The story of the "bundle of chopsticks" in the Paracel Islands.

Fishermen in Quang Ngai are applying the "story of the bundle of chopsticks" to venture out to the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands.

Fishermen in Quang Ngai are building new boats to venture further out to sea.

Every Vietnamese person has heard the story of "the bundle of chopsticks," which symbolizes the strength of solidarity. And, the fishermen of Quang Ngai are applying this "story of the bundle of chopsticks" to venture out to the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands by working together in groups, teams, and fishing cooperatives.

Since China illegally deployed the Haiyang 981 oil rig in Vietnamese waters, disregarding international law, the fishing activities of fishermen in Quang Ngai have faced numerous difficulties. Boats venturing to fish in the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands have to take a longer route, wasting fuel.

Overcoming all those difficulties, with the help of the Fisheries Surveillance Force and the Coast Guard, fishermen from Quang Ngai continue to venture out to sea, clinging to the traditional fishing grounds of Hoang Sa. Now, fishermen no longer go out to sea individually, but together in groups and teams, regularly helping each other in fishing and resisting Chinese ships that come to chase them away and destroy their vessels.

Fisherman Nguyen Thanh Tra, owner of the fishing vessel QNg - 97028 TS in Nghia An commune, Quang Ngai city, shared: "When fishermen go out to sea, they must go in groups or teams. Usually, they go in groups of 5 or 6 pairs so that they can support each other in case of collisions or natural disasters. This makes everyone feel more confident."

Depending on their occupation, fishermen form groups or teams. Each group or team usually consists of 10-15 boats. Before each fishing trip, the fishermen in the group or team meet to discuss fishing plans. The tasks are clearly assigned: which boat is responsible for finding fishing grounds, and which boat carries fuel out to sea. Fisherman Truong Phuoc, from An Hai commune, Ly Son district, Quang Ngai province, owner of the boat QNg-96138, said: "Working in groups or teams helps fishermen stay calm when encountering risks or accidents."

Quang Ngai province has established six fishermen's unions with 2,000 members. Each union has someone operating an Icom radio to monitor the situation on land and provide information to fishermen.

Through Icom radio, any ships experiencing accidents or mechanical failures will be notified to other ships at sea for rescue and assistance. Going out to sea in groups or teams not only ensures the safety of fishermen's lives but also increases income per trip by helping each other find schools of fish and reducing fuel costs.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hung, Chairman of the Binh Chau Fishery Union in Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province, said: "The Fishery Association also organizes meetings for fishermen and encourages them to go out to sea in teams and groups to support each other. When Chinese ships encroach on the area, they support each other to ensure the safety of their property and lives."

Unity is a fine tradition of the Vietnamese people. No matter the circumstances, the people of Vietnam always hold hands and overcome all dangers and hardships together. And the story of the "bundle of chopsticks" of the fishermen of Quang Ngai when venturing far out to sea clearly demonstrates this spirit of unity.

According to VOV.VN