On Sunday, a ceremony took place at the Museum of Da Nang to launch an appeal to domestic and foreign collectors to donate their artifacts and documents about the Hoang Sa archipelago for display at the Hoang Sa Exhibition House.  The event was jointly organised by the Hoang Sa Islands District People’s Committee and the municipal Historical Science Association.

Items required include photos, documents and bibliographies, issued by Viet Nam or other countries, which prove Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the archipelago.  In addition, any items which show the daily activities of Vietnamese people on the islands over the historical periods would be gratefully received.

At the launch ceremony, many valuable items were donated to the Hoang Sa Exhibition House. 

Presenting the keepsakes of martyr Nguyen Thanh Trong

The Deputy Head of the local Institute for Socio-Economic Development, Dr Tran Duc Anh Son, donated the ‘Atlas von China’ (The Atlas of China), which was published by the Germany-based Dietrich Reimer publishing house in Berlin in 1885, and was kept at the Harvard-Yenching Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. 

Local meritorious artist Huynh Hung and his friend Mr Tri Trung, who is from the city-based VTV8, presented a copy of their documentary film entitled ‘Nho Dao’ (Miss the Islands).  It features ex-servicemen who served on the Hoang Sa archipelago before 19 January 1974, the date when China completed their military occupation of the islands.

The municipal Department of Publicity and Training also donated an old map of Hoa Vang District’s former Hoa Long Commune which shows that the Hoang Sa archipelago belonged to the district.

The map of Hoa Vang District’s former Hoa Long Commune

A model of a Vietnamese coast guard ship, made by workers from the city’s Song Thu Corporation, was also donated for display.

In particular, the event’s organisers also received 10 keepsakes of martyr Nguyen Thanh Trong who laid down his life in the 19 January 1974 battle against the Chinese invaders.  These items were donated by his wife Nguyen Thi Lua and son Nguyen Hoang Sa, both from Can Tho City.

The Chairman of the city’s Historical Science Association, Mr Bui Van Tieng, emphasised that over recent years the Hoang Sa Islands District People’s Committee has received a number of valuable artifacts which affirm that the Vietnamese people had established and exercised their sovereignty over the archipelago before 1974.  He reported that all the donated items are being carefully stored and will be put on display at the Hoang Sa Exhibition House once it is put into use later this year.

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung took the opportunity to urge local relevant agencies to ensure that the Hoang Sa Exhibition House will open its doors to the public on schedule.  He hopes that collectors from home and abroad will donate more artifacts and documents about the Hoang Sa archipelago for the displays.  This will help the city to accumulate even more convincing evidence which proves Viet Nam’s legitimate sovereignty over the islands.