VietNamNet Bridge - 150 documents proving that Chinese territory only stops at Hainan Island and confirming Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) and Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) belonging to Vietnam are on display in HCM City, attracting thousands of people every day.

After Hanoi in the north and Ha Tinh province in the central region, Ho Chi Minh City in the south is the next stop-over for the exhibition “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa, Truong Sa – Historical Evidence.”

The event, which kicked off on August 22, displays nearly 150 maps and documents affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The exhibits include versions of documents in traditional Chinese, Vietnamese and French languages issued by Vietnamese feudal states from the 17th century to the early 20th century, 95 maps published by Vietnam, China and Western countries from the 16th century, and four atlases published by China in 1908, 1917, 1919 and 1933.

Several photos and documents featuring the socio-economic and cultural development of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in recent years are also introduced.

Through the exhibition, Vietnam wants to show both locals and international friends that many years ago, Vietnamese states have exercised and defended their national sovereignty over the two archipelagos.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Do Quy Doan said that the exhibition aims to affirm Vietnam’s just stance, raise the solidarity and responsibility of Vietnamese both at home and abroad for the protection of the country’s sea and island sovereignty.

The event once more affirms Vietnam’s determination to defend its sacred land, airspace and waters, helping international friends, including the Chinese, understand Vietnam’s wish to maintain peace and stability in the region.

It will stay open to visitors until August 29.

Some pictures of the exhibition:

The exhibition "Hoang Sa, Truong Sa of Vietnam - The historical evidences" held at the Thong Nhat Palace has attracted thousands of visitors from the elderly, the children to international travelers.

The emphasis of this exhibition is the old maps demonstrating that Chinese territory only stops in Hainan Island, which were collected by Mr. Tran Thang (Vietnamese American), including four large-sized Atlas books.

The Atlas issued by the Chinese Ministry of Transport in Nanjing in 1933.

Many people turn every page of the Atlas released by China.

Map of Guangdong Province with Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China in the Atlas.

Besides the maps compiled by China, the exhibition also displays the maps printed in Western countries. Photo: the Chinese map released by the Soviet Union in 1986.

The Chinese map published by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency in 1979.

The Chinese Empire Map showing the southern territory only to the island of Hainan, published by Business Atlas, Rand McNally in Chicago (USA) in 1904.

19 royal documents of the Nguyen Dynasty referring to the issues related to the Paracels and the Spratlys.

Annam Map of Bishop Jean Louis Tabard (French) in the Annam Latin dictionary published in 1938. The map was drawn by modern and accurate methods, with annotation in three languages (Chinese - Latin - National Language).

Not only Vietnam, many international travelers are also interested in the exhibition.

VNA/VNE