Pirate Islands are located about 11 nautical miles northwest of Ha Tien city center. Since ancient times, this area has been on the commercial shipping route from Asia through the Gulf of Thailand, to Vietnam, then to Guangzhou (China), then to Luzon Island (Philippines). This place has become the destination of merchant ships from the Malay Peninsula, India, Myanmar, etc.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Pirate Islands were the headquarters of pirates. Large Chinese and Western merchant ships were often attacked by pirate groups who appeared and disappeared from the Pirate Islands. They took control of the ships, captured people, and robbed property. This group of pirates operated over a large area, from Ha Tien through Rach Gia (Kien Giang) to the Gulf of Thailand and even Cambodia.
Since the 1820s, Mac Thien Tich was appointed by Lord Nguyen as Grand Admiral to govern this region. Mac Thien Tich was defeated by the Siamese army, causing chaos in the entire Ha Tien region.
Without government control, many pirate groups emerged and operated around the Pirate Islands. During this time, foreign ships were free to enter and exit. Therefore, many pirate ships took advantage of this to infiltrate and rob, including the ship of pirate boss Nguyen Thanh Van on Hon Doc Island.
According to legend, pirate boss Nguyen Thanh Van had the talent to dive like an otter, and had a wild and unruly temperament. One time, his karma at sea brought him to Thailand. There he met a beautiful girl. They moved to Vietnam to live together. Mr. Van and his wife lived on Hon Doc Island in the Pirate archipelago for a while.
After his wife gave birth to their first daughter, Nguyen Thi Gai, Mr. Van gave up his pirate career and became a fisherman on Hon Doc Island. Over time, Mrs. Gai grew up on the island and was called Mrs. Muoi by the locals. To atone for her father's past sins, she built a temple on the west side of the island to worship him and practice vegetarianism and recite Buddha's name. The oldest person on Hon Doc now does not remember exactly when the temple was built, only estimating it to be around the 60s of the last century.
When asked where Mrs. Muoi is now, whether she is alive or dead, people say she has settled in Phu Quoc island district (Kien Giang) for a long time, whether she is alive or dead is difficult to confirm. In the roaring waves, the ancient Son Hoa temple stands silently with time. There are still rumors about the pirate treasure map, which left mysterious traces of the island's early days.
There is a rumor that there is a treasure buried somewhere on the island by pirates. That story is still a mystery. No one has confirmed whether or not there is a treasure in this Pirate archipelago. However, there is an event that makes people half believe, half doubt. That is, in 1983, two foreigners, an Englishman named Richard Charles Knight and an American named Frederick Kurt Graham, traveled to this remote island to... dig for treasure and were surrounded and captured by the people in Tien Hai commune using ships. The evidence collected was two walkie-talkies, two cameras, a video camera, a binoculars, many maps, nautical charts and other tools... These two people said that they accidentally found a map showing the treasure in their family's bookshelf. The grandfather of one of the two people mentioned above was also a member of a pirate group operating in this area.
The rumor still exists today, but there is a reality: Hon Doc Island is now truly a treasure in the vast sea and sky of the country with potential for seafood and sea tourism that has been and is being exploited. The island currently has more than 489 households, with more than 1,799 people, the economy mainly relies on seafood exploitation and aquaculture. The economic structure of the island is gradually shifting from seafood exploitation to tourism services... Recently, Hon Doc Island in particular, Tien Hai island commune in general, has just been recognized as having completed the construction of a new rural area, and will soon be invested in building an advanced new rural area.
Coming to Hon Doc Island, one place that cannot be missed is the sovereignty marker. This can be considered the treasure of the island. The sovereignty marker located on the west side of the island was built in 1958. The existing marker here has affirmed: Hon Doc has an important strategic position in terms of national defense and security; one of the key belt islands of the coastal island system in the Southwest sea...
Through the storms and time, the words on the milestone are still red: “Pirate Islands. Nautical chart number: 3686 SH; latitude 10 degrees 10'8; longitude 104 degrees 20'0”…. At the base of the milestone pillar, there is a line clearly stating: “Pirate Islands include the following islands: Hon Keo Ngua, Hon Kien Vang, Hon Tre Lon, Hon Tre Vinh, Hon Gui, Hon U, Hon Giang, Hon Cho Ro, Hon Duoc Non, Hon Bo Dap, Hon Doi Moi…”. At the end of the lines is a note: “The military mission inspected and studied, visited the archipelago on July 28, 1958, under the guidance of the Vietnamese Navy”.
According to comrade Duong Anh Phong - Secretary of the Tien Hai Commune Party Committee, the sovereignty marker is a source of pride for the islanders. Everyone on the island always raises awareness of preserving and embellishing the marker. Because it is the sacred land, the sea, the sky of the Fatherland. In 2015, the marker was renovated to be more spacious but still retains its old features.
Not only the people of Tien Hai island commune but also visitors from far away when visiting the landmark are moved with pride. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong, a tourist from Ha Nam province, said: Looking at the towering landmark on the outpost island, perhaps all Vietnamese people are more aware of the history of building and defending the country, the great contributions of our ancestors, to see clearly our mission in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Carrying out the task of guarding the island and protecting the sovereignty markers are also military units such as Radar Station 625 (Battalion 551, Naval Region 5), Border Guard Station 738 (Border Guard Command of Kien Giang Province) and units under Military Region 9. The officers and soldiers here work silently day and night to protect sovereignty, protect the continental shelf, the Fatherland, and the people.
It is known that the armed units stationed on Hon Chuoi Island always work closely with the government and the people to fight the epidemic; prevent natural disasters, repair houses and properties damaged by storms; and directly participate in search and rescue. In addition, the units also actively mobilize funds to support people in building and investing in economic development.
Major Bui Cong Huan - Political Commissar of Radar Station 625, Battalion 551, Naval Region 5 said: Implementing the model of each unit assigning a charity address, Radar Station 625 monthly donates 20kg of rice to poor households on Hon Doc Island; sponsors and provides 2 poor households on the island, each household receives 500,000 VND/month. Officers and soldiers also use the fund to support tuition fees for children in difficult circumstances in the area. With the contribution of armed units, the lives of people on the island have improved, step by step. There are currently only 5 poor households and 10 near-poor households on the island according to the new standards.
Tien Hai island commune has been recognized as meeting new rural standards. Electricity, roads, schools, and stations have been invested in, and fresh water has been fully provided. The lives of people on Hon Doc island have turned a new page, becoming more prosperous and developed. People here are even more determined to build a solid outpost - a rich and beautiful island commune; using their intelligence and labor to reveal the vague pirate treasures on the silver sea of Kien Giang.
