Ly Son islanders commemorate Hoang Sa soldiers

A ceremony honouring Hoang Sa soldiers was held on April 22 at the An Vinh village communal house by the locals in Ly Son island district, the central province of Quang Ngai.

At the ceremony (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

The islanders observe the ceremony annually during the third lunar month to commemorate their ancestors who followed the king’s orders, leaving their homeland to protect the country’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos over the past three centuries.

According to historical record, the flotilla was set up in early 17th century by Nguyen Lords.

From that time to the first half of the 19th century of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was assigned to mine natural resources, measure sea routes, draw maps and erect steles affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos.

The event aims to educate young people about patriotism and fuel a strong determination to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty among them.

The ritual and the An Vinh communal temple, where the event takes place, were recognised as a National Intangible Heritage and a national historical site in 2013.

(Source: NDO)