Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Vietnam Navy's Tradition Day (May 7, 1955 - May 7, 2025): Fulfilling the "Oath to Protect the Sea"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - After the liberation of the North, in response to the urgent need to manage and protect the sea and islands, and to implement the Resolution of the Central Military Commission, on May 7, 1955, the Ministry of National Defense - Commander-in-Chief issued Decree No. 284/ND-A to establish the Coastal Defense Department - the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Navy (VPA) today. This event became an important historical milestone, opening the period of construction and development of the Navy, shouldering a great historical mission - being the core in the cause of protecting the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Monument to the first victory of the Vietnam People's Navy (Hoang Truong, Hoang Hoa). Photo: Huong Thao

On May 7, 1954, the "Determination to Fight - Determination to Win" flag of our Army flew on the roof of General De Castries' bunker, completely ending the French colonial invasion of our country. Peace was restored but Vietnam was temporarily divided into two regions, the South and the North. To protect the sovereignty of the coastline stretching over 800km from Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) to the 17th parallel (Quang Tri), on May 7, 1955, the Ministry of National Defense decided to establish the Coastal Defense Department - the predecessor of the Vietnam Navy. With the determination to protect national sovereignty, the homeland's sea and islands are inviolable, that iron will vowed to form the "Oath to protect the sea", written not only with sweat and effort, but also with blood and tears; with the courage and bravery of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy.

Under the leadership of the Party, Uncle Ho, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense, from a small force of 141 officers and soldiers with limited and rudimentary equipment in the early days of its establishment, the Vietnam People's Navy has now become a combat arm, a regular and modern technical arm of the Vietnam People's Army. During that difficult, arduous, sacrificial but also very glorious journey, the Vietnam People's Navy has continuously achieved glorious feats, going down in the history of the nation.

From the first day of establishment to the first victory on August 2 and 5, 1964; together with the army and people of the North, we defeated two destructive wars by the air force and navy of the US imperialists; the feats of arms against mine blockades, magnetic bombs... Then we opened the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea, the legendary transport route to support the beloved South; the miracles of the naval commandos on the battlefields of Cua Viet, Dong Ha (Quang Tri); then participated in the general offensive and uprising in the spring of 1975, together with the secret force to liberate the Truong Sa archipelago; participated in the noble international mission in the friendly country of Cambodia...

One of the battles that went down in the history of the young Vietnam People's Navy was when the Thanh Hoa army and people fought against the powerful force of modern warships and aircraft of the US military. In 1964, facing the risk of failure of the "Special War" strategy, the US imperialists carried out the intention of war to destroy the North by air force and navy. On the night of July 31, early morning of August 1, 1964, the US destroyer Ma-doc advanced deep into the Northeast of Hon Me island. With the determination to keep the homeland's waters, the torpedo boat squadrons 333, 336, 339 of the Vietnam Navy launched a combat sortie, firing torpedoes that injured the Ma-doc and forced it to flee. After being chased away, the US created the "Gulf of Tonkin" incident to falsely accuse the Vietnam Navy of deliberately attacking US warships in international waters.

Vietnam Navy forces perform the flag-raising ceremony on Truong Sa Island. Photo courtesy of XM

By August 5, 1964, the US had mobilized 64 aircraft to suddenly bomb many important targets of the Vietnamese Navy along the coast from Gianh River (Quang Binh) to Bai Chay (Quang Ninh), in which Lach Truong (Hoang Hoa) was a key target of fierce attacks by the enemy. Immediately after the US aircraft appeared to bomb Lach Truong estuary and attack our naval ships, militia units of Hau Loc district, along with the army and people of Hoang Truong commune, coordinated with Company 19 (Air Defense Forces protecting the radar station); Armed Police Station 74... quickly entered combat positions, coordinated with our naval ships offshore to fiercely return fire at the US aircraft... With the timely support of the army and people of Thanh Hoa, it added strength, contributing to writing the heroic epic of the first victorious battle of the Vietnam People's Navy. The victory on August 5, 1964 became the first feat of arms, opening a heroic page in the history of construction, fighting, victory and growth of the Vietnam People's Navy, contributing to encouraging the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army in the North and the compatriots in the South to compete to fight the enemy and gain achievements, determined to gain independence and unify the country. This is also the heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy, of the army and people of the North in fighting against the destructive war of the US imperialists.

Today, at Lach Truong estuary (Hoang Hoa), the first victory monument of the Vietnam People's Navy has been built to record the heroic feats of arms of the Lach Truong army and people and the Vietnam People's Navy in the struggle for national liberation and national reunification... In those glorious feats, there were contributions from thousands of officers and soldiers of the Navy who were from Thanh Hoa. A typical example is the People's Armed Forces Hero Dang Dinh Long (from Nghi Son town) who sacrificed his life in the first battle against the Americans on August 5, 1964 in the Lach Truong sea area. At that time, Hero Dang Dinh Long was the number 5 gunner on ship 146. Although he was injured and had both legs broken, he resolutely refused to leave his position, using a belt to tie his body tightly to the gun mount to continue fighting until his last breath. Hero Dang Dinh Long was one of 78 Navy officers and soldiers who heroically sacrificed their lives in the battle on August 2 and 5, 1964.

Or like People's Armed Forces Hero Hoang Kim Nong (from Nghi Son town) with the famous battles of Navy commandos in the Cua Viet battlefield, Dong Ha; People's Armed Forces Hero Vu Phi Tru (Sam Son city) sacrificed while fighting to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands at Gac Ma island in Truong Sa archipelago; People's Armed Forces Hero Tran Quang Khai (Hoang Hoa) who had a glorious feat, together with his comrades, sank many enemy transport ships on the Cua Viet river, Dong Ha...

Over 70 years of building, fighting, developing and growing, generations of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy have successively built up the glorious tradition of "Fighting bravely; Being creative and resourceful; Mastering the sea; Determined to fight, determined to win"... And the "Oath to protect the sea" has always been kept intact, engraved in the minds of Navy soldiers, ready to sacrifice to protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Xuan Minh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/ky-niem-70-nam-ngay-truyen-thong-hai-quan-viet-nam-7-5-1955-7-5-2025-tron-loi-the-giu-bien-247811.htm