Forty six years ago on August 5 1964, with the intention of attacking and destroying the North, the US military orchestrated the event “Gulf of Tonkin” incident. In that unequal fight, the Vietnamese navy responded to their adversary’s provocative act with a stone determination and love for the nation and chalked up a glorious victory in the first battles.

To mark the Vietnamese Navy’s Traditional Day, a Voice of Vietnam Radio (VOV) reporter interviewed the Navy’s Political Director, Admiral Pham Ngoc Chan.

Reporter: What is your assessment of the victory recorded by the Vietnamese Navy in its first battles on August 2 and 5 1964?

Mr Chan: This victory was of great significance as it encouraged the people and troops to defeat the US invaders and safeguard the North. The victory demonstrated the political strength, solidarity and indomitable spirit and military skills of the Vietnamese Navy.

This was a victory in the people’s war which became a landmark in the development of the Vietnamese Navy under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee.

Reporter: Could you please elaborate on the significance of that victory to the current development of the Vietnamese Navy?

Mr Chan:  The Vietnam People’s Navy is currently focusing on building a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern service. Vietnamese naval officers and servicemen always regard their ships as their homes and the seas and islands as their domain. The Vietnamese Navy is always loyal to the Party and State and is ready to fight and protect the country’s seas, islands and continental shelf.

We constantly raise our combative strength by enhancing the Navy’s key role in ensuring national defense and working with the Party and State agencies to implement all the resolutions adopted at the 10^th Party National Congress.

Reporter: Developing the marine-based economy is a major target set by the Party and State. What has the Vietnamese Navy done in this area?

Mr Chan: It has effectively fulfilled its tasks to manage and protect the country’s seas, islands and continental shelf while securing a peaceful and stable environment.

Our seas and islands are a good environment for people to do fishing and aquaculture business. We have successfully carried out a number of pilot aquaculture projects on the remote islands. We have also engaged in providing fresh water and building storm shelters for fishmen as well as helping them repair their boats and ships and conducting search and rescue mission during stormy weather.

 Reporter: Thanks you very much.