Phat Co Island - Home to Floating Seaweed Farms in Bai Tu Long Bay

Phat Co Island is situated in Bai Tu Long Bay, approximately 1.5km from the Vietnam - America tourist port. When viewed from the shore, the island resembles a green arc against the vast expanse of the sea - an area where seaweed farms thrive.

Phat Co Island - Home to Floating Seaweed Farms in Bai Tu Long Bay

Phat Co Cave

The island is located in Thon Cang area, Halong commune, Van Don district, Quang Ninh province. During the period of mining occupation, the French named the island ile du Marquis (Marquis Island). On July 13, 1968, the Ministry of Interior revised and unified the name of ile du Marquis to Phat Co Island, which has remained the official name of the island ever since.

Phat Co Island is essentially a rocky island similar to many other rocky islands in Halong and Bai Tu Long Bay. However, what distinguishes it is Phat Co Cave, the largest cave in Bai Tu Long Bay. There is a golden sandy beach approximately 50m long in front of the cave entrance, ideal for tourists to swim and relax.

Phat Co Cave resembles an egg with its entrance located in the middle. From the sandy beach, climbing the high stone steps leads to the cave entrance. The cave is vast, adorned with numerous stalactites resembling natural works of art. In the darker corners, water trickles from the ceiling, creating a moist and humid atmosphere within the cave.

Entering the cave through narrow passages, visitors are astounded by the strong beam of natural light shining through a cave opening like a giant funnel. Thanks to this light source, many plant species have thrived inside the cave, forming lush green carpets.

Wind blows down from above and through cave openings, keeping the interior dry and pleasant. From the cave floor to the southern entrance, one can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Bai Tu Long Bay with its vast expanse of water. Looking out from this entrance, one can see Hon Mieu ahead, including the Soi Nhu Cave, a relic of ancient Vietnamese habitation dating back 10,000 years.

Sea Floating Farm

Not only does Phat Co Island feature caves, but it also hosts a sea floating farm for cultivating seaweed directly on the sea surface near the island's rocky shores. This is the first successful model of seaweed cultivation in Quang Ninh province's coastal areas.

The floating farm was established in February 2021 and officially began operations after three months. Constructed using HDPE panels and blocks, the floating farm offers a beautiful, sturdy, and comfortable space.

Spread across approximately 10 hectares on the sea surface of Phat Co Island, visitors can stroll around the seaweed farms or paddle boats to visit the floating seaweed gardens.

Visitors can also explore the seed bank and product drying yards of the floating seaweed farms amidst the sea, all made entirely of large HDPE panels. Here, visitors can experience harvesting, processing, drying, and enjoying characteristic dishes made from seaweed.

Seaweed on Phat Co Island reaches maturity in just 2 to 2.5 months of cultivation. This is also the period when seaweed meets the criteria for being processed into food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.

It is possible to cultivate seaweed three times a year, with yields reaching 70-100 tons/ha/year. With the current seaweed price of 2,500-3,000 VND/kg fresh, the revenue can reach approximately 200 million VND/ha, helping to transform the economy and improve the living standards of seaweed farmers.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide