Tour of Ly Son island

Compared to a fairytale island, Ly Son in Quang Ngai province has become a popular tourist destination in recent years.

Its beautiful landscape and numerous historical and cultural relic sites asserting Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty attract plenty of visitors.

Ly Son island is accessible by speedboat from Sa Ky port. Formed by a crater millions of years ago, the area is comprised of Big islet, also called Cu Lao Re in the center of Ly Son, Small islet or An Binh islet, and Mu Cu, the smallest and uninhabited islet in the east of Ly Son. 

There are a number of craft villages on the island but growing garlic and onions are the most popular trades. Ba Huy, a visitor said he was impressed by the unspoiled beauty of Ly Son.

"Ly Son has many magnificent scenic spots, many of which have not yet been fully tapped. With adequate investment, Ly Son could become a more attractive tourist destination. The beach here is very beautiful”, said Mr Huy.

Hang pagoda and To Vo gate in the north of the island offer spectacular view of the island, especially of the sunset. Mu Cu islet with black stones of diverse patterns and Cau cave boasts a magnificent scene being between the sea and Thoi Loi mountain. The Small islet is home to a soft sandy beach.

In Ly Son, visitors can experience the daily life of local fishermen and sample local seafood. King Crab is one of Ly Son’s specialties which also include seaweed salad, garlic salad, and various dishes made of snails.

Nguyen Phuong Thao, a visitor from Hanoi said, “This is my third visit to Ly Son. Each time, I experience a new feeling. The landscape is very beautiful. People are friendly and enthusiastic.”

There are approximately 100 historical and cultural relics on Ly Son, many of them are nationally-recognized. They include An Hai communal house and the monument of “Hoang Sa Bac Hai Fleet”, a symbolic assertion of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

In the 17th century, the Nguyen Lords set up the Hoang Sa fleet to exploit the archipelago. The An Hai communal house is the venue for the Hoang Sa Bac Hai fleet where they also organize a ceremony to commemorate soldiers who sacrificed their lives during their sea voyages  and delineation of maritime border. 

Pham Tuyen, a member of the Pham clan whose many members joined the Bac Hai Hoang Sa fleet, said "Soldiers of the Hoang Sa Fleet went to Hoang Sa island to collect sea products, iron and bronze objects, and other precious things drifting in Hoang Sa. Some others soldiers were assigned to measure the depth of the sea or to plant trees on the islands to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty.”

The Quang Ngai Provincial People’s Committee has developed maritime tours of Ly Son island which gained access to the national power grid in 2014.

VNN/VOV5