An gallery about the Paracel Islands opened in Danang City
The items will be divided into five themes of geography and natural habitats of the islands, the Paracel Islands before Nguyen Dynasty, the Paracel Islands during Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel Islands from 1945 to 1974, and the evidence about Vietnam's sovereignty after 1974.
Danang City Chairman Huynh Duc Tho said that nowhere was more suitable to build the gallery than Danang as the local authorities have been assigned to manage the islands for nearly 60 years.
"It's unimaginable that a rapidly-developing Danang does not have a place to display the evidence that has both legal and historic values over the islands. Artists Fuminori Minakami, Trang Quoc Thanh and Nguyen Huy Quang have helped to organise and design the space to make it looks like the seal of the sovereignty of Vietnam," he said.
The gallery shows an early establishment of Vietnam over the islands and its sovereignty over the years. A royal seal from the Nguyen dynasty's King Minh Mang in 1835 for establishing the Hoang Sa Flotilla to administer the islands is an important touchstone.
He went on to say that Danang had never been truly freed as its island district was still being illegally occupied.
The gallery displays documents and photos showing Vietnam's sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands
The gallery will open from 7.30 am to 11.30 am and 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm from Monday to Friday.
