On February 26, 1993, nearly three months after deciding to establish the Bach Long Vi Island District, Northern Hai Phong City sent 62 volunteer youths to build the island’s infrastructure. Nguyen Van Hau, deputy head of the volunteer youth group remembered the first days he set foot on the island. At the time there were only soldiers, some houses and a lighthouse on top of a hill. The volunteer youths who were around 20 years old came from different areas in Hai Phong province. This was the first time they had to live far home in tents put up by soldiers, lacking almost everything ranging from basic foods, water, and means of transport.

Mr Hau recalled that with all the enthusiasm of the youth, they protected, helped and encouraged one another to overcome difficulties and start a new life. In the past 14 years, with assistance from Hai Phong departments and organizations, especially the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union, volunteer youths have spared no effort to develop the island district in all aspects.

Today, Bach Long Vi is emerging as a sea-side town with wide concrete roads, modern and spacious houses, a primary school, a cultural and sports centre, offices and a Youth park which is as beautiful as other parks in the city. Many projects have been developed successfully by volunteer youths in the past 14 years. Worthy of note is the Bach Long high-speed shipbuilding project aimed at shortening by two-thirds the time taken to travel between the island and the mainland. Another successful project is the production of a wind-driven electric generator with an 800KW-capacity to ensure enough electric power for production and daily life consumption. Volunteer youths are currently implementing a waste treatment project, an abalone breeding production centre project, planting woodlands, protecting the environment and building infrastructure.

Mr Hau said there are 34 families of volunteer youths with 35 children who were born on the island and became the island’s first citizens. They live closely together and regard one another as brothers and sisters of a big family. This demonstrates an island full of vitality and is considered a dragon pearl in the East Sea.

During the past 14 years, many youths have come to the island to replace those who returned to the mainland after fulfilling their duty, but many of them have decided to settle down there.

25-year old Vu Thi Men from Doan Xa commune, Kien Thuy district, Hai Phong is a good example when she came to the island in 2003, no one could believe that the slender girl could do all the work required from mixing concrete and carrying bricks to build roads and houses, to clearing wild grass to plant casuarinas and vegetables for a living. After fulfilling a three-year duty, she has decided to settle down the island. Her boyfriend is also a volunteer youth working at the power station. They both feel happy to follow other volunteer youths’ bright examples and wish to contribute to make the island more beautiful and wealthy. It is the mutual affection and assistance of islanders that has drawn them to Bach Long Vi.

Like Men, Nguyen Khac Chinh, 22 years old from Ngu Doan commune, Kien Thuy district has also decided to settle on the island after staying there for a year.

“I believe that with the State and Party’s policies, Bach Long Vi will further develop in the coming years,” Chinh said. “It will be as spacious, modern, beautiful and wealthy as other islands like Phu Quoc in southern Kien Giang province, and Tuan Chau in Ha Long. Youth like me will do utmost to develop the island.”

14 years ago, Bach Long Vi was a deserted island. Today thanks to volunteer youths’ enthusiasm and contributions, it is full of vitality. The Dragon Pearl will continue to develop and shine brightly on the sea.