A corner of Quan Lan island (Source: VNA)Quang Ninh (VNA) – The pristinebeauty of Quan Lan Island in Bai Tu Long Bay in the northern Quang Ninhprovince has attracted a fast-growing number of tourists to the islandrecently.
In 2015, the number of tourists to thedestination reached 45,000, almost doubling that in 2014. In the first tenmonths this year, it received 47,000 visitors.
The rise can be partly attributable to morediverse tourism products. In previous years, bathing was about the only thingtourists could do in Quan Lan. But now they have a lot of things to keep busy.
According to Luu Thanh Vien, Vice Secretary ofthe Quan Lan commune Party’s Committee, local residents used to live offfishing and catching Sa sung (a kind of marine worms). Sa sung is a specialityof the region. It's used in cooking soup, which helps provide a wonderful tasteand adds nutrition to dishes. Digging for sa sung under the sand with thelocals is a popular activity for tourists. Nowthese livelihoods have become a tourism product.
Vien underlined the development ofexperience-based tourism in the commune, saying that the Van Hai Xanh JSCoffered a package named “Experience a day as farmer in Quan Lan island” in SonHao village, in which holiday-makers will join in caring for vegetable andfruit trees, harvesting and enjoy the fruit of their own work.
Meanwhile, Viglacera – Van Hai JSC offerscommunity-based tours, such as fishing, fire camping, and sport games.
The locality plans to open a Quan Lan – Tan Laptour, in which tourists will be taken by boats from Quan Lan beach to Tan Laphamlet located in Van Don town. They can join local fishermen’s dailyactivities or visit orange gardens in Ban Sen, or other landscapes.
Quan Lan Island, around 55km away from Ha LongCity, is endowed with deep blue waters, white sandy beaches spanning severalkilometres, and wild, green pines along the beach.
The sand on Quan Lan is different from the sandon other beaches. It's white, tiny, pure and smooth. The transparent waterallows you to gaze at the bottom of the sea where you can watch fish swimmingaround colourful corals.
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been a stopoveralong the commercial route. In the 12th century, Quan Lan was the first tradingport of Vietnam built under the Ly dynasty.
In 1149, King Ly Anh Tong set up Van Don townand Van Don trading port, which included Quan Lan Island, in order to bolster commercialrelations between Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries. Relics of the formertrading port have been discovered with traces of ancient architecture andgrazed terracotta, proving that the place used to be a crowded urban area.
During the fifth and sixth lunar months, thearea annually celebrates religious ceremonies to remember the area's formerking, and residents also hold boat rowing festivals.
In 1288, the island was also the site of thewell-known defeat of invading Mongol troops, who were destroyed by General TranKhanh Du's army. Tourists can visit a temple in Quan Lan dedicated to theGeneral, where they can learn about the history of the region and theachievements of the commander. The temple's roof is hidden under pine canopies.Approximately 100 steps lead to the temple's entrance that is halfway up amountain.-VNA.
VNA
