(VOVworld) – These days all eyes are set on Ly Son islands, Quang Ngai province, the homeland of the first troops who discovered Vietnam’s new territorial waters and established sea border marker. Ly Son islanders are now busy preparing for a festival of paying tribute to Hoang Sa soldiers. This annual festival has recently been recognized as the national intangible heritage. 

Memorial house for Hoang Sa soldiers

It takes one hour to travel on an express boat from Sa Ky port to Ly Son island, which looks like a jade in the immense sea. The port is always crowded this time of the year. People are eager to join the unique festival.

The Festival of commemorating Hoang Sa troops is a folk, cultural and religious event, which have been taking place coastal areas of Quang Ngai province for centuries. It was organized by clans on Ly Son island to show gratitude to draftees, who died while defending Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel archipelago. Nguyen Van Phuc, Head of Nguyen clan on Ly Son islands, says in the 3^rd lunar month, islanders look forwards to the festival: “We jointly organize the event to remember those who made contributions to discovering and defending Hoang Sa. On the 15^th day of the 3^rd lunar month, every clan and family makes their own feast and a communal feast is held in the communal house. I am in charge of buying offerings for the rituals, including basket boats, dummies, pigs and chickens and inviting a sorcerer”.

During the festival, locals release basket boats, which the fishermen-turned soldiers used to ride to Hoang Sa archipelago hundreds years ago. Inside the boat, there are dummies, representing Hoang Sa flotilla sailors. When the dummies are exorcised by the sorcerer, they are ready to offer their lives for the sailors. This rite helps encourage soldiers, who leave home for the front. It also conveys Ly Son islanders’ gratitude to the soldiers. Le Du, a local resident in Vinh An commune, says: “On these days, local people remember our predecessors, who helped expand the national territory to Hoang Sa. The next generations will follow them to safeguard our fatherland”.

300 years ago, the Hoang Sa troops, who were originally Ly Son islanders, abided by the Nguyen Kings’ order, embarking on their mission to Hoang Sa archipelago to measure the tides and establish the fatherland’s sea boundary. The troops with their hundreds of belongings which are being preserved on Ly Son island, are vivid proofs of the people’s awareness of safeguarding national sovereignty. Hoang Nam, a tourist from Hanoi, told VOV: “I didn’t imagine that such precious documents are being preserved. They are the evidence. I am very glad that this place retains the patriotic tradition of the Vietnamese nation towards Hoang Sa”.

Statue of Hoang Sa soldiers by Hà Trí Dũng was completed in September, 2009

Le Van Hoa, a resident in An Vinh commune, is proud of tradition:“All people on Ly Son island from the elderly to the young have close connection with the Hoang Sa troops. That’s why each Ly Son islander is proud of their tradition”.