On 1 January, two ships from the Vietnamese navy’s Zone 2 High Command left Vung Tau in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, one bound for the marine defence platform DK1/15 and the other heading to Radar Station 590 on Con Dao Island. 

Naval soldiers carrying the Tet gifts

On board were officers and men from Navy Zone 2 and around 30 reporters from media agencies nationwide, including one from the DA NANG Newspaper.

The ships were carrying food and essential goods for the on-duty naval officers and men to help them celebrate the forthcoming Tet Festival.

On Tuesday morning, after sailing 300 miles, one of the ships arrived at the DK1/15 platform.  Although it anchored nearby, the Tet gifts were not, as planned, able to be transferred to the platform by small boat due to the rough seas and strong winds.  Instead, in order to ensure the safety of both the carriers and the goods, the gifts were tied to ropes and pulled across from the ship to the platform. 

Speaking through a telephone connection, Col Ngo Tri Ha, Deputy Commander of Navy Zone 2, highly praised the officers and men on DK1/15 for their great efforts in fulfilling their assigned tasks during 2016.  He also wished them a happy and healthy New Year and encouraged them to continue their efforts to protect the waters of the continental shelf off the southern coast of Viet Nam.