At exactly 5pm on January 6, four ships transporting the necessities for Tết (Lunar New Year festival) preparations arrived to greet residents and soldiers at Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands, about 248 sea miles from Cam Ranh City in the central province of Khánh Hòa.

Arrival: Naval soldiers set out to take over new missions on Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang QuyếtViet Nam News

On the way: Naval soldiers board the ship which will take them to the Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands to take on new missions before Tết. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết

According to Colonel Nguyễn Công Sơn, deputy commissar of the High Command in Naval Area 4, it has become a routine for the High Command to organise voyages to the islands to replace and withdraw troops as well as to send New Year wishes to the islanders.

Festive time: Before Tết (Lunar) New Year, hundreds tonnes of goods, necessities, fruits and vegetables have been transported to residents and soldiers on the Spratly Islands. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết

Hundreds of tonnes of goods, necessities, fruits and vegetables, gifts from Khánh Hòa Province’s People’s Committee and from other provinces nationwide, have also been transported to each household to make the New Year Festival on the islands as prosperous as that on the mainland.

Soldier santa: Soldiers of brigate 146 carry gifts and necessities aboard. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết

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Goodbye: Naval soldiers wave farewell to their family and relatives before setting out to take on new missions on Trường Sa (Spratly) Islands. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Quyết

Particularly, the happiness of the residents and soldiers on the Spratly Isalnds seemed to be doubled when they received VNĐ100 million (US$4,400) in financial support directly from President Trần Đại Quang and VNĐ700 million ($30,822) from the Vừ A Dính Scholarship Fund./.

VNF/VNS