Trường Sa district was established on the basis of smallcoral islands/cays,reefs andbanks of the Spratly Islands which are 248 nautical miles (459 km; 285 mi) south east ofCam Ranh. As the islands contain a large number of scattered geographic entities, the district is divided into eight clusters including Song Tử, Thị Tứ, Loại Ta, Nam Yết, Sinh Tồn, Trường Sa, Thám Hiểm and Bình Nguyên by Vietnam.[9] On June 16th, 2025, through Resolution No. 1667/NQ of theStanding Committee of the National Assembly, Trường Sa district was changed into a special administrative region.[10]
On 22 October 1956,Republic of Vietnam's PresidentNgô Đình Diệm signed Decree No. 143-NV renaming provinces of South Vietnam. According to this decree, Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu was renamed toPhước Tuy province under which the Spratly Islands was administered.[9]
On 6 September 1973, the Republic of Vietnam's Ministry of the Interior signed Decree No. 420-BNV/HCĐP/26 merging Spratly Island, Amboyna Cay, Itu Aba Island, Northeast Cay, Southwest Cay, Loaita Island, Thitu Island,Namyit Island,Sin Cowe Island and the surrounding islands into Phước Hải Commune,Đất Đỏ district,Phước Tuy province.[12]
On 9 December 1982, theCouncil of Ministers of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued Decision No. 193/HĐBT establishing Trường Sa District as an administrative unit of Đồng Nai Province.[13] On December 28, 1982,The Seventh National Assembly decided to incorporate Trường Sa District into Phú Khánh Province.[14]
On 1 July 1989, the National Assembly split Phú Khánh Province intoPhú Yên province andKhánh Hòa province. Trường Sa district was placed under the direct administration of Khánh Hòa.
On 16 June 2025, Trường Sa district became Trường Sa Special Administrative Region based on the foundation of Trường Sa township, Song Tử Tây commune, and Sinh Tồn commune.
According to Decree No. 65/2007/NĐ-CP of 11 April 2007 issued by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Trường Sa district had three administrative units including onecommune-level town (Trường Sa) and tworural communes (Song Tử Tây and Sinh Tồn).
Trường Sa Township was established on the basis of Trường Sa Island (Spratly Island) and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
Song Tử Tây Commune was established on the basis of Song Tử Tây island (Southwest Cay) and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
Sinh Tồn Commune was established on the basis of Sinh Tồn Island (Sin Cowe Island) and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
In reality, Trường Sa district is effectively administering only 21 islets and reefs of the Spratly Islands:
The Trường Sa Special Administrative Region is served byTruong Sa Airport located onSpratly Island (Truong Sa Lon Island). It was originally 550 m long, then expanded to 1,200 m as it is today.
In Truong Sa town (former district capital), island communes, island points have piers. The islands inhabited by civilians such asSpratly Island (Truong Sa Lon Island),West Reef East Island (Da Tay A Island),Southwest Cay (Song Tu Tay Island),Sin Cowe Island (Sinh Ton Island) all have large locks for ships to anchor to avoid storms. New locks are also being built on the islands in the accretion phase from the end of 2021, includingNamyit Island (Nam Yet Island),Sand Cay (Son Ca Island), andPhan Vinh Island.
Trường Sa Special Administrative Region has 4 primary schools on the islands:Spratly Island,Southwest Cay,Sin Cowe Island andWest Reef East Island accepting students from kindergarten to grade 5. Students who want to study at higher levels must enter the school on mainland for further study.[17]
Viettel Group has installed a number of broadcasting stations in Trường Sa. The coverage of the stations is 20 km from the islands/atolls and also allows wireless Internet access with 2.75G EDGE technology.[18]
^Dzurek, Daniel J. (1996).The Spratly Islands Dispute: Who's on First?. Maritime Briefings. Vol. 2. International Boundaries Research Unit, University of Durham. p. 4.ISBN978-1897643235.
^Bản đồ Hành chính Việt Nam (tỉ lệ xích 1:2200000). Nhà xuất bản Bản đồ (2008)
^Hancox, David; Prescott, Victor (1995).A Geographical Description of the Spratly Islands and an Account of Hydrographic Surveys amongst Those Islands. Maritime Briefings. Vol. 1. International Boundaries Research Unit, University of Durham. p. 21.ISBN9781897643181.
^ab(in Vietnamese)Nguyễn, Nhã (2002).Quá trình xác lập chủ quyền của Việt Nam tại quần đảo Hoàng Sa và Trường Sa [The Process of Establishing the Sovereignty of Vietnam over the Hoang Sa and Trường Sa Islands] (Thesis). University of Social Science and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City). p. 109.
Vietnam
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