Dong Nai’s working delegation visits and extends Lunar New Year greetings to officers, soldiers and residents in the country’s Southwestern waters

On the afternoon of January 9, in Phu Quoc Special Zone, An Giang Province, the Naval Region 5 Command held a meeting with a visiting delegation of more than 200 delegates from provinces, cities, units and enterprises who came to encourage and extend Lunar New Year 2026 (the Year of the Horse) greetings to the armed forces and residents in country’s Southwestern waters.

More than 200 delegates from provinces, cities, units and enterprises visit to encourage and extend Lunar New Year 2026 (the Year of the Horse) greetings to the armed forces and residents in country’s Southwestern waters. Photo: Xuan Luong

The Dong Nai provincial working delegation is led by Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bui Khanh Hoa, Deputy Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command.

As part of the trip, the Dong Nai’s working delegation presented the Naval Region 5 Command and its subordinate agencies and units with cash and gifts worth approximately VND 1 billion, including essential supplies for the Lunar New Year and school supplies for children living on the islands.

The funding came from the provincial budget and sponsorships from two enterprises: the Dong Nai Food Industrial Corporation (DOFICO) and the Sonadezi Corporation.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bui Khanh Hoa, Deputy Commander of the Dong Nai Provincial Military Command presents gifts to agencies and units under Naval 5 Region. Photo: Xuan Luong

According to the agenda, from January 9 to 14 the delegation will visit and extend the Lunar New Year greetings to soldiers and residents on Phu Quoc, Tho Chu, Hon Khoai, Hon Chuoi, Nam Du and Hon Doc islands, covering a voyage of 365 nautical miles, equivalent to more than 650 kilometers.

According to Rear Admiral Ngo Van Thanh, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Naval Region 5, organizing such a working delegation to visit and extend Lunar New Year greetings to soldiers and residents along the southwestern island chain on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year of the Horse reflects the mainland’s special concern and deep affection for the country’s seas and islands.

Through this voyage, the delegates will have an opportunity to better understand the socio-economic life, living conditions and the atmosphere in preparation of welcoming the Lunar New Year among officers, soldiers and residents in the Southwest maritime region. This, in turn, helps foster empathy for the quiet sacrifices of naval soldiers, strengthen military–civilian solidarity and build an increasingly solid “posture of people’s hearts and minds” at sea.

Rear Admiral Ngo Van Thanh, Party Secretary and Political Commissar of Naval Region 5, speaks at the meeting. Photo: Xuan Luong

Naval Region 5 currently manages a maritime area of approximately 105,000 square kilometers, bordering Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia. This region includes more than 150 islands (46 of which are inhabited), with a coastline stretching about 450 kilometers from the Ganh Hao estuary in Ca Mau province to Ha Tien ward in An Giang province.

By Xuan Luong – Translated by Thu Hien, Thu Ha