Trường Sa District
Trường Sa is an island district of Khánh Hòa Province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. It was established on the basis of the Spratly Islands, which is also claimed wholly or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. According to the 2009 census, the district has a population of 195 people.
Geography
Trường Sa District was established on the basis of small coral islands/cays, reefs and banks of the Spratly Islands which are south east of Cam 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.Administrative history in the 20th century
- By the early 1930s, France had claimed the Spratly Islands. On 21 December 1933, Cochinchina's governor Jean-Félix Krautheimer signed Decree No. 4702-CP annexing Spratly Island, Amboyna Cay, Itu Aba Island, Northeast Cay, Southwest Cay, Thitu Island, Loaita Island and subsidiary islands into Bà Rịa Province.
- On 22 October 1956, Republic of Vietnam's President Ngô Đình Diệm signed Decree No. 143-NV renaming provinces of South Vietnam. According to this decree, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu was renamed to Phước Tuy Province under which the Spratly Islands was administered.
- 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.
- On 9 December 1982, the Council 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. On December 28, 1982, The Seventh National Assembly decided to incorporate Trường Sa District into Phú Khánh Province.
- On 1 July 1989, the National Assembly split Phú Khánh Province into Phú Yên Province and Khánh Hòa Province. Trường Sa District has been under the direct administration of Khánh Hòa since then.
Administration
- Trường Sa Township was established on the basis of Trường Sa Island and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
- Song Tử Tây Commune was established on the basis of Song Tử Tây island and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
- Sinh Tồn Commune was established on the basis of Sinh Tồn Island and surrounding islands, reefs and banks.
| Cluster | Coral islands/cays | Reefs | Map |
| Song Tử | Southwest Cay | South Reef | |
| Thị Tứ | - | - | |
| Loại Ta | - | - | |
| Nam Yết | Namyit Island, Sand Cay | Discovery Great Reef, Petley Reef | |
| Sinh Tồn | Sin Cowe Island, Grierson Reef | Collins Reef/Johnson North Reef, Lansdowne Reef | |
| Trường Sa | Spratly Island, Pearson Reef, Central London Reef | East London Reef, Ladd Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, West London Reef, Pigeon Reef/Tennent Reef, Alison Reef | |
| Thám Hiểm | Amboyna Cay | Barque Canada Reef | |
| Bình Nguyên | - | - |