Hon Khoai is an island with an important strategic position in terms of sovereignty over the islands in the Southwest sea of the Fatherland. On the island there is a lighthouse over 135 years old, considered the "divine eye" of the Southwest sea.
More than 135 years between the sea and sky
During a working trip of the Naval Region 5 Command, after a night at sea, we arrived at Hon Khoai.
The ship had just docked, climbing the long slope of nearly 45 degrees for more than 200 meters, we breathed a sigh of relief because we had reached the road where the "tank" transport vehicles were arranged. Officers of the forces on the island gave priority to transporting reporters by pickup trucks like "open-top taxis" to the radar station near the lighthouse.
At about 9:00 a.m., the group arrived at Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station.
I quickly learned about this famous lighthouse. With all the hospitality, Mr. Nguyen Manh Huan, an employee of Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station, came to the gate to welcome us. As we walked, Mr. Huan introduced: "Hon Khoai Lighthouse is the first lighthouse built in the South and on the Southwest sea, and is also one of the 6 oldest lighthouses in Vietnam".
Learning about history through the QR code at the reception area, I learned that Hon Khoai lighthouse was built by the French and put into use in 1899. At that time, this was one of the largest and most meaningful architectural works, especially for maritime transport at sea.
The purpose of building the lighthouse was to help ships travel conveniently through the Ca Mau Cape area. To this day, all ships from the East Sea to the West, including the vast Gulf of Thailand, must pass through here and consider the Hon Khoai lighthouse as a directional signal.
Hon Khoai Lighthouse is square in shape, the tower is 15.7 m high, each side is 4 m, built of rubble and cement. The lighthouse is located on a land with an altitude of 318 m above sea level. Notably, under the main building there is a large water tank storing rainwater to ensure the station's staff use it all year round. Standing on the lighthouse, you can see more than 40 nautical miles, covering a large area of the sea.
Mr. Huynh Van Ha (from Thai Binh), an employee of Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station, has been a lighthouse keeper for 35 years. Working at Hon Khoai since 1990, after many job transfers, in 2023, Mr. Ha returned to Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station with gray hair.
Under the hands of people like Mr. Ha and Mr. Huan, the light from Hon Khoai lighthouse almost never goes out at night, guiding ships and boats on the sea. "Only once was the lighthouse struck by lightning during the stormy season, the main light had a problem but the auxiliary light was replaced immediately, without interrupting the mission," said Mr. Ha.
Proud of Hon Khoai uprising
Not only does it serve as a “divine eye” guiding ships, the over 100-year-old lighthouse also witnessed a particularly important event for the people of Hon Khoai in particular and Ca Mau province in general.
At Hon Khoai lighthouse, on December 13, 1940, hero Phan Ngoc Hien led the Hon Khoai uprising army to victory. The day of Hon Khoai uprising (December 13, 1940) was chosen as the revolutionary tradition day of the Party Committee, army and people of Ca Mau province. In 1990, Hon Khoai island was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Thanh, Head of Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station, said that Hon Khoai Lighthouse Station is now a “red address” with pride, an important milestone in the resistance war against foreign invaders of the people here. The name of the hero Phan Ngoc Hien has been given to a district of Ca Mau. This is a rare hero to have a district named after him in our country.
Only 2 hours at Hon Khoai, getting on the boat back to the mainland but we all looked back at the beautiful island until the lighthouse disappeared into the vast sky and sea...
Hon Khoai Island is located in the Southeast of Ca Mau Cape, Tan An Commune, Ngoc Hien District (Ca Mau) with an area of about 4 km2.2.
Hon Khoai is an island with very rich natural conditions; it has an important position in terms of national defense and security. This place is considered an outpost guarding the sky, sea and southwestern strip of land of the Fatherland.
Hon Khoai is an uninhabited island. The climate here is quite harsh. Currently, there is no means of transport to Hon Khoai island.
Lesson 3: Sowing letters on a remote island
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