Officers and soldiers of DK1 Platforms look towards 14th National Party Congress

On the morning of January 18, at the Ba Ke Platform Cluster on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland, a working group visiting and extending Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to officers and soldiers of DK1 Platforms, on-duty  ships, and the Party organization of Con Dao special zone on the occasion of the 2026 Lunar New Year visited DK1/9 Platform, part of the Ba Ke Cluster. This was the first platform in the sea journey to visit and extend Tet greetings to platforms and on-duty ships on the occasion of the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Colonel Le Hong Quang, Deputy Head of Political Department of Naval Region 2, Head of the working group visits and extends Tet greetings to officers and soldiers of DK1/9 Platform. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Visiting, presenting gifts, and extending Tet greetings to officers and soldiers right before the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Colonel Le Hong Quang, Deputy Head of Political Department of Naval Region 2, Head of Working Group No. 2, requested officers and soldiers of DK1/9 Platform to continue upholding the revolutionary spirit, firmly holding their weapons, and protecting the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands. All officers and soldiers are to focus on demonstrating their will and achieving accomplishments to welcome the 14th National Party Congress.

The working group participates in making chung cake – the square glutinous rice cake  - with the platform's officers and soldiers. Photo: Ngoc Lien

Implementing the directives of the Command at DK1/9 Platform, Captain Ngo Cong Tuan, Political Commissar of DK1/9 Platform, DK1 Battalion, Naval Region 2 Command, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of DK1/9 Platform, affirmed their determination: Regardless of the circumstances, officers and soldiers at the forefront will always strictly maintain combat readiness, uphold discipline, and resolutely protect the sovereignty and southern continental shelf. This is the strongest and most sincere message that the soldiers of DK1/9 Platform send to the 14th Party Congress from the front lines of the Fatherland.

Representatives of Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television present gifts to the platform's soldiers. Photo: Le Quyen

During the meeting, the working delegation presented gifts from the Naval Region 2 Command, the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, the Hoang Sa - Truong Sa Beloved Club, the Vietnam Sea and Island Association; and local departments, agencies, and organizations to the platform's officers and soldiers. At the same time, they visited DK1/9 Platform, toured the production area, shared the lives of the officers and soldiers on the platform; made Chung cake, and decorated for Tet celebration.

On the same morning, on the Truong Sa 19 ship, Colonel Le Hong Quang, Deputy Head of Political Department of Naval Region 2, Head of Working Group No. 2, presided over the memorial ceremony for officers and soldiers who sacrificed while on duty on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Memorial ceremony for officers and soldiers who sacrificed while on duty on the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland. Photo: Ngoc Lien

In his speech at the memorial ceremony, Colonel Le Hong Quang recalled the tradition of struggle and the heroic sacrifices of officers and soldiers while braving natural disasters and storms to protect the Fatherland's houses on the southern continental shelf. In the years 1990, 1996, 1998, and 2000, due to natural disasters and the terrible devastation of ocean storms, several platforms collapsed while officers and soldiers were stationed there carrying out their duties.

Ritual of releasing flowers and paper cranes after the memorial ceremony. Photo: Ngoc Lien

At the moment between life and death, the martyrs clearly demonstrated their boundless loyalty to the Party, the Fatherland, and the people. Promoting the fine traditional qualities of the army, the heroic Naval Service, officers and soldiers of the DK1 Platforms heroically sacrificed for the cause of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and southern continental shelf of the Fatherland. They stand as exemplary role models of courage, of pure and steadfast comradeship, embodying the shining qualities of Uncle Ho’s soldiers – the naval soldiers.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha