Vietnamese Students Raise Fund for Residents, Soldiers at Hoang Sa, Truong Sa
	Love from the Mainland: Mother and Son Reunite on Truong Sa

This meaningful activity was co-organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association and the Navy Command, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2025), the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People’s Navy, and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago.

The delegation held a memorial ceremony to honor the 64 officers and soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause of protecting the nation's maritime sovereignty. (Photo: Tran Thanh Dat/People's Newspaper)

A Journey of Historic Significance

The Truong Sa archipelago, a place battered by waves and wind, has long stood as a symbol of unyielding national sovereignty. Every year, the Navy Command organizes several delegations to visit and work with the military and civilians in Truong Sa. Journalists are always present on these voyages to document vivid stories of life, labor, study, and combat readiness among the personnel stationed there.

However, Working Delegation No. 25 in 2025 was particularly special and described by the journalists as bearing a "historic mark" due to the participation of 100 members, including leaders and reporters from central and local press agencies, representatives from the Vietnam Journalists Association, and journalists' associations from various provinces and cities.

Comrade Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of People's Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said: "In implementing the plan for Delegation No. 25 to visit Truong Sa and DK1/19 in 2025, all units, organizations, the Vietnam Journalists Association, and the Navy Command proactively and actively prepared every aspect of the mission.

During the journey, under the delegation leader's authorization, I launched a patriotic emulation campaign with the theme: 'Solidarity, Compassion, Achievement, Victory' - urging the delegation to successfully complete its mission of visiting and encouraging the troops and civilians at Truong Sa and DK1."

The seven-day journey aboard ship KN 290 brought the journalists to Da Thi, Sinh Ton, Co Lin, Len Dao, Da Tay A, Truong Sa Islands, and DK1-19 platform. As part of the mission, the Vietnam Journalists Association and accompanying units donated VND 1.7 billion to the Navy for the construction of CQ-01 boats and nearly VND 1 billion in practical gifts for officers, soldiers, and residents on the islands.

For every Vietnamese, Truong Sa is seen as a steel shield at sea and a site of heroic national history. Participating in the trip and attending memorial ceremonies for the heroic martyrs at Gac Ma Reef and DK1 left a profound impression and boundless gratitude in the hearts of the journalists.

They recalled the event on March 14, 1988, when 64 officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Navy heroically sacrificed their lives defending the nation’s maritime sovereignty at Gac Ma. Among them, the image of Heroic Martyr, Second Lieutenant Trần Văn Phương, Deputy Commander of Gac Ma Island, has become an immortal symbol.

Facing enemy aggression, he calmly commanded his comrades to hold the national flag high, shouting: "Do not retreat! Let my blood color the national flag and glorify the Navy’s tradition!" Before he died, he wrapped the national flag around his body, showing unwavering bravery and unshakable faith in the revolutionary cause.

Another story is that of Hero, Captain, Major Vu Huy Le, who with intelligence and courage, commanded ship HQ-505 to run aground at Co Lin Reef, turning the ship into a living fortress, asserting Vietnam's inviolable sovereignty.

In recent years, the Party, State, Central Military Commission, and Navy Command have paid special attention to expressing gratitude, caring for the martyrs’ families, and searching for and collecting the remains of the fallen. However, the vast ocean and human limitations mean many martyrs still lie beneath the stormy waves. At the memorial ceremonies, bowing before the wreaths and personally releasing flowers and paper cranes into the vast blue sea, delegation members were moved to tears. In that sacred moment, journalists felt even more deeply the value of peace and independence.

Journalist Tran Anh Tu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Information and Communications Magazine, expressed his patriotic sentiments in a poem dedicated to his daughter: “If someday you visit Truong Sa / You’ll see how vast our fatherland is / The sea immense, the sky deeply blue / Father’s island, yours too - ours all the same. / If you come, see their silhouettes / Navy soldiers guarding the skies and seas / Steadfast hearts with no thought for glory / Leaving home behind to protect our land and sea... / My dear daughter, four thousand years of hardship / With heads held high in Truong Sa’s sun and wind.”

The delegation of the Vietnam Journalists Association consisted of 100 leaders of press agencies, along with reporters and editors from across the country. (Photo: Tran Thanh Dat/People's Newspaper)

These lines reflect not only a personal emotion but also the voice of many journalists—proud and grateful that each inch of the homeland has been defended through generations of blood and sacrifice. Once again, journalists have reaffirmed their mission: to spread patriotism and national pride through high-quality, inspiring journalism that resonates with all people, especially the younger generation.

A Soulful Journey Awakening Responsibility

The Truong Sa trip of Delegation No. 25 was like a "journey of the soul," leaving unforgettable impressions and emotions. Although this was photographer Tran Thanh Đat’s fifth trip to Truong Sa, he felt as touched as he did the first time.

He said this journey was the most meaningful and unique, thanks to the presence of 100 journalists, which created a warm, open, and heartfelt atmosphere. Đạt captured many moving moments, such as a three-year-old girl, daughter of an islander on Big Truong Sa, hugging a young 19-year-old soldier with affection like a real older brother.

Or the emotional farewell between the delegation and the islanders, singing together with tearful eyes. As the photographer, he did his best to control his emotions to preserve those moments in images filled with meaning.

On her first trip to Truong Sa, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared: “As the only representative from the journalism education sector, I was deeply moved. Seeing the vast, majestic sea and sky of the homeland made me feel even prouder and more in love with the country. The determined eyes and bright smiles of the sunburned young soldiers inspired me with strength and a desire to contribute to the nation.

As an educator, I will pass these values on to my students, helping them continue the legacy of Vietnam’s revolutionary press: a clear mind, pure heart, sharp pen - and building a revolutionary, professional, modern, and humane Vietnamese journalism.”

Thanks to the Party, State, and people’s care - and the spirit of “The whole country for Truong Sa, Truong Sa for the whole country” - the islands have gradually transformed. Greenery now covers the islands, bringing the calmness of home. Many socio-economic, cultural, and defense projects have been developed, improving the living conditions of the soldiers and civilians.

Today’s Truong Sa has clean energy, TV coverage, and mobile signal. The distance between mainland and islands is increasingly bridged. Yet, due to its strategic position, peace in Truong Sa is still threatened and must overcome numerous challenges. Despite this, the soldiers remain resilient, ready to sacrifice their youth to defend sovereignty and maritime peace.

Journalist Do Nguyen Hoang Dung, Vice President of the Ba Ria Vung Tau Journalists Association, shared: “Stepping onto Da Thi Island on May 25, 2025, was a historic moment in my life, thinking of the sacred word: Homeland.” She was deeply stirred by the question: “Who am I in this sacred land of the Fatherland?”

Observing and speaking with the soldiers guarding the seas and islands, she said: “They awakened in me a strong sense of responsibility and a call to contribute. They helped spark and spread love for the country and the awareness that every citizen must transform these values into action.”

At the end of this special journey, each journalist surely left with personal reflections. Though the questions may differ, one thing is certain: their sense of responsibility for defending the homeland's maritime sovereignty will only grow - and be expressed through meaningful, practical contributions.

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