Quang Ngai, April 13 -- A ceremony was held at An Vinh communal house in Ly Son district, the central province of Quang Ngai on April 13 to pay tribute to soldiers who sacrificed their lives for safeguarding Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly).

According to Vietnam's feudal state history, the Hoang Sa Flotilla was set up in 17th century when the Nguyen Lords began their reign in the south of the country. The flotilla consisted of 70 skilled fishermen from An Vinh and An Hai villages in the Sa Ky estuary area (now part of Son Tinh and Binh Son districts), as well as from An Vinh and An Hai villages on Ly Son island, Quang Ngai province.

They braved roaring waves and storms to survey sea routes, plant markers and steles a...