Journalistic eye: Journalist Do Viet Dung (left) recalls memories of Truong Sa Archipelago with HCM City leaders following an exhibition of his photos which opened yesterday. — VNS Photo Van Dat

HCM CITY (VNS) — A photo exhibition by a HCM City journalist featuring Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) and the life of Vietnamese naval soldiers on the islands was part of the activities held at a festival entitled HCM City's youth and Viet Nam's Sea and Islands, an event held yesterday by the Viet Nam Youth Federation of HCM City.

The 69 photos featuring the Truong Sa Islands were taken by Do Viet Dung, a journalist from Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper, during a 10-day visit to the islands along with leaders from HCM City in May 2013.

"After a journey of hundreds of nautical miles on the East Sea, I reached Truong Sa where my compatriots were on guard. I was lucky to have the opportunity to stay with them and record the lively images about the lives of ‘Truong Sa people'," Dung said.

The exhibition, Gui Tinh Theo Song (Sending love through waves), features the life and portraits of Viet Nam's naval soldiers, who are optimistic and ready to protect the sovereignty of the nation's sea. The photo exhibition also features the love the city's leaders and youth for the soldiers who perform their military mission on the islands.

Every year HCM City's Party Committee organises a trip to DK1 Platform and Truong Sa. Since the first trip held by the city in 2003, love between the soldiers and people on the archipelago and HCM City's leaders and youth has been strengthened.

This was the theme featured in Dung's photos when he accompanied Nguyen Van Dua, deputy secretary of HCM City's Party Committee to Truong Sa in May.

Besides the photo exhibition, HCM City's youth attended activities including a painting competition featuring their love for Truong Sa (Spratly Islands) and Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands); musical performances; folk games; and quizzes about Viet Nam's sea and islands. The City's youth also joined hands to form the largest ever map of Viet Nam's sea and islands.

During the festival, young Vietnamese students introduced scientific research projects designed to support the development of the economy of the islands and coastal areas.

Duong Ngoc Tuan, deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Youth Federation of HCM City, told local youth during the festival that the sea and islands comprise the nation's territory and are not a separate part. He also stressed the responsibility of youth by saying that the knowledge of young people, their creativeness and determination play a key role in developing the marine economy and protecting the country's territory.

During the events previous years, several activities and programmes were organised to help improve the living condition for soldiers and people on Truong Sa, Tuan noted.

The festival was held to mark the 57th anniversary of the Viet Nam Youth Federation's establishment. The photo exhibition will be on display until September 25 at the HCM City Youth Cultural House. — VNS