Officers from the reconnaissance unit of the Vietnam Coast Guard protect the country’s maritime area against illegal activities in the most difficult and dangerous situations.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Phung Hung, head of the reconnaissance unit of the 3^rd Regional Coast Guard, maritime patrol is different from land patrol due to the distinct geographical differences between land and sea.

Based in the southern province of Ba Ria- Vung Tau, the 3^rd Regional Coast Guard is charged with the management of the East Vietnam Sea, as well as the maritime area from Xanh Islet off the south-central province of Binh Dinh to Dinh An Harbor in the southern province of Tra Vinh.

It is easier for sea patrols to be noticed by their targets, as there is nothing to hide themselves against amid vast oceans, posing a high risk of compromising entire missions, Lt. Col. Hung explained.

Therefore, officers travel in small narrow boats to minimize the chance of being spotted, Hung said.

He added that their schedules and strategies can often be delayed or changed unexpectedly due to the unpredictable nature of weather conditions at sea.  

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Ha, one of the reconnaissance officers, recounted one of the unit’s recent missions, in which they cracked down on an illegal oil dealing vessel and saved several Vietnamese crew members in the process.

In late July 2015, the recon unit dispatched three patrol boats led by Lt. Col. Ha to inspect illegal activities in an area near Malaysian waters, hundreds of nautical miles off Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

After 10 days traveling at sea, the team approached the coordinates where the unlawful operations were being carried out.

The three boats then spread out to scout for the vessel in nearby sea sections before they discovered their target.

The officers swiftly swooped on the ship while its operators sold oil to two disguised fishing boats, giving the suspects no time to react.

They then discovered that all of the crew members aboard the vessel were Vietnamese citizens tricked to work for its operator.

According to Lt. Col. Ha, the vessel was named Diamond Satu 18, an old oil tanker from Malaysia which was used to carry out the illegal sale of oil with Vietnamese boats.

Ha added that the owner, who was a Chinese Malaysian, did not directly steer the ship but rather controlled the whole operation from the mainland.

The suspect duped Vietnamese citizens into working for him by boasting that they would receive a monthly salary of between VND15 million (US$672) and VND20 million ($896).

However, the Vietnamese employees had to live on the ship in harsh conditions and did not get paid as promised, the officer said.

Talking about the dangers the patrollers have to encounter, Colonel Le Xuan Thanh, Commander of the 3^rd Regional Coast Guard, said that despite being outnumbered, they have succeeded in cracking countless cases of illegal oil sales and the transportation of weapons and explosives.

As the officers from the reconnaissance unit have to work independently and far from command headquarters, they are usually exposed to risks, according to Colonel Do Hong Do, Commissar of the 3^rd Regional Coast Guard.

Officers need to be 'immune' to the influence of enemies, including threats and bribes, as well as being in good shape to endure extreme weather at sea. They also need to be well-equipped professionally and to understand the law, Col. Dao elaborated.

He said that the patrol unit has made a significant contribution to many accomplishments of the entire regional coast guard, adding that most of the officers in the unit have been honored with multiple awards.

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