The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea was opened for signature on 10 December 1982 and entered into force as from 16 November 1994. Up to 20 September 2011, the Convention has 162 members.

Viet Nam ratified the Convention through a Resolution of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam’s National Assembly on 23 June 1994.

In the Resolution, the National Assembly affirms the sovereignty of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam over internal waters, territorial waters, the sovereign rights and jurisdiction rights over the contigious zones, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of Viet Nam, in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Viet Nam’s National Assembly reaffirms the sovereignty of Viet Nam over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, advocates to resolve territorial disputes as well as other issues relating to the East Sea by peaceful means on the basis of equality, mutual understading and respect, respect for international law, espeacially the U.N Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the sovereign rights and jurisdiction rights of coastal states over exclusive economic zones and continental shelves; while exerting to promote negotiation for a basic and long-term solution, related parties should maintain stability, restrain in the conduct of activities that would complicate the situation, without resorting to the threat or use of force.

The National Assembly emphazises the neccesity to make differentiation disputes on Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes from the question of protection of maritime areas and continental shelf belonging to Viet Nam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction rights, based on principles and regulations of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.