Fifty-eight photos that highlight Vietnam’s sovereignty through vestiges related to Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago on Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai are now displayed at the “Hoang Sa – the view from Ly Son” exhibition at the Culture and Information Department in the central city of Quang Ngai.

The exhibition will open until April 22. After that it will be moved to high schools and universities based in Quang Ngai province. Photos (printed on timber) will be presented to the Museum of Hoang Sa Flotila on Ly Son Island.

Ly Son island district includes three communes – An Hai, An Vinh and An Binh,

totaling 10sq.km. There are dozens of relics related to Vietnam’s sovereignty

over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago.

The monument in front of the Museum of Hoang Sa Flotilla. The line

on the monument is cited from an ancient document sourced from Minh

Mang Dynasty (1836), which confirms Vietnam’s sovereignty oveer Hoang Sa Archipelago.

The troop banquet ceremony of the Hoang Sa Flotila, which has been

preserved for centuries on Ly Son Island. The ceremony is held annually

in the second or third lunar month to commemorate the Hoang Sa Flotilla,

which was in charge of defending Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in the past.

A man blew on Oc U (a specialized sea snail species on Ly Son Island)

at the troop banquet ceremony to convey orders to soldiers of the

Hoang Sa Flotilla to defend the country’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

Releasing boats to the sea at the troop banquet ceremony. The boats

have cooking and effigies of soldiers. This rite has been performed for over a century.

It was believed that going to sea was very dangerous
so before leaving

home, effigies of soldiers of the Hoang Sa Flotilla
were burnt as substitutes.

Artisan Vo Hien Dat made mock-ups of boats of Hong Sa Flotilla.

Ly Son Island.

PV