(VOVworld) – Lunar New Year, the year of the horse, is approaching. Soldiers and military staff in the island district of Truong Sa or Spratly Archipelago, Khanh Hoa province, are busy preparing for the festival. 

Soldiers in Nam Yet Island wrap 'chung' cakes. (Photo: Vinh Phong)

Far from the mainland life is hard, but soldiers and residents of Truong Sa Island district expect to have a sufficient Tet thanks to the generosity of the government and mainlanders. Two weeks before the holiday, ships of Navy Zone 4 carried 80 tons of essential goods to islands in the district.

These days, soldiers and military staff are repairing barracks decorating them with posters and hanging lights on square almond trees. O Son Ca Island, soldiers are gathering at the local Culture House to practice art performances and prepare a five-fruit tray for the New Year’s Eve party. Lieutenant-colonel Do The Tuyen, the Island’s commander, says:

“There are many differences between Tet on the Island and Tet on the mainland. We have to be ready to fight to ensure security for the mainlanders while preparing everything for Tet. Each soldier here has an assigned duty. We divide into teams tasked with, for example, decorating the barracks, logistics, or cooking Tet dishes. We also organize art performances to boost morale, especially among the recruits.”

Today, soldiers on Nam Yet Island, Sinh Ton commune, began to wrap pork-pies and ‘chung’ cakes. Preparations of sticky rice, green beans, pork, cat’s ears, and wrapping leaves were made a couple of days in advance. Although this year, many ‘dong’ leaves were sent from the mainland, soldiers here prefer to wrap ‘chung’ cakes in the leaves of square almond trees grown on the Island.

Lieutenant-colonel Nguyen Van Tam, commissar of Nam Yet Island, says: “Chung cakes wrapped in square almond leaves have a slightly acrid taste which is very typical of this species of tree. It’s more difficult to wrap chung cakes with square almond leaves because they are crisp. But the color is unique.”

Meanwhile, soldiers and military staff in Song Tu Tay commune are eagerly rehearsing songs about the homeland, the country, and Truong Sa Island for a performance on New Year’s Eve. Thanks to good husbandry last year, they are expected to have a sufficient Tet. Senior Lieutenant-colonel Nguyen Trong Binh, commissar of Song Tu Tay Island, says preparations have been completed. They will enjoy a warm Tet festival but at the same time, will heighten their vigilance to protect Vietnam’s sea and island territory. Binh comments:

“This year we’ll create the coziest and most joyful atmosphere we can to make soldiers feel like they are at home on the mainland. We’ll call each soldier’s family to wish them a Happy New Year and tell them about the Tet atmosphere on the island so that their relatives won’t worry. This will increase the link between soldiers’ families and the unit, between the mainland and the island.”

Residents are cleaning their houses to welcome Tet. Many are even growing a traditional New Year’s tree as is the customs on the mainland. At Duong Thi Thu Thuy’s house, soldiers are helping Thuy’s family make apricot flower, peach flower, and sea shell decorations. Thuy says:

“We have prepared confectionery and ginger jam, and bought some chickens and soft drinks for the children. Tet here becomes busier when the locals start wrapping ‘chung’ cakes. Tet on the island is not much different from on the mainland. We feel a cozy atmosphere because the soldiers are enthusiastic and pay much attention to island households.”

Tran Van Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Song Tu Tay commune, says: “During the past year, we worked hard to ensure that local residents would have enough pigs and chickens and vegetables for Tet. Islanders have ‘dong’ leaves, green beans, sticky rice, and organize the wrapping of ‘chung’ cakes. They have received gifts from the mainland.”

With the support and care of the mainland and their own effort to overcome difficulties, the lives of soldiers and local residents has greatly improved.