The Nghe An Provincial Delegation conducts a marine survey and visits the island cluster in the Northeast sea region.

The delegation was led and commanded by Major General Tran Van Hau, Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command. Also participating were the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the Region Command, along with officers and soldiers of the 11th Naval Squadron and the Vietnam Coast Guard vessel 8004.

Also participating in the trip were representatives from the Ministry of Finance, members of the working groups from Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh provinces, and the Hung Yen Provincial Police.

Educating awareness about protecting maritime sovereignty and islands.

As previously reported, after arriving at Hon Me Island (Thanh Hoa), due to bad weather conditions, the delegation adjusted its approach schedule and only sent representatives to the island to lay flowers and offer incense to the heroic martyrs and to present gifts to encourage the officers and soldiers working on Hon Me Island.

To continue their mission, on the night of June 13th and the early morning of June 14th, the delegation departed from Hon Me and continued their journey nearly 120 nautical miles (220 km) to Bach Long Vy Island (Hai Phong). Upon arriving at the center of the Northeast Sea region, where a Coast Guard (Casa) aircraft crashed during a rescue operation for fishermen in 2016, the Command of Coast Guard Region 1 presided over a memorial ceremony and offered incense and flowers to the fishermen who perished in the accident nine years ago; at the same time, they paid tribute to the nine Coast Guard officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the rescue operation in this sea area and the heroic martyrs who died in the Northeast Sea region.

Next, on the afternoon of June 14th, the delegation traveled to and reached Bach Long Vy Island (Hai Phong). There, after offering incense and flowers at the memorial to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the island, the delegation encouraged, visited, and presented gifts to the officers, soldiers, and civilians working on the island; and provided support to poor fishermen and underprivileged students who excelled in their studies.

Following the gift-giving ceremony, during the journey back to the ship, at the anchorage area on Bach Long Vy Island, the delegation combined propaganda and exchange with fishermen about the situation of fisheries exploitation and the implementation of regulations on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. At the Bach Long Vy harbor, the delegation visited and presented gifts to encourage fishermen from various provinces who had anchored there; at the same time, they propagated and reminded fishermen to strictly comply with the regulations of the Party and the State on combating IUU fishing.

After departing Bach Long Vy Island on the evening of June 14th, the delegation continued its journey of 70 nautical miles (120 km) to the Co To island cluster (Quang Ninh province). On the morning of June 15th, immediately upon arriving at the island, the delegation laid flowers and offered incense at the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs and lit incense at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House on Co To Island. Following this, the delegation presented gifts to encourage the officers and soldiers and provided support to some disadvantaged fishing households and underprivileged students on the island.

Enhancing responsibility in IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.

Speaking at the visited locations, on behalf of the delegation, Major General Tran Van Hau - Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Command Region 1, said: In addition to fulfilling assigned tasks, from 2025, in accordance with the wishes of officials and people of coastal provinces, the Coast Guard Command Region 1 will organize joint work trips combining maritime patrol and surveillance by the force with taking officials and people of coastal provinces to survey and visit the sea to gain a more comprehensive and clearer understanding of the shape of the islands in the Gulf of Tonkin; thereby strengthening solidarity and close ties between the force and localities and people; helping Party committees and authorities of coastal localities to have a vision to effectively exploit and develop the marine economy.

After listening to the delegation's briefing and receiving gifts, representatives from the leadership of Bach Long Vy and Co To island districts sincerely thanked the Command of the Coast Guard Region 1 and the members of the delegation; they also provided information on the political, economic, and social security situation and the project to build storm shelters in the island districts.

At the debriefing meeting held this afternoon (June 15th), representatives from the provinces expressed their appreciation for the significance of the survey trip; they also hoped that in the future, the Coast Guard Command and the Coast Guard Region 1 Command would continue to conduct public relations activities, combining mission performance with regular public relations surveys to educate a wide range of officials, citizens, and fishermen in coastal provinces about their responsibility to protect maritime sovereignty and islands.

Concluding the field trip, Major General Tran Van Hau, Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Command Region 1, emphasized: Surveying the sea surface and approaching the islands, although difficult and dangerous, is an opportunity for localities, departments, and sectors to better understand the unique challenges faced by fishermen in their maritime work; and through practical experience, to understand the working conditions and the implementation of tasks to protect maritime sovereignty by the coast guard in particular and maritime forces in general. This helps Party committees and authorities better understand and share the responsibility of protecting maritime sovereignty with the specialized forces...

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Protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands is sacred to the Fatherland. The Coast Guard is always determined to complete every task and overcome every difficulty, serving as a support for fishermen venturing out to sea. This mission, despite bad weather, saw the delegation overcome difficulties to reach the islands to visit and encourage the military and civilians there, a testament to this. The suggestions and proposals from the delegations will be received by the Coast Guard Command Region 1 and reported to the Navy and the Ministry of National Defense for consideration in the near future.

(Excerpt from the speech by Major General Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Command Region 1)

Nguyen Hai