Gratitude to the heroic soldiers of Hoang Sa

The ceremony was held solemnly, connecting history, present and future. This is an activity within the framework of Quang Ngai Tourism Week 2025.

Fishing boats and offerings at the Khao Le festival. Photo: VNA

According to historical records, around the beginning of the 17th century, the Nguyen Dynasty established the Hoang Sa team to protect and exploit the East Sea. The Hoang Sa team consisted of 70 skilled seafarers from An Vinh and An Hai villages in the Sa Ky estuary (now in Son Tinh and Binh Son districts) and An Vinh and An Hai villages on Ly Son island, Quang Ngai province to sail out to sea to search for marine products, products, measure waterways, patrol the sea and islands, and at the same time plant markers and erect sovereignty steles on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. However, many people left and never returned, their bodies having been absorbed into the vast ocean.

Therefore, the Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony is an ancient “soldier memorial ceremony” of the people of An Hai and An Vinh villages and clans on Ly Son island, Quang Ngai province to pray for peace for Hoang Sa soldiers before they leave for duty. As a ceremony held by clans on Ly Son island in the second and third lunar months every year, the Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony includes many worshiping rituals such as: the giving ceremony, the welcoming ceremony, the releasing ceremony...

Elders of An Vinh village perform a worship ritual. Photo: VNA

The Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony not only has cultural significance, but also reflects the history of protecting Vietnam's territorial sovereignty in the East Sea, especially the sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. At the same time, it contributes to preserving the cultural values ​​of our ancestors, helping to consolidate the community, and educating traditions for generations of descendants of Ly Son, Quang Ngai in particular and Vietnam in general.

Ly Son District Party Secretary Nguyen Minh Tri said: The Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony has been ranked by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage, a type of social practice and belief. The Ly Son District Party Committee and People's Committee are making efforts to "stage" the Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony to serve tourists.

Releasing fishing boats out to sea. Photo: VNA

At the end of the ceremony, the sound of the conch shell was blown in deep and solemn tones as the young men in the village carried the model of 5 fishing boats out to sea with the hope that the other boat team would take all the risks on behalf of the soldiers of the Hoang Sa team, at the same time creating confidence and will for the soldiers to complete their tasks according to the king's orders...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tri-an-nhung-hung-binh-hoang-sa-698785.html