Various art and cultural activities were held from April 25-29 inresponse to the Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiersand Quang Ngai Sea and Island Culture Week, which wrapped up incentral Quang Ngai province on April 29.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Le Quang Thich said the festival is held annually topreserve and uphold tangible and intangible cultural heritages unique toQuang Ngai.

He highlighted the success of eventslike an international seminar on sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Saarchipelagoes, photo and painting exhibitions, folk games and musicperformances.

On the occasion, the Ministry ofCulture, Sports and Tourism granted certificates recognising thefestival as part of the nation’s intangible heritage and the An Vinhcommunal temple as a national historical site.

According to Vietnam’s feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotillawas set up when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of thecountry. Thousands of sailors overcame roaring waves and storms tosurvey sea routes, plant markers and erect steles affirming nationalterritory in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, and minemarine resources ordered by Nguyen Lords. Their missions were full ofdangers, and many of them never returned to land.

To pay tribute to the men enlisted in the flotilla, the festival hasbeen observed for hundreds of years by families on Ly Son islands and inQuang Ngai coastal areas.-VNA