Journalist Cao Thi Thuy Giang

When I started my voyage to Truong Sa and participated in the activities of the working group, I felt honored and proud to witness the East Sea with my own eyes, which I had only seen on television and heard about in books and newspapers. There was a vast, clear and vast sea and sky before my eyes. The images of the sea and islands, the stories of soldiers and people on the remote islands were touching and meaningful topics for me to convey to everyone through my writings.

On that voyage, I was especially impressed by the moment in the middle of the vast blue East Sea in Truong Sa, when I attended the Memorial Ceremony for 64 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy who heroically sacrificed their lives to protect the island and the sovereign sea in 1988. The extremely solemn Memorial Ceremony made me and everyone else feel deeply moved by national pride and bow in admiration before the bravery of the soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands. In the middle of the sea of ​​Len Dao, Gac Ma, Co Lin - those were the moments for me and the members of the delegation as if on a train going back in time to pay tribute, to remember the young soldiers who fell to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the country. Their names will forever be kept in the hearts of those who remain.

Journalist Thuy Giang works in the East Sea, preparing to enter Sinh Ton Dong Island.

Coming to Truong Sa, perhaps everyone on the trip was very nervous and a little worried about the waves and wind, but after arriving at the islands, meeting the young soldiers who are guarding the sea and islands of the Fatherland day and night at the forefront of the waves and wind, talking with them, the feelings of pride and emotion made me and everyone forget the feeling of fatigue, trying to get as much information as possible at each island to write the article.

The trip has a special meaning for me, helping me deeply feel the close bond between the army and the people, raising awareness of the sovereignty of the sea and islands, strongly arousing national pride. The trip is the most vivid material about the spirit of patriotism, so that I can convey these experiences to more people, so that every Vietnamese person understands the sovereignty of the sea and islands.

Through our experience in the Truong Sa mission, we have come to understand clearly that our sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos exists not only from the historical perspective, with clear steles and historical evidence, but also as solid cement markers containing a strong message of legitimate, indisputable sovereignty over the East Sea, sovereignty stone markers with recognized latitudes and longitudes. Because those sovereignty stone markers are also cast with the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of Vietnamese Navy soldiers and people through many generations. They not only built markers on the ground that stood firm against storms in both the literal and figurative sense, but also as deep markers of value in the hearts of each of us.

Only by going to Truong Sa can one know how clear the sea water is in Truong Sa, between the islands, there is only sea water and sea water, only a boundless blue color, with wind, storms, hot sun and endless clouds and sky... In that outpost, I saw the life and activities of the cadres, soldiers and people on the islands, DK 1 platform and also felt more deeply the difficulties, hardships but also the optimism, loyalty and warm affection of the children of Vietnam who are at the forefront of the waves and winds.

Journalist Thuy Giang interviews the leader of Sinh Ton Dong Island.

Coming to Truong Sa, we witnessed the green of nature, flowers and fruits, the square banyan trees, the maple trees, the green vegetable patches, the bougainvillea pots blooming with strong vitality amidst the waves and storms. Luckily coming to Truong Sa, each of us will understand the strength of the people on the island, truly brave and admirable. The officers, soldiers, and people on Truong Sa island live in storms, lacking in all aspects, the young men of eighteen and twenty have overcome the waves, dangerous storms, and are day and night holding their guns firmly, firmly maintaining the sacred sovereignty of the sea and sky of the Fatherland.

And I feel like in the middle of the ocean, people become so small, fragile and all that remains is solidarity, love, and closeness.

Reality shows that the sea and islands are an important and inseparable part of the territory of the Vietnamese Fatherland. Therefore, the responsibility of each citizen in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands is especially important. With the responsibility of a journalist, this task feels even more noble to me, because when we go to the field, we not only understand and see the bravery and resilience of the soldiers overcoming all difficulties and hardships, but also have to convey these messages to everyone to spread the love of the sea and islands. Let's give the island soldiers more attention in terms of material and spirit so that they can firmly hold their guns to protect the sea and islands of our homeland.

In 2024, when I have the opportunity to go to Truong Sa again, I will not hesitate to accept and continue on the second voyage. Because for me, going to Truong Sa is still full of attraction, admiration, I still miss it, and have not finished writing about this remote island.

Journalist Thuy Giang on a canoe to go to DK1/21 Ba Ke Platform.

Indeed, for me, every journey on the islands is new and attractive because "when you go, you bring feelings, when you return, you bring faith" with the slogans carried by the soldiers: "The island is home, the ocean is homeland, the soldiers and civilians on the island are blood brothers"; "As long as there are islands, there are people, there is the Fatherland"; "The station is home, the islands are homeland".

Each trip to Truong Sa has motivated me to contribute a small part to propagating and refuting false and distorted arguments about the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland, strengthening the great national unity bloc, firmly protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. I and all members of the delegation have concerns, thoughts and realize our responsibility to continue to spread the historical values ​​of Vietnam's sea and islands while joining hands to contribute to the cause of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Cao Thi Thuy Giang

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lan-toa-cac-gia-tri-lich-su-cua-bien-dao-viet-nam-post299602.html