and instruct local forces, especially border guards and coast guards, to monitor, verify and arrest if there are violations," said Station Chief Duong Van Hon.

Talking about the mission of the radar stations on Bach Long Vi Island, Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van compared them to "sea eyes" on duty 24/7 to observe and detect targets.

Over the years, officers and soldiers of Radar Station 490 in particular and in the area in general have clearly identified the spirit assigned by the Party and State, firmly observing and protecting the sea, airspace and continental shelf of the Fatherland.

According to Station Chief Duong Van Hon: “In that spirit, we have thoroughly instructed all officers and soldiers of the entire station to clearly define their tasks, feel secure in their work, be ready to receive and excellently complete all assigned tasks, especially observation activities at sea, and at the same time coordinate with forces to firmly protect security, order and social safety on Bach Long Vi island as well as the northern sea of the Fatherland.”

Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van affirmed that “only when the sea is calm will the shore be calm”. Protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland is the responsibility of the Vietnamese People's Navy soldiers in general and Naval Region 1 in particular. Officers and soldiers of Naval Region 1 always have a strong political stance, determination, solidarity, unity and a high spirit of combat readiness.

“No matter how difficult or arduous, no matter how much sacrifice, no matter what conditions or circumstances, we are determined to firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, especially as Tet is coming and spring is coming. Maintain a peaceful and stable marine environment so that people can celebrate the traditional New Year happily, warmly and happily,” Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van emphasized.

Over the past 20 years, Bach Long Vi Island has undergone many changes, from infrastructure to living conditions of the military and civilians. Now, Bach Long Vi seems to have been given a new coat. All living conditions of the people are of great concern to the Party and the State. In the military, infrastructure has also been rebuilt; weapons and equipment have been invested in more synchronously and modernly.

Previously, Bach Long Vi island was very short of fresh water, but now a freshwater lake has been built on the island for people to use. Electricity is guaranteed almost 100% of the time, there is never a power outage or water shortage.

Although there have been many changes, one thing that has been maintained and promoted on Bach Long Vi Island is the spirit of solidarity between the army and the people. The people and the army always support and help each other to complete their tasks well, both to maintain and protect the peace of Bach Long Vi island and to develop the people's lives in the island area.

“The clearest evidence is that all activities of the people have the participation of the army, from sea rescue, environmental landscape construction to entertainment, recreation and sports activities. Cultural activities of the district as well as activities of units and armed forces on the island have the coordination between the local government and the commanders of agencies and units to carry out smoothly and harmoniously,” said Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Tai, Political Commissar of Regiment 151, Naval Region 1.

In addition, cultural and artistic exchange programs and other activities are jointly organized and implemented effectively by soldiers and people, achieving practical results.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Tai, efforts to stick to the sea and the land have been demonstrated over the past decades on Bach Long Vi Island.

“Since the 952nd Regiment was still on duty on the island, now the Island Defense Battalion along with other forces such as the Naval Radar Station, Radar Station 27 (Regiment 295), Reconnaissance Station..., all forces have the sole goal of working with the people to firmly protect the sovereignty of Bach Long Vi island in particular and the sovereignty of the northern islands in general.”

There are comrades who have worked on the island for nearly 30 years, rising from private to colonel and regimental commander, but are still determined to stay. Many comrades were transferred to work on the mainland for a number of years but then volunteered to return to the island to continue their commitment.

“It must be said that Bach Long Vi Island is truly attractive, which makes soldiers stick with it and return to work like that. Although the conditions on the island are still difficult and limited compared to the mainland, with their love for the sea and islands, and with the close relationship between the military and civilians, many people have chosen to return.”

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Tai also said: “There are people we have met who have worked here for 30-40 years, from fathers to sons, and now even have small children, they are sent here to study from grades 1 to 6. Although conditions on the island are still limited, fishing activities are increasingly difficult and natural disasters are complicated, they are still determined to stay on the island, together building Bach Long Vi island to become more and more prosperous and beautiful.”

Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van affirmed that protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's sacred sea and islands is a command from the heart of a soldier. Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van also reminded the officers and soldiers of Naval Region 1 and the forces working on Bach Long Vi Island to share the will to preserve and protect the Fatherland's outpost island as if protecting their beloved home, while promoting the strength of great solidarity between the army and the people to build Bach Long Vi Island to develop and progress day by day.

"That is a noble and sacred responsibility before the Party, the Fatherland and the people in the cause of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in the North," said the Political Commissar of Naval Region 1.

Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van said that, entering the new year, to prepare for the training launch ceremony and many other activities, Naval Region 1 will organize visits to review traditions to help soldiers appreciate the sacrifices and great contributions of many generations of fathers and brothers who have remained on the battlefield to keep the country green and beautiful, thereby determining for themselves a direction and a noble responsibility before the Party, the Fatherland and the people in the cause of protecting the country's sovereignty over the sea and islands.

“In 2023, it must be affirmed that Naval Region 1 has achieved quite a lot of success in all fields. That is thanks to the leadership of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Naval Command as well as the great solidarity of officers and soldiers in the entire Region, working together to overcome difficulties and hardships to excellently complete the assigned tasks.”

In 2023, the Party Committee of Naval Region 1 was one of four Party Committees of the Service that excellently completed its tasks and was awarded the Flag of Merit by the Minister of National Defense.

Entering 2024, in the context of both favorable and difficult regional and world situations, Rear Admiral Tran Xuan Van said that the forces need to promote the strength of great solidarity and unity within the Party committee as well as leaders and commanders at all levels, promote the existing traditions of the Region and maintain high determination to excellently complete the tasks and targets of 2024.

Kieu Anh/VOV.VN

Source