On November 22 and 23, in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, the Naval Region 5 Command coordinated with the State Records and Archives Department (Ministry of Home Affairs), the Vietnam Military History Museum and the Naval Museum to organize the exhibition “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa - Sacred Sea and Islands”. The exhibition attracted thousands of officers, soldiers of the armed forces and people from all walks of life in the area to visit.
This exhibition introduces nearly 200 valuable documents, maps, and images stored at the Vietnam National Archives Center, the Vietnam Military History Museum, the Navy Museum, the Naval Region 5 Command, and documents collected from archives and national libraries of France and the United States, reflecting the history of Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago and Truong Sa archipelago. The process of fighting to protect and maintain sovereignty over the sea and islands; the spirit of readiness to fight and protect the territory and territorial waters of the Vietnamese army and people.
In particular, the exhibition displays and introduces many documents in the National Archives of Vietnam from the 17th century to the present. Among them are the Royal Records and Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty, which have been recognized by UNESCO as world documentary heritage. These are authentic, objective, and reliable historical documents affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago and Truong Sa archipelago.
Speaking at the exhibition, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of State Records and Archives, emphasized: The sea and islands are a sacred and inseparable part of the territory of the Vietnamese Fatherland. The Vietnamese State, through the periods, has explored, established and exercised sovereignty over these two archipelagos in a consistent, continuous and peaceful manner, in accordance with international practice and law. This has been affirmed and recorded in detail in the archives - the documentary heritage of Vietnam and the world that are being preserved at the National Archives Centers.
The documents in the exhibition introduced at the Naval Region 5 Command aim to raise awareness and sense of responsibility for protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands for officers, soldiers and people of all walks of life; contribute to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 8th Central Committee (11th tenure) on the Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation as well as effectively implementing the Program for Publicizing National Archives to serve the construction, socio-economic development and protection of national sovereignty approved by the Prime Minister.
Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan, Political Commissar of the Naval Region 5 Command, said that the unit always determines to promote propaganda work on seas and islands, especially propaganda on legal bases and historical evidence affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the two archipelagos Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. This is a very important task, a political responsibility of the soldiers guarding the sea towards the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland.
“This is a large and meaningful exhibition that will certainly create a strong and widespread influence, positively impacting the awareness and responsibility of cadres, soldiers and people of all walks of life, especially the young generation, in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland,” Rear Admiral Nguyen Huu Thoan affirmed.
With valuable, authentic, rich and vivid documents arranged and displayed outdoors in an airy space close to nature, the exhibition has created a highlight to attract visitors, bringing viewers many emotions and deep impressions.
Nguyen Hoang Kim Ngan, a student of grade 8/6, An Thoi 1 Secondary School, Phu Quoc City, shared: “I am very happy and excited to visit the exhibition “Hoang Sa, Truong Sa - Sacred Sea and Islands”. The exhibition not only helps me learn more valuable and useful information but also makes me feel more proud and love my homeland’s sea and islands more”.
