Tet arrives early on Nam Du Island

Nam Du Island is bustling with an early Lunar New Year (Tet) atmosphere, marked by apricot blossoms, peach blossoms and Chung cake, alongside gifts brought by a working delegation visiting the Southwestern waters for local residents, officials, and soldiers stationed on the island.

On January 13, continuing its visit to extend Tet greetings to islands under Naval Region 5, the working delegation arrived at Nam Du Island, often likened to the Ha Long Bay of the country’s southwestern waters.

Nam Du Island is located in the Kien Hai Special Zone, An Giang Province. It comprises 21 large and small islands, including 11 inhabited ones, with two administrative units of An Son sub-zone and Nam Du sub-zone. The total area of the archipelago is more than 10 square kilometres.

Naval ships 527 and 528 dock at Nam Du Port. Photo: Xuan Luong

The delegation brings to Nam Du island peach blossom branches rich with the distinctive springtime scent of northern Vietnam. Photo: Xuan Luong

The two sub-zones are home to more than 2,000 households with over 7,500 residents. In recent years, the island’s infrastructure has been upgraded through investment in wharves, transport roads, a medical station and schools.

Units on the island include both military and civilian forces: Radar Station 600 (Regiment 551, Naval Region 5); Nam Du Border Guard Post (under the An Giang Provincial Military Command); and Nam Du Lighthouse Station (Vietnam Maritime Safety Corporation, Ministry of Construction).

A corner view of An Son sub-zone, one of the two sub-zones on Nam Du Island. Photo: Xuan Luong

Nam Du Island also suffered severe losses from Typhoon Linda (Storm No. 5 in 1997), which claimed the lives of more than 500 residents. Near the pier in An Son sub-zone, local authorities and people built a memorial to commemorate the victims of the disaster nearly three decades ago. Today, islanders’ living standards have improved steadily, while public awareness of storm preparedness has also become stronger.

Rear Admiral, Party Committee Secretary and Political Commissar of Naval Region 5, Ngo Van Thanh, and the delegation offer incense at the memorial to victims of Typhoon Linda (1997), which caused more than 500 deaths. Photo: Xuan Luong

During its voyage to islands in the southwestern sea area, the delegation representing provinces, units, and businesses paid visits and extended Tet greetings to both stationed units and local residents.

At Radar Station 600, the delegation travelled along a steep mountain road for nearly four kilometres, reaching an altitude of about 300 metres above sea level, to visit, encourage, and convey Tet wishes to officers and soldiers there.

Delegation members join officers and soldiers in making Chung cake at Radar Station 600. Photo: Xuan Luong

Peach branches bringing the colours of spring from the North, together with Chung cake wrapped with heartfelt devotion, carry deep affection from the mainland to distant islands. Although time was limited, the Tet spirit has filled the island area in the country’s far southwestern waters.

Radar Station 600, located around 300 metres above sea level, is among the "eyes" on duty, ready for combat tasks, observing, detecting, reporting, monitoring, and firmly managing targets at sea and at low altitudes, and informing higher levels for timely handling of situations, and preventing any passivity or surprise.

By Xuan Luong – Translated by My Le, Thu Ha