The trip, that ran from April 18-28, was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’s Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnam People’s Navy.
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Ship KN 490 of the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance carries the delegation |
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The delegation and soldiers on Da Lon B Island in the Truong Sa Archipelago |
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Vu Thi Tin, a Vietnamese overseas in Thailand, in tears as she holds a soldier on Da Lon B, the first destination on the trip |
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A flag ceremony on Son Ca Island |
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Delegates present solders and residents on the Truong Sa and DK1 platforms VND600 million ($26,600) and gifts worth nearly VND1 billion. The DK1 platforms, built in the East Sea, function as economics, science and service complexes that help Vietnam protect its maritime sovereignty |
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The delegates with a family on Sinh Ton Island |
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On April 22 at a site near the Gac Ma Reef, which is illegally occupied by China, the delegation held a ceremony for the heroes who fell during a skirmish with China on March 14, 1988. According to Rear Admiral Do Minh Thai, deputy chief of staff of the Vietnam People's Navy, on that day in 1988, Chinese forces suddenly fired and sank three Vietnamese transport vessels and illegally occupied some isles controlled by Vietnam in the Truong Sa Archipelago |
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Despite the Chinese attacks, the Vietnamese soldiers bravely protected the ships and the national flag on the island, Thai said. |
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The delegation presents a model of a high-speed boat worth VND3.5 billion to naval forces |
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A ceremony on the Spratly Archipelago |
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Another ceremony for soldiers who have passed away on the DK1 platforms. The Navy has managed the complexes for the past 27 years |
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Rear Admiral Thai said a strong typhoon in December 1990 destroyed platform DK1/3, killing three soldiers |