Commemorating the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the sovereignty of the sea and islands.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, from May 23-29, Working Group No. 25, consisting of 100 leaders and reporters from press agencies and journalists' associations across the country, led by Colonel Do Hong Duyen, Deputy Political Commissar of Naval Region 2 Command; Comrade Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists' Association , as Deputy Head of the delegation, visited the soldiers and people of Truong Sa island district and DK1 platform.
This is considered the most special mission in the history of Vietnam's revolutionary press because for the first time, hundreds of journalists participated in a voyage to the Truong Sa archipelago. It is even more special because of its profound symbolic meaning, as the mission was organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam's Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 - June 21, 2025); 50 years of the liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago (April 28, 1975 - April 28, 2025).
The idea of bringing 100 leaders of press agencies, reporters and journalists to Truong Sa was formed after my first trip to the islands and platforms in 2024. On this trip, the Vietnam Journalists Association especially prioritized inviting leaders of press agencies to participate, with the hope that those working in press leadership and management would have the opportunity to access the most complete and vivid information about the situation of the sea and islands; to experience, see with their own eyes, listen and feel most authentically the rhythm of life in the homeland's frontier. Thereby, they would have more confidence in the Party's policies and guidelines; a deeper awareness of the importance of the sea and islands as well as the hardships, sacrifices, difficulties and challenges of protecting territorial sovereignty in the new situation. With the responsibility and sacred duty of journalists, leaders of press agencies will have more motivation to promote strong propaganda work in the media, especially the revolutionary press system.
Comrade Le Quoc Minh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association.
How far is Truong Sa? For those born in the mountains, it takes half a day to get to the nearest beach in the North, so Truong Sa is really far away. However, when you come to Truong Sa, you will see how close, familiar and sacred that place is. When you come to Truong Sa, you will truly understand the special value and meaning of the journeys from the mainland to the open sea - that is the journey that brings love and brings back faith.
During 7 consecutive days of sailing over 1,000 nautical miles, the journalists in the working group visited, encouraged, and organized cultural and sports exchanges with the military, civilians, and forces on duty on the islands of Da Thi, Sinh Ton, Co Lin, Len Dao, Da Tay (A), Truong Sa Lon, and the DK1/19 Que Duong platform. The group supported 1.7 billion VND for the Navy to build the CQ-01 boat and presented other practical gifts worth nearly 1 billion VND to the officers, soldiers, and civilians on the islands and the DK1/19 platform.
Da Thi, Co Lin, Len Dao are the outpost islands of the Fatherland. Although these islands are small, they are located at the headland and play a very important role in detecting and preventing the activities of foreign ships violating Vietnam's sovereignty in the waters of the Truong Sa archipelago. From these islands, Gac Ma can be seen in the distance with the naked eye. Remembering the events of March 1988, the journalists in the working group were even more deeply impressed by the will and steel spirit of generations of Navy officers and soldiers who have been guarding and strictly protecting the homeland's waters day and night.
Sinh Ton Island, Tay A Reef and Truong Sa Lon today have houses, schools, medical facilities, cultural houses, pagodas and spiritual activities like on the mainland. Many journalists took the opportunity to borrow bicycles to cycle around the island or walk into the areas to visit officers, soldiers and people.
Some activities of the author in Truong Sa.
The most touching moment of the whole journey was when the journalists were able to attend the memorial ceremonies to pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland. Working Group No. 25 organized 3 memorial ceremonies, namely the Memorial Ceremony for the heroic martyrs of the “Ship without number”, the Memorial Ceremony for the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the waters of Co Lin, Len Dao, Gac Ma and the Memorial Ceremony for the officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the southern continental shelf.
Returning from this special voyage, I still remember the image of the brave officers and soldiers, firmly holding their guns to protect the homeland's sea and islands, regardless of the sun, rain, storms. I believe that my fellow writers who were fortunate enough to visit and encourage the soldiers and civilians on Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 platform on this occasion will forever hold sacred emotions whenever they recall the event.
“One hundred years of journalism./Honor and pride./A group of one hundred journalists./Gathered to Truong Sa…” ./.
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