The traditional carp release ceremony, a ritual marking the transition from the old year to the new, is an important part of the Lunar New Year celebrations in Vietnam.

Vietnam continues to demonstrate its active participation in the pursuit of world peace by sending eight officers to peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

The musical shows the moving picture of the marines, who always hold their rifles firmly, ready to fulfill the mission of protecting the sacred sea and the islands of the Motherland.

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam co-chaired an international seminar on maritime security and development in Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh on June 9.

Addressing the meeting held on June 8 in response to Vietnam Sea and Island Week and the World Oceans Day 2016, the Prime Minister set out seven requirements for ministries, sectors, and localities to lead Vietnam soon becoming a strong marine country that could enrich from the sea.

Hanoi Fatherland Front Committee held a meeting on June 7 to review the contribution for the "For beloved Truong Sa" fund and honour outstanding organisations in raising the fund.

​The East Sea topped the agenda of an annual security forum of Asian and Western officials, the Shangri-La Dialogue from June 3-5 in Singapore.

The East Sea issue was once again mentioned in a specific and urgent way at the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Vietnam welcomes the statement from the G7 Summit with its commitment on ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and international law, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

East Sea issue is considered to be content overarching emphasis on the largest security summit in Asian region taking place in Singapore on June 3-5.

The Prime Minister recently has signed an action plan for an integrated coastal zone management strategy covering all 28 coastal localities nationwide up to 2020.

On May 27, the leaders of Industrialized Countries Group (G7) has expressed concern about increasing tensions in the East Sea.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan reaffirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in the East Sea in her speech at Mexico’s national defence institute (IDENA).

On May 17, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh made a statement that China’s announcement of the time, area and measures for implementing a moratorium is worthless.

A Hung Kings Temple will be built on Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago with the aim of spreading Hung Kings worship and paying tribute to the ancestors of Vietnamese people.

A park named after the late General Vo Nguyen Giap was inaugurated after two months of construction on Son Ca Island in the Truong Sa (Spratly) district, the central province of Khanh Hoa on May 15.

On May 12, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said at a regular press briefing that Vietnam resolutely protests and asks Chinese Taiwan to stop and not to repeat similar activities.

Maps, documents and publications on the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos are on display at Tan Lac district’s culture house in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh.

Scholars at a recent workshop at Yale University, the US state of Connecticut, have adduced evidence to prove that China’s sovereignty claims in the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) are not true.

On May 5, President Tran Dai Quang made the statement at a warm reception for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong in Hanoi that China and Vietnam should resolve maritime disputes peacefully.

The French Navy’s amphibious assault ship Tonnerre, with about 200 cadets on board, arrived at Cam Ranh International Port in coastal central Khanh Hoa province on May 2 for a five-day visit.

The Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Navy force held a delegation to visit the Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelago and the rig DK1 from April 18-24.

Vietnamese corvette 381 sailed for Brunei and Singapore on April 28 to take part in military exercises as part of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).