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| Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tong and his two books about the sea and islands of the homeland (Photo: thoidai.com.vn) |
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tong had the opportunity to participate in the trip to Truong Sa Archipelago in 2016 organized by the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Vietnam People's Navy.
The 10-day journey with the overseas Vietnamese delegation including 80 people from 22 countries left him with many unforgettable memories.
Four years later, in 2020, on the occasion of his grandson's birthday (April 21), right when he returned home to participate in the first trip to Truong Sa, his daughter happily asked: "Do you remember the date four years ago? Where were you and what were you doing?"
That question prompted him to share his experiences. He suddenly thought: how can we let our children know that, in addition to the mountains, plains and the sea, there are also Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, a sacred part of the territory? From that concern, he decided to write down what he saw and heard with his own eyes on Truong Sa.
His nearly 200-page picture book is the result of that thought.
At first, the author did not set great expectations, his wish was simply to help his future generations and those who have not had the opportunity to come to Truong Sa to understand the life of the navy soldiers who still cling to the island day and night to protect the country's sovereignty over the sea and islands.
The book was sponsored and published by the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France.
After that success, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tong continued to write the second book of seas and islands, history and legacy. From research materials at home and abroad, he has summarized them into 13 chapters, more than 250 pages, to give convincing demonstrations and arguments, proving that the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos belong to Vietnam's sovereignty.
The book is really useful for those who have not had the opportunity to learn about Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes.
For generations born and raised outside of Vietnam, who have little opportunity to fully learn about the sea and islands of their homeland, this is a valuable resource of materials that the author wants to give to help them find the origin and understand more about the sacred island sovereignty of the Fatherland.
In addition to the thesis, demonstrations and arguments, proving the legal history and sovereignty of the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, the book also quotes the memoirs of those who lived in the Hoang Sa from 1938 to 1941.
Illustrating the story are photographs and relics that are no longer the private property of a family, but have become living proof of the sovereignty of the nation./.