Overseas Vietnamese attend a flag-salute ceremony in Truong Sa. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Khanh Hoa (VNA) – A delegation of more than 200 members, including 47 overseas Vietnamese (OVs) from 22 countries around the world, has visited people and soldiers in Truong Sa island district and a DK1 platform on April 23.
During their tour from April 18-23, they visited the islands of Sinh Ton Dong, Len Dao, Da Tay B, Truong Sa, and the Phuc Tan DK1/16 platform.
Truong Sa island district is part of the central province of Khanh Hoa. Meanwhile, DK1 platforms are offshore economic, scientific, and technical service stations on Vietnam’s southern continental shelf.
Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Vietnam People's Navy, speaks during the Truong Sa visit. (Photo: VietnamPlus) The delegation members engaged in many activities, including exploring the daily life of locals in the island district, offering incense to the memorial house of President Ho Chi Minh, and attending the great requiem ceremony memorialising heroic martyrs and fishermen of Truong Sa.
They also visited schools, homes, and pagodas and attended the flag-saluting ceremony.
Gifts are given to soldiers at Da Tay B island. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Besides, they encouraged and conveyed gifts from organisations and agencies to soldiers and people that reside on the islands.
The gifts came from the central province of Nghe An province, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the Red Cross Association, and the Institute of Global Consulting and Training Consultation - TV Pharm Joint Stock Company.
Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung, Deputy Chief of the Staff of the Vietnam People's Navy, said he wishes to receive further support from people at home and OVs to make Truong Sa more beautiful and vibrant in the coming time.
Overseas Vietnamese pose for a group photo in Truong Sa. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Assistant to Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said the Foreign Ministry's State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) in collobration with the High Command of the Navy High Command has organised ten trips with the participation of more than 500 overseas Vietnamese to Truong Sa island district and DK1 platforms since 2012.
The activity had been disrupted in 2020-2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2022, it has been resumed to meet the expectation of overseas Vietnamese towards the seas and islands back in the Motherland, he added.
Overseas Vietnamese give books to residents in Truong Sa. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Nearly 1.3 billion VND (over 55,000 USD) and essentials were donated by overseas Vietnamese during their trips over the last 11 years, helping reduce difficulties faced by officers, soldiers, and people in Truong Sa.
Vu said the activity has contributed to reaffirming Vietnam's sovereignty over Truong Sa, as well as strengthening the overseas Vietnamese community’s solidarity and connection with the soldiers who are safeguarding Vietnam's sovereignty, thus strengthening the great national solidarity.
TV Pharm Company gives presents to soldiers in Truong Sa. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW 36 issued by the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese (OV) affairs in March 2004 states that the Party and State always consider the Vietnamese communities abroad as an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation.
“Tours to Truong Sa have instilled patriotism and further enhance care for the nation. Overseas Vietnamese will be ambassadors of Truong Sa, spreading the love for the country's seas and islands. They turn this love into concrete actions in order to contribute to protecting the country’s sea and island sovereignty," said Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung./.
