Amid the vast expanse of the sea, soldiers and residents of Truong Sa Special Zone continue to nurture patches of greenery, transforming remote islands into thriving communities despite some of the country's harshest living conditions.
From early to mid-July, a Dantri/Dtinews reporting team joined a delegation visiting military personnel and civilians stationed across Truong Sa Special Zone, Khanh Hoa Province. Under intense heat, relentless sunshine and strong sea winds, the islands' residents continue to protect Vietnam's maritime territory while maintaining agricultural production to support daily life.
On islands including Truong Sa, Da Tay A, Sinh Ton, Thuyen Chai and Tien Nu, rows of leafy vegetables now fill almost every available space, complementing the shade provided by tropical almond trees, casuarinas and coconut palms.
For both soldiers and civilians, growing vegetables is about far more than securing fresh food. Every garden contributes to a long-running effort to "green" the islands, improving both the landscape and living conditions.
The island greening campaign has become a shared mission embraced by naval personnel and local residents alike. Even the smallest plots of land have been turned into vegetable beds, bringing welcome greenery to an environment dominated by coral, salt and sun.
After school, Nguyen Ho Dieu Linh and Le Anh Duong, who live on Da Tay A Island, help their parents tend the family's vegetable garden.
"The vegetables we grow help improve our family's meals and keep us healthy every day," Dieu Linh said.
In another garden on Da Tay A Island, covering less than 20 square metres, vines produce fresh sponge gourds while lemon trees bear fruit, providing valuable additions to the household diet.
Nguyen Minh Thai, born in 1989, said every drop of freshwater is carefully conserved and reused to keep vegetables alive.
"When local families have extra vegetables, we share them with the soldiers. When the soldiers have more, they share with us. Everyone helps one another so that we all have fresh vegetables to eat," he said.
Each seed that takes root in the coral-rich soil represents more than a source of food. The flourishing gardens help moderate the islands' harsh environment, bring life to the coral landscape and stand as enduring symbols of resilience on Vietnam's remote maritime frontier.
According to Le Viet Son, an employee at the Fisheries Logistics Centre on Da Tay A Island, cultivating vegetables requires patience and constant care.
"From the moment seeds are planted in coral-filled soil, young plants must withstand scorching heat, limited freshwater and salt spray," he said.
To improve growing conditions, soldiers and residents have built enclosed gardens protected by windbreaks and mesh fencing, while adopting water-saving irrigation systems. Different vegetable varieties have been tested to identify those best suited to the islands' demanding environment, allowing fresh produce to be grown throughout the year.
For Le Quyet Thang, who works in the logistics division of the Fisheries Logistics Centre, vegetables are among the islands' most precious resources.
"Greenery is already valuable on remote islands in the middle of the sea, but fresh vegetables are even more precious," he said.
"When preparing meals, I carefully use every stem and leaf so everyone has enough fresh vegetables to stay healthy while ensuring these precious gardens continue to thrive."
Truong Sa, July 2026
