New book tells of life on Vietnamese islands

Monday, Jan 28, 2013 10:34

The Kim Dong Publishing House on Friday launched a photo book featuring the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos.

Island living: A book on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos uses photographs and historic documents to reveal what life is like on the islands.—File Photo

HA NOI— The Kim Dong Publishing House on Friday launched a photo book featuring the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagos.

The 48-page book titled To Quoc Noi Dau Song ( Fatherland in the Furthermost Area) comprises 200 photos and historical documentation that offer readers a panoramic view of the islands through the hard but rewarding daily life of local people to the stunning landscapes.

The photos were taken by a group of Vietnamese journalists, photographers, artists and soldiers who have visited or lived on the islands.

Hue maps out island sovereignty

THUA THIEN – HUE — Authorities of Thua Thien–Hue province will position maps demonstrating Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Archipelagos at famous and crowded places across the former imperial city of Hue.

The maps can be seen at Thai Hoa Palace, Di Luan Duong relic (Revolutionary History Museum ), Thua Thien–Hue Culture and Information Centre's square and Hue railway station, according to Phan Tien Dung, director of the province's Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The large-scale maps include Dai Nam Nhat Thong Toan Do (an 1834 map of Viet Nam from the Minh Mang King era), An Nam Dai Quoc Hoa Do (a map of the great empire of An Nam, 1838), Hoang Trieu Truc Tinh Dia Du Toan Do (Map of all Chinese provinces published in 1904 by China's Qing dynasty), and Map of Indochinese Weather Stations (1940).

All of the maps have captions in Vietnamese, Chinese and English. — VNS

"I hope the book will help the readers have a better understanding of the many aspects of life on the two islands, as well as the country's sovereignty over those two islands", said photograph collector and architect Doan Bac, who has heavily contributed to the book.

According to historian Duong Trung Quoc, To Quoc Noi Dau Song can be educational for both adults and children.

He suggested that the book be translated into English in order for foreigners to learn more about the islands, adding it should be developed into DVDs to offer a useful educational tool for students and teachers. — VNS

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New book tells of life on Vietnamese islands

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