Article 7: Eternal vitality in country’s sacred sea, islands

No longer being an ‘isolated’ islands in the middle of the sea and surrounded by dryness, salty sun and wind, Truong Sa has become a place full of greenery, the green of vitality, belief and hope (Photo: Vietnam+)

Here each year there are 131 stormy days and 13-20 strong wind days a month, however, despite of big waves and strong winds, the archipelago is full of vitality (Photo:Vietnam+)

On the islands, soldiers keep making efforts to raise chickens and grow vegetables and flowers (Photo: Vietnam+)

Green trees and flowers in full bloom with different colours in Sinh Ton Dong island (Photo: Vietnam+)

The eternal vitality is seen everywhere (Photo: Vietnam+)

Every day, apart from protecting the country’s sky and sea, the garrisons take time taking advantage of free space, saving fresh water and growing for green vegetables (Photo: Vietnam+)

Vegetable garden cared by young soldiers in An Bang island, in 2018, 6 tonnes of green vegetables were collected (Photo: Vietnam+)

Soldiers also raise cattle and animals to improve the quality of their meals (Photo: Vietnam+)

Fish poison (barringtonia asiatica) trees are popular in Truong Sa archipelago. There are trees being recognized as heritage trees with eight branches (Photo: Vietnam+)

If inland, growing vegetables is too normal, in the middle of the immense sea, there is only sand, sunshine, wind and coral, "precious as gold" fresh water, having green vegetable gardens around the year on the islands (especially on submerged islands) is truly extraordinary (Photo: VIetnam+)

From several pigs sending from inland to An Bang island, there are now a herd of pigs (Photo: Vietnam+)

Flowers of fish poison (barringtonia asiatica) trees are considered as ‘queen beauty’ in Truong Sa (Photo: Vietnam+)

In the middle of the sea, the journey to Truong Sa is still imprinted ancestors’ prints from ancient times to expand the land, the ships to liberate the beloved archipelago and the Vietnamese people throughout the process of building and protecting their home islands (Photo: Hung Vo / Vietnam +)

Under severe weather, Truong Sa garrisons on islands and rigs have to save fresh water (Photo: Vietnam+)

Some islands even produce a large amount of vegetables which impresses visitors from inland to the islands for the first time (Photo: Vietnam+)

Garrisons on Truong Sa act as a bridge to ‘carry’ the Laws offshore to popularize and help fishermen to understand and abide by international and national laws and regulations (Photo: Vietnam+)

With support from mainland, Truong Sa has given a new facelift, an archipelago of light, created by clean energy from wind turbines and solar batteries (Photo: Vietnam+)

Truong Sa has become a place full of greenery, the green of vitality, belief and hope (Photo: Vietnam+)

Reporter of VietnamPlus e-news paper had a chance to witness the eternal vitalityand close connection between people and soldiers on Truong Sa (Photo: Vietnam+)

Despite difficult conditions, severe weather, Truong Sa garrisons do not give up (Photo:Vietnam+)

Flag salute ceremony on Truog Sa (Photo: Vietnam+)

Different from initial thought of a place of only coral, sand, gravel, sun and wind, Truong Sa has emerged prideful and superficial (Photo: Vietnam+)

Before leaving, KN491 ship sings loudly and sends the love of the mainland to the garrisons (Photo: Vietnam+)