Festival commemorates soldiers of ancient Hoang Sa Flotilla
Hundreds of locals and tourists flocked to the “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” (Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers) ceremony in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 2.
Quang Ngai (VNA) – Hundreds of localsand tourists flocked to the “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” (Feast andCommemoration Festival for Hoang Sa Soldiers) ceremony in Ly Son islanddistrict in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 2.
The annual event is to pay tribute to soldiersand sailors of the Hoang Sa Flotilla under the Nguyen Dynasty, who obeyed theimperial order to travel to Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands every year to exercise nationalsovereignty over seas and islands.
Following a traditional offering ceremony was a boatrace with the participation of nearly 100 people divided into four teams.
About three to four centuries ago, each year theNguyen Lords selected 70 villagers from An Vinh and An Hai wards in Ly Son islandto go to Hoang Sa to exploit marine resources.
Later, at the end of the 16th century, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was set up. Tens of thousands of sailorsovercame storms and roaring waves to measure sea routes and erect steles onislands to affirm territorial sovereignty as well as to harvest seafood andother maritime resources.
Ly Son island covers an area of less than 10sq.km but it has nearly 100 relics, most of which are related to the Hoang SaFlotilla, such as the empty graves built for Hoang Sa soldiers who neverreturned to land, the temples dedicated to Pham Quang Anh and Vo Van Khiet whowere captains of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, and a showroom displaying the items ofthe Hoang Sa Flotilla sailors who also controlled Bac Hai and Ba Ri Lagoon.
In particular, “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa”which is held every April on the island was recognised as part of the nationalintangible cultural heritage by the State in 2016.
A monument and memorial house dedicated to theHoang Sa Flotilla stand near the main road of the island.-VNA
The Feast and Commemoration Festival for Hoang Sa (Paracel) flotilla soldiers (Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa) was held in An Hai communal temple, Ly Son island, the central province of Quang Ngai on April 5.
Exhibits affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Spratly) and Truong Sa (Paracel) archipelagos are being showcased in Nui Thanh district in the central coastal province of Quang Nam.
A traditional ceremony commemorating sailors of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Flotilla, took place in An Vinh communal temple, Ly Son island district, central Quang Ngai province on April 4.
The annual “Le khao le the linh Hoang Sa” ceremony took place in An Vinh communal house, Ly Son island district, the central province of Quang Ngai on April 22.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event served as a vibrant display of solidarity, promoting peace, cooperation, and development through cultural dialogue, and reaffirmed HCM City's role as a dynamic hub for cultural diplomacy and international friendship.
Traditional offering ceremony (Photo: VNA)
