Nearly 2,000 youngsters in Ho Chi Minh City gathered at a festival on September 22 held to raise public awareness of the country’s specific sea and island sovereignty.

Organised by the municipal Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF), the festival also aimed to encourage a patriotic and peace-loving spirit in the youths.

Many activities took place during the festival. They included a photo exhibition, a drawing contest on the theme of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and a competition to learn about the country’s sea and islands.

A training course explaining Vietnam ’s sea and border laws was also held as part of the event. The significance of borderline demarcation between Vietnam and its neighbours was explained to participants.

An art performance programme, which will take place in the evening on September 23, will be the highlight of the festival.

The organising board hopes that the events will spur youths to contribute to the development and protection of the country.

At the opening ceremony, VYF presented 1,000 national flags to fisherman in Can Gio district in Ho Chi Minh City and 2,000 others to Ly Son islanders in the central province of Quang Ngai . The organising board also offered 10 sets of computers to soldiers and officers of the Naval Zone 2.

The municipal VYF called on people to provide support for the children of soldiers stationed at border and island areas and promoted the fund named “For beloved Truong Sa – on the front line,” which was established by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City.-VNA