Compared with officers and soldiers on other islands in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, those posting on the submerged Da Nam Reef (South Reef) face more difficulties. However, the more difficulties and challenges there are, the more determined they are to fulfil their tasks.

A project on monitoring fishing boats, fishing grounds and aquaculture resources using satellite technology, known in short as Movimar, is being implemented in 28 coastal provinces and cities. Under the project, fishing vessels will be equipped with satellite positioning machines

Even after having their ships seized or sometimes being detained themselves when fishing in the Hoang Sa Archipelago’s waters and returning penniless, fishermen in the central Quang Ngai province still remain attached to their traditional fishing ground. As an effort to assist them in their operation at sea, kind-hearted people donated to build seven new fishing vessels for the fishermen in 2012.

The Lao Bao special economic zone in the central province of Quang Tri has by the end of 2012 attracted 47 projects, which have registered a total investment capital of 3.4 trillion VND (164 million USD) and leased a land area of nearly 254 hectares.

The ultimate goal of territory and border-related work is to build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. Only when the border is stable, can the economic development of the country in general and border localities in particular run smoothly. Many economic projects are closely linked to the settlement of border issues. Border management has a major impact on economic exchanges among countries.

Soldiers of the Cat Ba border post under the Border Guards of Hai Phong on December 25 held a brief on the national sea and island sovereignty situation for owners of nearly 100 vehicles and offshore fishing boats in the area.

The Transport Ministry and central Binh Dinh province started construction of a new National Highway 19 section linking Quy Nhon seaport to National Highway 1A on December 23. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the section will facilitate socio-economic development and national security in the province, while enabling it to link Viet Nam's central region and Laos, Cambodia and Thailand

On December 13, at the provincial Border Guard High Command headquarters, the People's Committee of northern Nam Dinh province held a conference to review the 10-year implementation of the Government's Decree No. 161/2003/ND-CP on Sea Border Zone Regulation (2003 -2012).