VietNamNet Bridge – A one-week photo exhibition about Vietnam’s maritime territory is underway at the International Center for Exhibition of Can Tho city.

The event is held to celebrate the National Day (September 2) and to honor Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty.

The exhibition introduces around 70 photos and objects about Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Paracel and Spratly) archipelagoes.

It will last until September 3.

Photos and objects displayed at the exhibition:

Nguyen Dynasty’s document about Vietnam’s sovereignty
over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa.

Ancient maps of Quang Ngai province, drawn by Do Ba in mid-17th century.
Captions on the map note Vietnamese Nguyen Lords’ exploration activities on Hoang Sa.

An Asian map, drawn in the 17th century, with part of Paracel Islands.

The map of Annam (Vietnam) in a Latin-Vietnamese dictionary of French priest
Jean Louis Taber, dated 1838, with part of the Paracel as Vietnam’s territory.

Maps of the Qin Dynasty, the three kingdoms period, the Ming Dynasty and the
 Qing Dynasty in China show that both Hoang Sa and Truong Sa do not belong
 to China. All ancient maps determine that Hainan Island is China’s southern-most border.

The map of Dai Nam (Vietnam) of the Nguyen Dynasty in the early 19th century
(around 1834) which shows Hoang Sa and Truong Sa as Vietnam’s territory.

The sketch of a boat of the Hoang Sa Flotilla of the Nguyen Dynasty.

 

The tomb of an officer named Pham Quang Anh, who was assigned by King Gia
Long to measure and set up landmarks on Hoang Sa in 1815.

 

On January 26, 1974, at the Lacelle – Saint Cloud meeting, Vo Dong Giang, vice
chief of the delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the
Republic of South Vietnam, announced Vietnam’s point of view over China’s
occupation of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago.

 

Vietnam's administrative office on Hoang Sa.

 

Vietnam’s sovereignty stele on Hoang Sa, set up by the French in 1938.

 

Vietnamese guards on Hoang Sa.

 

A lighthouse on Hoang Sa.

 

A well on Hoang Sa.

 

Vietnamese women on Hoang Sa, before 1940.

 

A film service group serve soldiers and people on Nam Yet Island,
part of the Truong Sa island district.

 

Power generators installed by the Military Design Institute on islands of Truong Sa.

 

A commemoration house of President Ho Chi Minh on Truong Sa.

 

Colin Island, where Vietnamese ship HQ505 proved Vietnam’s sovereignty
on March 14, 1988.

 

General Van Tien Dung presented a medal for Truong Sa soldiers in 1985.

 

Phan Vinh Island in 1988.

 

Artillery men practiced on Phan Vinh Island.

 

Vessels that liberated Truong Sa in 1975.

 

Truong Sa Archipelago in 1960.

 

Chinese warships occupied Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago in January 1974.

 

A meeting to raise objection against China’s occupation of Hoang Sa.

 

Len Dan Island of Truong Sa archipelago.

 

The People’s Committee of Truong Sa district.

 

The Hoang Sa flotilla of the Nguyen Dynasty is commemorated at an annual
festival on Ly Son district of Quang Ngai province.

Compiled by Minh Lan