Paying tribute to the heroic Hoang Sa soldiers and affirming the sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands

(Baoquangngai.vn)- The Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony is a unique folk ritual, imbued with the cultural identity of Ly Son residents. This activity aims to show gratitude and commemorate the Hoang Sa heroic army, which also manages Bac Hai, for their merit in going to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos to plant markers to affirm Vietnam's sovereignty.

On the morning of April 13, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with Ly Son district and the An Vinh communal house's festival committee to organize the Hoang Sa soldiers' Khao le the la festival. According to the spiritual and cultural traditions and folk beliefs in Ly Son, the Hoang Sa soldiers' Khao le the la festival aims to express the morality of "When drinking water, remember its source", to remember and show gratitude to the Hoang Sa heroic army who obeyed the court's orders to go to Hoang Sa to exploit products, measure sea routes, plant landmarks, and erect sovereignty steles.

Members of the An Vinh Village Communal House Festival Committee carefully prepared for the ceremony.

The offerings are ready for the Hoang Sa soldiers' memorial ceremony.

Leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Tien Dung offered incense to pay tribute to the heroic soldiers of Hoang Sa.

Ly Son District Party Secretary Nguyen Minh Tri offered incense to commemorate the Hoang Sa Squadron that also manages Bac Hai.

Delegates attending the incense offering ceremony.

Until now, the people of Ly Son island still pass down the song: "Hoang Sa is a vast land of sky and water/Those who go are there but never return/Hoang Sa has clouds and water all around/March longs for the soldiers of Hoang Sa". That song summarizes the fate of those who went to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in ancient times - those who were called heroic soldiers by King Tu Duc.

The Hoang Sa Fleet of the past sailed across the sea on small fishing boats to protect the sovereignty of the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa of the nation with sweat, blood and even their lives. They are truly nameless heroes, forever remembered in the minds of the people of Quang Ngai today and tomorrow.

Speaking at the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Thanh said that the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to coordinate with departments, sectors, localities and communities to research, collect, restore, promote and organize the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony associated with the development of sea and island cultural tourism. Thereby, contributing to the development of the economy and society, improving the lives of people and spreading traditional cultural values ​​to domestic and international tourists.

The fishing boat model is an indispensable offering in the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony.

The sounds of trumpets, instruments, and drums in harmony with each ritual are an indispensable part of the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony.

The Khao Le The Linh Hoang Sa ceremony was solemnly and respectfully organized by the An Vinh communal house's festival committee and the clans, with many worshiping rituals such as: the announcement ceremony, the main worshiping ceremony. After that, the shaman performed the rituals to enshrine the souls of the Hoang Sa soldiers before releasing the boat to the sea. This is a ritual imbued with the humanity of the Ly Son people - worshiping on behalf of the living to pray for peace for the Hoang Sa soldiers before leaving for their missions.

At the end of the ceremony, the conch shell was blown in deep and solemn tones, signaling the young men in the village to carry out the 5 fishing boat models to the sea. Reenacting the farewell ceremony for the Hoang Sa Bac Hai soldiers of the past who set out on their sacred mission to the Fatherland. The fishing boat models carrying the effigies and offerings including: Rice, meat, oil, water, etc. were released into the sea with great sacredness and pride.

An Vinh Village Communal House Festival Committee conducts the ceremony.

The shaman performs rituals to place the souls of Hoang Sa soldiers.

Head of the An Vinh Communal House Festival Committee, Tran Cuong, said that we are very proud to be able to re-enact the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony. This is an opportunity for the island's elders to tell their descendants many stories about the Hoang Sa Teams that managed Bac Hai in the past, about the arduous but also very proud sea voyages. We will work with the younger generation and descendants of the clans in the island district to preserve and promote the local traditional festival.

Witnessing the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony for the first time, tourist Nguyen Thi Mong Ha from Kon Tum province was moved to share, "I am very happy to visit Ly Son Island on the occasion of organizing activities of the 2025 Tourism Week. In particular, witnessing the Hoang Sa Soldiers' Commemoration Ceremony is very sacred. I feel very proud and understand more about the sovereignty of the sea and islands of my homeland."

The Hoang Sa soldier memorial ceremony is a ritual imbued with the folk beliefs of Ly Son residents.

The sound of a conch shell signals the time to take the fishing boat out to sea.

Five fishing boat models and sacrificial items were taken out to sea one after another.

Model fishing boats are released into the sea as a ritual to pray for peace for the ancient Hoang Sa soldiers.

Fishing boat models recreate the scene of sending off the heroic soldiers of Hoang Sa and Bac Hai in the past to fulfill their sacred duty to the Fatherland.

According to Ly Son District Party Secretary Nguyen Minh Tri, the Hoang Sa soldiers' memorial ceremony is not only a traditional ceremony but also a strong message affirming patriotism, national pride, indomitable will and responsibility to preserve the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

“This traditional festival has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The festival is held within the framework of Quang Ngai Tourism Week 2025, contributing to attracting visitors and developing tourism in the island district,” Mr. Tri emphasized.

Performed by: KIM NGAN - THANH PHUONG

Source: https://baoquangngai.vn/media/goc-anh/202504/tri-an-hung-binh-hoang-sa-va-khang-dinh-chu-quyen-bien-dao-to-quoc-8371c43/