Under the Prime Minister-approved project on the publicity of the Law on Viet Nam Coast Guard for the 2019 – 2023 period, since 2019, the Military Command of Son Tra District, Da Nang along with other relevant agencies, has often deployed the project's contents in a timely, effective, scientific manner, suitable to practical conditions.

Officers and soldiers of Navy Region 3 and Coast Guard Region 2 coordinate with Son Tra District in publicising the Viet Nam Coast Guard Law and conducting a rescue practice for fishermen and other forces involved in the protection of maritime sovereignty. Photo: H.H

Son Tra District has launched many communication drives on the Law on the Viet Nam Coast Guard through many highly effective and practical ways.

More than 10,000 leaflets and brochures with content on the Law on the Viet Nam Coast Guard, more than 3,000 legal books, 120 DVDs, soft files, graphic designs, applications available in the internet and social networks have been accessed by the general public.

For the time being, on bookcases and law book shelves in agencies and schools are more than 10,000 books, of which more than 1,000 carry the content on the Party's guidelines, policies and viewpoints on the management and protection of the country's seas and islands, the Law of the Sea of Viet Nam, the Law of the Viet Nam Coast Guard.

Senior Colonel Pham Van Tam, Politician of the Military Command of Son Tra District, said that, since from 2019, the district's relevant agencies have publicised more than 900 news articles and photos published on the city-based newspapers and radio stations.

Also, communication messages, articles and photos are also available on social networking accounts.

In particular, a nationwide online contest ‘Learn about Viet Nam's Coast Guard Law’ has been launched, attracting thousands of participants, contributing to the widespread dissemination of the national Coast Guard Law and other laws on the Fatherland’s sea and islands.

Every year, the district conducts a survey to manage each fishing vessels that are mobilised by the local authorities to join national defense missions, and encourages fishermen to be ready to perform their duties when ordered.

In addition, the district’s Military Command has regularly coordinated with the Navy Region 3, the Coast Guard Region 2, and the local fisheries surveillance force to well combine the dissemination of laws with patrolling, inspection and control activities.

Till date, more than 500 fishermen whose vessels specialise in offshore fishing have been introduced to the main contents of the Law on Viet Nam Coast Guard.

Outstandingly, 100% of the local offshore fishing ship owners have signed a written commitment to avoid operating in foreign waters and to exploit marine resources in an efficient and sustainable manner.

At the same time, through the dissemination promotion efforts, fishermen have raised their vigilance, actively participating in protecting the national sovereignty of the sea and islands, detecting and promptly reporting to the functional forces cases under which foreign ships illegally enter Viet Nam's territory waters.

Le Thanh Tuan Khanh, Commander of the Military Command of Nai Hien Dong Ward, said: “We always work closely with functional local bodies to integrate the dissemination of the Law on Viet Nam Coast Guard into activities of neighborhood groups and residential areas so that public cadres, Party members, residents, especially fishermen to gain a deeper insight into the laws, thus forming the habit of law observance amongst the people and encouraging them to actively protect the sovereignty of Viet Nam's seas and islands in the new situation".

The law, officially taking effect on July 1, 2019, consists of eight chapters with 41 articles. It regulates the position, functions, tasks, authority, organisation, and activities of the Vietnam Coast Guard; benefits and policies for the force; and responsibilities of relevant agencies, organisations, and individuals.

Based on the law’s stipulations on the force’s apparatus, personnel, and equipment, active and effective moves have been made to build an elite, lean, and strong Viet Nam Coast Guard, thus better performing its tasks in the new context.

The Viet Nam Coast Guard has enhanced relations with law enforcement forces of other ASEAN countries, as well as the countries whose sea areas are adjacent to Viet Nam’s, in conformity with the Party and State’s viewpoints on defence diplomacy and national safeguarding.

Reporting by HONG HANH – Translating by A.THU