VOV.VN - Navy Region 4 ships carrying officers, soldiers, journalists, as well as a haul of New Year gifts departed from Cam Ranh military port in the central province of Khanh Hoa on December 21 for the Truong Sa archipelago, known internationally as the Spratly Islands.
It has become an annual tradition for the Naval Region 4 High Command to organise voyages to the Truong Sa archipelago to replace and withdraw troops, as well as to send New Year wishes to the islanders every year.
Hundreds of tonnes of goods, necessities, gifts, along with fruits and vegetables from Khanh Hoa Province’s People’s Committee and from other localities nationwide have also been transported to Truong Sa to make the Lunar New Year Festival on the islands just as prosperous as that enjoyed on the mainland.
Packs of glutinous rice, Dong leaves to wrap Banh chung, a type of square glutinous rice cake which is a delicacy at Tet, kumquat trees, and apricot blossom trees are transported to locals on the Truong Sa archipelago.
The haul of supplies serve to bring a traditional Tet atmosphere and are of great encouragement for soldiers who overcome difficulties to safeguard the nation’s territory.
Decorative items such as sparkling lights, Happy New Year letters, and plastic branches of peaches and apricots are sent to the soldiers.
Onboard the vessels are also household items which meet their demands in their daily lives.
A youth club prepares hundreds of postcards as special gifts to soldiers on the Truong Sa archipelago.
Naval soldiers bid farewell to their family and relatives before setting out to take on new missions on the Truong Sa archipelago.
