Nghe An will participate in the working group to survey and assess the situation in the nearshore sea and island areas in 2026.
From May 7th to 10th, a delegation from Nghe An province, along with representatives from Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh provinces, participated in a field survey of the coastal waters of the Gulf of Tonkin organized by the Command of Coast Guard Region 1.
The delegation was led by Major General Tran Van Hau, Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command. The delegation from Nghe An province was led by Mr. Pham Ngoc Canh, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department.
The mission aimed to strengthen military-civilian solidarity and demonstrated the spirit of unity, cooperation, and joint efforts with specialized forces in the task of safeguarding the security and sovereignty of the country's frontier maritime region.
The four-day expedition departed from the 11th Naval Squadron under the Command of Coast Guard Region 1. During the survey, the team conducted extensive on-site inspections along the Gulf of Tonkin, assessing the security and order situation at sea as well as the fishing and seafood harvesting activities of local fishermen.
During the working trip, the delegation visited, encouraged, and presented many practical gifts to officers, soldiers, and people on Hon Me Island (Thanh Hoa), Bach Long Vi Special Zone (Hai Phong), and Co To Special Zone (Quang Ninh).
At each destination, the delegation laid wreaths and offered incense at the Monuments to Heroic Martyrs; at the same time, they kindly inquired about and shared the difficulties and hardships of the soldiers and civilians who are tirelessly defending the sea and islands. The gifts and sentiments from the mainland contributed to boosting the morale of the officers, soldiers, and people in these remote areas, affirming the support of the home front for the homeland's sea and islands.
One of the key focuses of the trip was conducting on-site inspections combined with legal awareness campaigns for fishermen right in the Gulf of Tonkin fishing grounds. The delegation, along with the Coast Guard, directly met with fishing vessels engaged in fishing activities to distribute leaflets and disseminate knowledge about Vietnam's Law of the Sea and relevant international legal regulations concerning maritime activities.
Through awareness campaigns, fishermen have improved their understanding of Vietnam's legitimate rights and interests at sea, thereby feeling more secure in venturing out to sea, developing the economy while protecting national sovereignty.
In addition, the delegation also coordinated the inspection and control of fisheries activities; and disseminated information on preventing and combating smuggling and commercial fraud at sea. Professional staff guided fishermen in keeping voyage logs, using vessel monitoring systems (VMS), and signing commitments not to violate foreign waters.
Raising awareness and mobilizing fishermen to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is identified as a crucial task, contributing to the nationwide effort to lift the European Commission's (EC) "yellow card" warning against Vietnam's fisheries sector.
The 2026 field survey in the Gulf of Tonkin concluded successfully, leaving many positive impressions of the close bond between the military and the people. The close coordination between the Command of Coast Guard Region 1 and coastal localities not only contributes to the firm protection of the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland's seas and islands but also creates momentum for fishermen to develop a sustainable and lawful marine economy.
