PANO - A ceremony was held in An Hai commune, Ly Son district, Quang Ngai province, on April 4th to pay tribute to sailor-soldiers of the Hoang Sa Flotilla who sacrificed their lives to guard the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands centuries ago.

A worship ritual at the event. (Source: zing.news.vn)

Established by the Nguyen Dynasty in the first half of the 17th century, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was the first feudal state-controlled group exercising management and protection in the East Sea. It is a forceful evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) archipelagos.

This annual event aimed not only to pray for good weather for the islanders, but also to help local youths learn more about their forefather's patriotic traditions and bravery.

Translated by Anh Tien