Tribute paid to Hoang Sa archipelago’s heroic soldier
Construction on a tomb for Pham Huu Nhat, Captain of the Hoang Sa Flotilla, who led naval forces defending the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago nearly 200 years ago, began in Quang Ngai province on April 4.
In the 17th year of the Minh Mang reign (1836), Nhat was assigned to lead boats to survey, plant milestones and erect steles of sovereignty on Hoang Sa islands. He died at sea during a trip to the archipelago in 1854.
The Pham Van family dug a symbolic grave for the captain in An Vinh village.
For his contributions, Nhat’s name has been given to an island of the Hoang Sa archipelago.
Lying in an area of 60 square metres in the Hoang Sa relic complex, the new tomb will cost VND100 million sourced from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The construction manifests the present generation’s gratitude to soldiers who contributed greatly to protecting the archipelago while teaching courage and patriotism to young people.
The Pham Van family is one of more than 40 families in Ly Son that provided manpower to naval defence squads heading to Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands during the feudal time to affirm the country’s sovereignty.