An administrative document dating back 250 years, found in a village in Thua Thien-Hue city Province, establishes Vietnam’s sovereignty over Paracel islands.

This document found in the archives at My Loi village in Hue serves as evidence of Vietnam’s centuries-long sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel islands)

It has been preserved in the archives at My Loi Village in the province’s Phu Loc District.

Written in Chinese characters on “dó” paper on November 6, 1759, by Thuan Duc Hau, a Le Dynasty mandarin who defended the Bien Hai (now Tu Hien) river mouth, the document was drawn up to resolve a lawsuit between two wards: My Toan (now My Loi Village) and An Bang.

The document, translated into Vietnamese by Le Nguyen Luu, mentions a Hoang Sa (Paracel) fleet that was in charge of managing and exploiting natural resources which intervened in the dispute.

The document, which carries the mandarin’s signature and seal, is clear evidence that under the Le rulers, Vietnam had a fleet to explore natural resources in the Paracels.

VietNamNet/SGGP