Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command on March 19 kicked off the “I love national sea and islands” contest for secondary school students in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province. — Photo Courtesy of Việt Nam Coast Guard

BÀ RỊA - VŨNG TÀU — Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command under the Việt Nam Coast Guard (VCG) on Wednesday (March 19) kicked off its “I love my homeland's sea and islands” contest for the 2025-26 academic year for secondary school students in the southern coastal province of Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu.

Speaking at the online contest's launching ceremony, Colonel Lê Văn Tú, Political Commissar of the Coast Guard Region No.3 Command, said the launching ceremony was connected online from the unit’s headquarters to 57 satellite locations, including the province’s Department of Education and Training, district-level education and Training Offices, and secondary schools in Vũng Tàu City and Xuyên Mộc, Long Đất and Côn Đảo districts.

As part of the VCG’s programme called "The Coast Guard accompanies fishermen”, the VCG has successfully carried out extensive communication efforts on maritime and island-related issues, as well as legal education for the public in various innovative and diverse formats.

Over the years, the “I love my homeland's sea and islands” contest has been successfully held in 35 provinces and cities across the country, with over 122 competitions drawing the participation of more than 60,000 students.

Nearly 5,000 scholarships, more than 2,000 bicycles, and sponsorships for 26 underprivileged students have been awarded.

“The contest has become an impactful educational and political activity, providing an enriching and meaningful platform that has been highly regarded by local authorities and well received by students, teachers, and the public,” he said.

Building on its success, the VCG proposed expanding the contest nationwide. On September 3, 2024, the Minister of National Defense signed Decision No. 3934/QĐ-BQP, approving the contest to be organised nationwide from 2024 to 2030 and beyond.

In line with this decision, the Coast Guard Region No.3 Command has been tasked with coordinating with relevant agencies in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, particularly the Department of Education and Training, to conduct a pilot competition. This pilot initiative aims to draw lessons for effectively implementing the nationwide project in the coming years.

Secondary school students in Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu Province attend the online kick-off ceremony for the “I love national sea and islands” contest held on March 19 by the Coast Guard Region No. 3 Command. — Photo Courtesy of VCG

The contest in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu will be held in three rounds.

The first round is conducted online from March 19 to 26, and is open to all secondary school students across the province.

The second round is scheduled for March 29, featuring an in-person provincial-level competition for the top 100 students from Round 1.

The third round is set to take place in March 2026 as a regional competition, involving students from Bình Thuận, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu and HCM City.

The contest aims to promote a deep understanding of the country’s maritime and island heritage, the Việt Nam People's Army, and the VCG.

It also seeks to educate participants on national laws and international agreements related to maritime and island affairs, as well as the country’s historical struggles for independence and sovereignty.

It nurtures patriotism, a love for the homeland’s sea and islands, and a sense of responsibility among students in safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and order in the country’s maritime territories. — VNS