In 1974 when China occupied Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, Nguyen Nha worked as chief editor of History and Geography Magazine, a prestigious specialised magazine of Saigon Teachers’ Training University. He decided to publish a specialised issue on Hoang Sa archipelago with a strong determination to find out the truth of the country’s sovereignty over the sea and islands. One year later, he organised an exhibition to display all documents and images which proved Vietnam’s obvious sovereignty over the archipelago. Since then, he has spent most of his time travelling to different regions, including Ly Son Island to look for traces and evidence related to the archipelago.
Based on his researches, Nguyen Nha did his Ph.D thesis on “The process of defining Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes” which received much praise from the science council. This scientific thesis is of great significance, reflecting the topical question and serving as historical evidence. From this thesis and updated study results, Nguyen Nha complied a book called “Evidence of Vietnam’s Sovereignty over Hoang Ha and Truong Sa archipelagoes” published in July 2013 by the Vietnam Education Publishing House. The book – the fruit of his 40 years of hard work is the collection of diverse documents found domestically and internationally.
With this book, the author has helped readers have a better understanding of the process of discovery, actual ownership, exercise of power by managing executive work and sending teams to Hoang Sa to conduct annual surveys and engage in hydraulic measurement, mapping, mining, exploiting natural resources, building temples, planting markers and steles, growing trees and building infrastructures. These are seen as a symbol of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa through different periods.
Dr. Nguyen Nha said he hopes his book will give Vietnamese teachers and students an insight into Vietnam's sovereignty over the two islands, thus helping encourage the people in all walks of life to promote the nation’s historical truth and persist in their struggle for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“Defending the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands is a vivid manifestation of the patriotic spirit of generations of Vietnamese people who should join hands to build a mighty nation. By doing so, we can reach the goal of safeguarding national sovereignty and developing Vietnam into a nation strong in a marine-based economy,” said Nha.
In recent years, many works by Nguyen Nha have been translated into English to be read by international friends. He has also introduced his work and documents in some western countries, the US, Australia and Singapore in a bid to show the historical truth and Vietnam’s sovereignty over the sea and islands and receive support from the international community.
Nguyen Nha is also a lecturer who is always loved and respected by many generations of students. He is also responsible for the project - “Vietnamese kitchen – kitchen of the world” to introduce to the world Vietnam’s traditional dishes since 2007.
Besides history, he loves food and poetry. It is the reason why he and some friends are implementing a project on learning history through poems which are easy to learn by heart and understand. For him, it is a way to preserve the national history.
 Dr. Nguyen Nha who has spent 40 years researching Vietnam’s sea and islands. Photo: File  Dr. Nguyen Nha and documents, objects and articles related to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes. Photo: Thong Hai  Dr. Nguyen Nha talks with students at San Jose Public Library in the US in 2011. Photo: File  Dr. Nguyen Nha at a talk about Vietnam’s sovereignty on the sea and islands at Temple University in Philadelphia, the US in 2010. Photo: File  Dr. Nguyen Nha participated in an international workshop in Da Nang on “Hoang Sa-Truong Sa: The Historical Truth” in 2014. Photo: File   The map “An Nam Dai quoc hoa do” made by Taberd from France, published in 1838, draws exactly the co-ordinates of Hoang Sa that denounces that it belongs to Vietnam. Photo: File |
Based on his researches, Nguyen Nha did his Ph.D thesis on “The process of defining Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes” which received much praise from the science council. This scientific thesis is of great significance, reflecting the topical question and serving as historical evidence. From this thesis and updated study results, Nguyen Nha complied a book called “Evidence of Vietnam’s Sovereignty over Hoang Ha and Truong Sa archipelagoes” published in July 2013 by the Vietnam Education Publishing House. The book – the fruit of his 40 years of hard work is the collection of diverse documents found domestically and internationally.
With this book, the author has helped readers have a better understanding of the process of discovery, actual ownership, exercise of power by managing executive work and sending teams to Hoang Sa to conduct annual surveys and engage in hydraulic measurement, mapping, mining, exploiting natural resources, building temples, planting markers and steles, growing trees and building infrastructures. These are seen as a symbol of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa through different periods.
Dr. Nguyen Nha said he hopes his book will give Vietnamese teachers and students an insight into Vietnam's sovereignty over the two islands, thus helping encourage the people in all walks of life to promote the nation’s historical truth and persist in their struggle for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
 The work “The Epic of the East Sea and Preserving the National Soul” co-compiled by Nguyen Nha. Photo: File |
“Defending the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa islands is a vivid manifestation of the patriotic spirit of generations of Vietnamese people who should join hands to build a mighty nation. By doing so, we can reach the goal of safeguarding national sovereignty and developing Vietnam into a nation strong in a marine-based economy,” said Nha.
In recent years, many works by Nguyen Nha have been translated into English to be read by international friends. He has also introduced his work and documents in some western countries, the US, Australia and Singapore in a bid to show the historical truth and Vietnam’s sovereignty over the sea and islands and receive support from the international community.
Nguyen Nha is also a lecturer who is always loved and respected by many generations of students. He is also responsible for the project - “Vietnamese kitchen – kitchen of the world” to introduce to the world Vietnam’s traditional dishes since 2007.
Besides history, he loves food and poetry. It is the reason why he and some friends are implementing a project on learning history through poems which are easy to learn by heart and understand. For him, it is a way to preserve the national history.
Story: Son Nghia - Photos: Thong Hai &File
