Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) are the two coral archipelagoes located in the East Sea. With skilled sea-faring tradition, since the old days, the Vietnamese have been familiar with the two archipelagoes under the common name Bai Cat Vang, Hoang Sa, Dai Truong Sa, Van Ly Truong Sa... The Western navigators and missionaries called the two archipelagoes as Paracels, or Pracel.

THE GOVERNMENT: Based on the Law on the Governmental Organisation on December 25, 2001; Based on the Ordinance on the Sea Police of Vietnam in 2008; Considering the proposals of the Minister of National Defence,

Our sacred sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes have been proven by time and history of centuries through which the people and state of Vietnam have managed and exploited these territories in the East Sea.

No. 134/2007/QĐ-TTg

On the occasion of the celebration of the official enforcement of the Protocol on demarcation and planting of land border markers between Vietnam and China and the related agreements, Vice Foreign Minister Hồ Xuân Sơn, Chairman of the National Border Committee, Head of the Government-level delegation to hold talks on the territorial border, has reserved the following interview with the press.

1. Coastal States: They are States having sea coast, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea, Sweden, Finland, Canada, etc.

The delimitation of national borders is often based on natural geographical factors such as rivers, streams, mountains, waterfalls,…and in accordance with treaties, agreements signed among the States. However, due to the differences in natural conditions, customs and thinking of nations and regions worldwide, a number of special forms of borders have been created. Please find herewith the introduction of some special information related to national border lines worldwide.

The National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 11th legislature, 3rd session, approved the Law on National Border on June 17, 2003. The full text of the law is as follows:

On November 16, 1994, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea took effect after 60 countries had ratified it. The 5th session of the National Assembly, 9th Legislature, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam approved the Resolution ratifying the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. On June 23, 1994, Vietnam was the 64th country to have ratified this Convention.

Right after his taking office as State President, Mr Trương Tấn Sang had an open exchange with the press on sovereignty over the sea and islands, on the settlement of dispute over the East Sea and the combat against corruption.