After one day of sitting, the seminar themed “Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes – legal and historical aspects” concluded in success. During the event, participants focused their discussions on clarifying historical and legal evidence proving that the Vietnamese State has exercised its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes in a peaceful and continuous manner for a long time, in line with the reality and international law. Opinions raised at the seminar are of scientific and practical significance. Participants stressed that Viet Nam possesses legal documents showing that the states of Viet Nam have established and exercised sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes at least since the 17th century.

Along with thousands of symbolic tombs of Hoang Sa sailor-soldiers, the grave of Hoang Sa Detachment Commander Pham Huu Nhat is considered as evidence proving the arrival of Ly Son islanders’ generations in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes centuries ago.

Hoang Sa (Paracel) belongs to Viet Nam – The historical evidence” is the theme of an exhibition inaugurated on April 29 at Da Nang Museum, which is jointly held by the Foreign Affairs Department of Da Nang city, the People’s Committee of Hoang Sa district of Da Nang city and Da Nang Museum.

In April 1975, the naval-commando team 1 of the Viet Nam People’s Navy and commando forces of the Military Zone 5 boarded Brigade 125’s vessels, namely HQ 673, HQ 674, and HQ 675 to start a campaign to liberate Truong Sa archipelago. Then, the Viet Nam People’s Navy liberated Son Ca island of the archipelago at 2:30 am on April 25, Nam Yet at 10:30 am on April 27, and Sinh Ton at 10:30 am on April 28. At 9:00 am on April 29 1975, Truong Sa archipelago was liberated completely.

According to historical records, in the 17th year of the Minh Mang reign (the Binh Than year - 1836), the Nguyen dynasty ordered Naval Commander Pham Huu Nhat, residing in An Vinh village (Ly Son), to lead 70 villagers from Ly Son island to measure sea routes, collect sea products, plant markers and erect sovereignty steles on Hoang Sa archipelago.

An international seminar themed “Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes – legal and historical aspects”, opened at Petrosetco Tower hotel in central Quang Ngai city on April 27. The event, organised by Pham Van Dong University, saw the participation of over 50 delegates who are international scholars, overseas Vietnamese people and leading experts from universities and research institutes of the US, Russia, Canada, Sweden, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Viet Nam, as well as representatives of a number of ministries, branches and localities nationwide.

Viet Nam should organise exhibitions on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes abroad to gain the international community’s support for the country’s struggle for its sovereignty over these archipelagoes. These are opinions of a number of foreign visitors during the first days of an exhibition themed “Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa – Historical evidence”. The exhibition was organized by central coastal Da Nang city for foreigners from April 29 to May 15.

Superior Buddhist Monk Thich Giac Nghia, who heads Truong Sa pagoda, said on May 2 at Cat Lai port in Ho Chi Minh City that ship No. HQ-571 brought nearly 200 people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, and the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, and others, including more than 100 overseas Vietnamese (OV) living in 33 countries in the world and over 40 monks to visit soldiers and residents in Truong Sa archipelago.