JOURNEY TO SPRATLEY ISLANDS (CHRONICLE OF MR VO TA LUONG - CEO OF COMPANY)

After a long journey of 2 days and 2 nights, we saw the first island, The Big Spratley Islands. When approaching, Truong Sa is much smaller than I imagined. Due to the military nature, as well as logistical problems, during our visit to the Spratlys, we could only eat one meal at The Big Spratley Islands. All other activities take place on board.

Also on this occasion, our company also raised VND 20,000,000 from the Company's Charity Fund and from the contributions of staffs to support the soldiers and people on Spratley Islands. This amount was converted into 5 gift boxes, with all kinds of necessities, medicine, medical equipment .... And was sent to the soldiers and people of the island.

In The Big Spratley Islands, there are a total of 7 households, following the model: 02 husband and wife and 02 children. The youngest is 3 years old, the oldest just finished 2nd grade. All children attend the school on the island. The Big Spratley Islands has 2 teachers, seconded from the mainland, with a term of 5 years. Teachers are responsible for teaching from kindergarten to the end of primary school.

Cultural program of soldiers and island fishermen in the evening of the festival. The cultural program of homegrown homemade is very cozy and fun.

Toc Tan A Island is one of many islands known as "sunken islands". To distinguish, "floating islands" are islands such as The Big Spratley Islands, Phan Vinh, Son Ca ... are islands with natural land. "Sunken islands" are islands built on coral reefs that have not yet emerged from the water (usually about 1.2m above the water surface). There are coral reefs tens of kilometers long, people will pour materials to build houses on. To get to the island, you must take a canoe, or wade in.

The rig are built on reefs, which if standing above the truss house, you can hardly see the bottom. After the 1988 battle, the Government decided to build the rigs as sovereignty markers at sea.

This is the harshest place to live for a marine soldier. The area of each rig is only about 100m2 for more than 10 people (sometimes it is more crowded). Due to its small and compact characteristics, the increase in improvement is very limited. All subsistence needs mainly depend on supplies from the mainland. In the rainy season, access to rig is very difficult, so the supply is also affected. Green vegetables, fresh meat and soft drinks are a "special rarity" here.

In addition, the risk of storms frequently threatens their lives. In fact, during construction process, many rigs were toppled by the storm, causing many soldiers to die.

We are extremely lucky people to get on the rig, because we arrived on a day when seas were not serene. Usually, the waves are so big that all teams will not be able to get on the rig. Sometimes when they came close but there was no way to get on, cultural and artistic troupe had to stand on the boat to sing to the soldiers at the rig, cry and turn the train.

Ảnh: Lễ tưởng niệm các anh hùng, liệt sỹ trên nhà giàn

Memorial ceremony for heroes and martyrs who died in the course of duty on the continental shelf of Vietnam. The ceremony was held very solemnly and emotionally.

On all islands, in recent years people have installed wind and solar power systems for their use. However, this power source is also not very stable.

The biggest difficulty when living on an island is of course the water. Usually water comes from two sources: supply and rainwater storage. A system to filter seawater into fresh water has been installed on Song Tu Tay island, but it is not effective because it is too expensive. Because of such a rarity, each person is normally distributed 10 liters of water/day, serving all food and living needs. To save money, water is often recycled and used many times, and the final step is to water vegetables.

In recent years, Viettel has invested in a system of communication stations in all islands, island points and rigs. Going to SPRATLEY ISLANDS can use 2G phones comfortably, but no 3G.