“As Vietnamese people, we have the obligation to preserve our country as well as to take part in shaping the future of Vietnamese society”.

I would like to share with you my collection of 150 maps that were published in England, America, France, Germany, Scotland, etc… 
for 400 years during 1626 – 2008. The dimensions of the maps vary from 8” x 10” (20cm x 25cm) to 24” x 30” (60cm x 75cm). 
In the collection, 80 maps indicate that south of China is Hainan Island and 50 maps show that the Paracel Islands belong to Vietnam.

While I was collecting these maps, I found two atlases of the Republic of China published by the Republic of China’s Ministry of Transportation 
in 1919 & 1933 and one Atlas of The Chinese Empire published by the China Inland Mission in 1908. The atlas edition in 1908 contains 23 maps; 
the atlas edition in 1919 contains 49 maps; the atlas edition in 1933 contains 29 maps. The dimensions of the atlas edition in 1919 & 1933 books 
are 62cm x 38cm x 4cm. All three books do not list the Paracel and Spratly Islands on the map and index page.

Recently, China established a local government and military base on Woody Island, part of the Spratly Islands. 
Vietnam claims its sovereignty over the Woody Islands.

I am going to donate my entire map collection to the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development for their research on the Paracel and 
Spratly Islands. I would like to thank the following people for their generous contributions to this map collection project: Nguyen Quang Binh, 
Vu Minh Tuan, Bui Tuong Anh, Luong Van Thang, Pham Huyen Co, Trinh Bich Thao (Hanoi), Le Duc Van Trinh, Ngoc Cat, Nguyen Nam An, 
Duong Thanh Son (HCMC), Ngo Triet, Tran Mai & Hoang Thai Viet, Truc & Lien, Ngoc & Thanh (California), Pham Thao (Kansas), 
Nguyen Ba Chung (Boston), Ngo Viet (Washington DC), Nguyen Giang (NYC).

Best, 

Thang Tran
President
The Institute for Vietnamese Culture & Education (U.S)
nhipsong@ivce.org 

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updated: July 14th, 2013.