(VOVWORLD) -These days, people living far from home are quickly returning to their hometowns to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with their families after months of hard work to earn a living. But on the southwestern islands of Vietnam, officers and soldiers put aside their longing for loved ones to protect the nation's seas and islands. The comradeship are warming their hearts as they prepare to celebrate Tet together.
 Soldiers at Radar Station 610 decorate a peach blossom branch for Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5
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The green banana leaves were neatly cut into squares and arranged tidily. The bamboo strips were gently split and placed alongside the sticky rice, mung beans, and meat. The rough hands, accustomed to hard work and guarding the waters and skies of their homeland, became skillful in wrapping the square rice cakes.
Preparations for Lunar New Year were underway in Radar Station 600, Regiment 551, Region 5 of the Navy. The station is located 300m above sea level, the highest point on Nam Du Island, Kien Hai Special Zone, An Giang Province. The island is about 100km from the mainland in Rach Gia Ward.
 Soldiers at Radar Station 610 happily receive peach blossom branches sent from Hanoi. Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5
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This Tet holiday, many soldiers will not be going home because they are carrying out special duties. Some of them have welcomed Lunar New Year on the island with their comrades for many years.
Captain Tran Huu Toan, Political Officer of Radar Station 600, who has spent 8 years celebrating Tet on the southwestern islands, said, “Making banh chung (rice cakes) is a traditional Vietnamese cultural practice. For us, the officers and soldiers always feel secure in our work and are ready to undertake combat duty at our units. We are determined to firmly protect the sovereignty of our homeland's seas and islands.”
Every year, women and young people from the Youth Union come together with the soldiers to wrap rice cakes. These square, green cakes preserve the flavor of Tet and encapsulate the close bond between the military and the civilians.
“The soldiers have coordinated with us to make traditional cakes and share them with each other. We play folk games together. Islanders celebrate Tet with food supplies sent from the mainland. The local authorities and organizations provided support to needy households. In general, Tet on the island is very peaceful and warm,” according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thao, Principal of An Son Kindergarten.
 Nguyen Thi Thao (second from right), Principal of An Son Kindergarten, making banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) with soldiers from Radar Station 600. Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5
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On Tho Chu Island, Vietnamese New Year is observed not only with rice cakes but also with pink blossoms from Nhat Tan, a village known for its peach tree cultivation history. Tho Chu Island belongs to the Tho Chau Special Zone and is about 200km from the mainland but thousands of km from Hanoi. Receiving the heartfelt gifts from the mainlanders, the soldiers of Radar Station 610, Regiment 551, Region 5 of the Navy, were deeply moved and began decorating their space to welcome the spring.
The altar dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh is simple yet solemn, respectfully adorned by the soldiers with fresh flowers, a pair of banh chung and a tray of five fruits, conveying their hopes for a prosperous year. Beside it, a yellow apricot blossom branch is decorated with red paper flowers containing meticulously prepared questions for a flower picking game. Sergeant Le Chi Linh said he is celebrating the first Tet away from home with excitement and anticipation.
“This is my first time celebrating Tet on the island. It’s so joyful thanks to the support from the authorities. I miss my family, but I have to fulfill my duties. On this Tet occasion, I wish my family and parents good health. May the Tet be fulfilling with my loved ones,” Linh added.
 Soldiers and civilians on Nam Du Island boil banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes) while waiting for Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5
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Soldiers are also preparing gifts for seven policy beneficiary families and families in difficult circumstances in the special zone. Captain Le Sy Thang, Chief of Radar Station 610, said, “We are implementing a program where each unit is linked to a specific charitable family. Quarterly, we connect with the Tho Chau Special Zone, and they assign us a specific family in need. Our unit then organizes a visit to donate essential supplies like rice, cooking oil, and fish sauce. During Lunar New Year, the local authorities also organize visits to recipients of government assistance and give gifts funded by our unit.”
In a place facing rough, stormy seas throughout the entire year, Tet arrives through simple, heartwarming moments of camaraderie between soldiers and civilians. In the mood of the changing seasons, each soldier grows stronger with their unwavering determination to fulfill their sacred duty of protecting every inch of the homeland.