Delegation of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations

As many as 212 delegates from 14 departments and agencies nationwide joined the trip, which lasted 6 days from April 22 to 27.

The working delegation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations was led by Mr. Nguyen Van Doanh, Vice President of the Union. There was the company of representatives of the union of provinces, cities, localities.

Before the trip, the delegation had a number of activities. They offered incenses and flowers and visited the Gac Ma Soldiers Memorial site in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district, the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa. They also visited Linh Nguyen Pagoda, along with Brigade 162 and Brigade 189 of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Delegates paid tribute to soldiers who laid down their lives defending the country’s sea and islands (in the Len Dao area)).

The delegation visited officers, soldiers and people on the islands of Song Tu Tay (Southwest Cay), Da Thi (Petley Reef), Sinh Ton Dong (Grierson Reef), Da Dong B, Truong Sa (Spratly archipelago) and DK1/8 Platform. At the destinations, the delegation was informed about the lives of soldiers and residents, and the safeguarding of national sovereignty over sea and islands.

Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Van Doanh spoke at Da Thi Island

Speaking at a meeting with officers and soldiers on Da Thi island, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Van Doanh expressed his emotion at the hardships and efforts made by officers and soldiers in overcoming hardships to defend the country’s sea and islands, saying their silent contributions have created a strong defensive position and served as a pillar for fishermen to confidently pursue their livelihoods at sea, thus affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago.

The delegation also participated in a flag-raising ceremony, and offered incense at the memorial sites dedicated to heroic martyrs and President Ho Chi Minh in Truong Sa; memorialized the soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy who heroically sacrificed themselves for the cause of defending the sea, islands and the southern continental shelf of the Fatherland in the area of ​​Gac Ma and Len Dao; offered incense at the Monument of the Quoc Cong Tiet Che Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan on Song Tu Tay Island.

On the Spratly archipelago

The delegation also spent time visiting, meeting and encouraging soldiers and people working on sites and islands; thereby, encouraging, enforcing the strength and confidence to the officers, soldiers and residents of Truong Sa island district to firmly overcome difficulties and challenges and complete all tasks.

On this occasion, the representatives of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations presented gifts, including water filters, televisions, medicines and masks, among others, worth more than VNĐ 500 million ($21,323) to the soldiers and residents.

The delegation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations presented gifts to soldiers and residents on Song Tu Tay island

Besides, the delegation also actively participated in activities such as: composing poetry, writing comments about the trip; participating in cultural and artistic exchanges... As a result, a group of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations won the first prize of the musical contest with the title "Pride of Vietnam's islands and islands".