(VOVworld) - When China illegally placed oil rig Haiyang 981 in Vietnamese waters, reporters Vinh Thong, Dinh Thieu and Hai Son of VOV’s central region bureau immediately accompanied Vietnamese law enforcement ships and fishing vessels to travel to the hotspot in Hoang Sa. VOV reporters encountered many difficulties caused by Chinese ships, which provoked, obstructed and rammed Vietnamese vessels.

At 5AM, tens of vessels departed from Tho Quang fishing port, Son Tra district, Da Nang city. Local fishermen were determined to go offshore and maintain the traditional Hoang Sa fishing ground.

Vessel coded QNa 90747 TS of fishermen in Tam Hai commune, Nui Thanh district, Quang Nam and tens of other fishing vessels of fishermen from other central provinces formed small flotillas with the determination to stick to their traditional fishing ground.

To deal with China’s provocative acts, fishermen in the central region formed teams, groups to support each other at sea. It took us 2 days and one night to travel from Tho Quang port to Hoang Sa. In their free time, the fishermen tried to fix their squid-drying frames. When night fell, they took turn to fish squid to reserve food for their long journey.

Night on the sea passed so quickly. At the sunrise, the flotillas began to set sails. Still far from their traditional fishing ground, where China illegally placed oilrig Haiyang 981, the fishermen suddenly encountered provoking Chinese ships in linear formations.

The Vietnamese fishermen were patient and showed restraint in response to the blatant provocations of Chinese vessels in Vietnamese water.

While at sea, VOV reporters also witnessed and recorded many of China’s provocative acts in Vietnamese waters.