More than 100 young people from across the nation departed from the Cat Lai port in Ho Chi Minh City for the Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelago on May 6 as part of the “Youth Journey for National Sea and Islands ” programme.

The 12-day trip was organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Vietnam ’s Navy on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Navy (May 7, 1955).

The programme aims to raise the sense of patriotism and responsibility to defend the national sovereignty over sea and islands among the teenagers.

The participants are students, businessmen, artists, doctors and reporters who will join a number of activities such sailing, offering incense to fallen marine soldiers, and experiencing the life of naval officers at sea day and night to safeguard national sovereignty.

The youths are scheduled to visit islands in Truong Sa archipelago and the platform DK1–an important economics-science-service complex—as well as visit, present gifts, and join sports-culture exchanges with island officers, soldiers and people.

The organisation board said the total money raised by individuals and organisations to support Truong Sa soldiers and residents has reached nearly 3 billion VND (140,000 USD).

On the occasion, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union held a ceremony to present awards to 42 individuals and groups in the national sea, islands and naval soldiers contest.-VNA