Former President Truong Tan Sang, former Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, and Khanh Hoa province's officials present Vietnam's national flags to fishermen at the martyrs' remembrance ceremony. (Photo: VOV)

On Monday and Tuesday, military leaders and high-ranking officials offered flower garlands and incense at the Gac Ma memorial site in Khanh Hoa province for the 64 martyrs.

The delegations included former President Truong Tan Sang, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army  Maj. Gen. Nguyen Trong Binh, Political Commissar of Navy Region 4 Rear Admiral Ngo Van Thuan,and Khanh Hoa province officials.

Life in the Truong Sa archipelago for islanders and soldiers has improved since the Gac Ma incident. Khanh Hoa province is working to make Truong Sa an iron shield and a socio-economic and cultural center of Vietnam.