Buzz
After two hours of swaying on the sturdy government iron vessel, Con Co Island emerges before us, with the image of the national flag proudly standing against the lush green backdrop of the mountains, instantly welcoming visitors on their first step onto the island.
Vietnamese Essence: The Untouched Wilderness of Con Co Island
The space on the island is rich in minerals and tranquility amidst the primeval forest. Occasionally, the sound of waves hitting the rocky shore echoes as if attempting to slow down time, slowing down life in this place.
A Raw Gem in the Vast Ocean
Renowned not only from the war years but also having been honored twice as a heroic island, Con Co (Quang Tri) is known for its pristine natural landscape with virgin forests, and rare seafood...
However, for a significant period, Con Co Island has remained underdeveloped, with few tourists setting foot on the island.
It wasn't until early 2017 that Con Co Island District began erecting the national flagpole, an archway, and renovating some tourist spots to transform it into a popular tourist destination.
Yet, infrastructure on Con Co Island is still lacking, with only two guesthouses in the entire township accommodating no more than 50 people. Travel between the mainland and the distant island depends on the schedule of government boats.
Nevertheless, we decided to extend our stay on Con Co Island for another day to conduct on-site surveys and explore the landscape. Perhaps due to its strict conservation efforts despite past wartime devastation, the forests remain lush with layers of vegetation cascading down to the surrounding coastline.
Walking beneath the canopy of square-shaped ancient trees provides a dizzying sensation, while observing the blossoms resembling bursts of fireworks alongside clusters of square lantern-like fruits is truly enchanting.
An oddity lies in the fact that square-shaped blossoms only bloom at night, akin to night-blooming jasmine, releasing a fragrant scent and closing at dawn, only to reopen and flaunt their beauty once dusk falls again.
Together with the phoenix trees, the square banyan trees stand as symbols of resilience, boldly facing the elements almost everywhere on Con Co Island, contributing to the greenery and serving as an intriguing destination for anyone visiting the island.
To maintain the well-developed ecological landscape seen today, local authorities have enacted strict regulations prohibiting deforestation, coral reef destruction, and the harvesting of stone crabs (a delicacy of Con Co Island)...
Sparkling Underwater Palace
As the sun rises and stretches over Ha Beach, a rocky coastline formed from volcanic lava flows of ancient times, the vast and tranquil scenery reveals two young men diving for shellfish amidst the gently lapping waves.
Eagerly, we dive into the sea, swiftly following them to satisfy our curiosity and, if lucky, capture a few beautiful photographs.
Exploring the underwater world or strolling beneath the azure depths to witness the 'imitation humans' in action beneath the crystal-clear waters is truly extraordinary.
Every movement of the divers, from surfacing for breath to diving deep into the ocean floor, gliding over coral reefs, or maneuvering through underwater crevices to catch each coconut, cone, or hermit crab hiding among the rocks... under the pressure of the seawater, all sway gracefully, like an elegant ballet.
After about two hours of strenuous swimming and diving, the two local youths have caught over 60kg of various types of shellfish. A small portion is grilled for us on the spot, while the rest will be sent on the boat back to Dong Ha to be sold to traders tomorrow morning, at an average price of around 40,000 dong/kg.
Before parting ways, when asked about their families and daily lives, the carefree young man casually replied, “It's tough sometimes, but it's alright because everyone is in the same boat.”
Unable to resist the enticing invitation and the firm promise of a few construction workers from Vinh Linh to bring us to admire the most spectacular coral reefs, in the afternoon, we continued to the Nghè Beach located south of the township to go diving.
As the tide receded, just swimming a few meters further, we approached an area of colorful and diverse coral reefs.
Especially the sea grapes, a type of seaweed, with their beautiful bead-like appearance resembling green pearls, growing densely in clusters, freely swaying on each coral branch, embellishing the underwater world with added brilliance and vibrancy.
70% of the area is covered in pristine forests.
Located at the southern gateway of the Gulf of Tonkin, Con Co Island is a frontier island of the motherland, approximately 30km from Cua Viet – Quang Tri.
In 2014, Con Co Island was designated as a district-level administrative unit with an area of 2.2km², of which over 70% is pristine forest. It has a population of about 500 people, mostly families of former youth volunteers from Quang Tri province who have been building the economy here since 2002.
It is known that Con Co Island is about 30 km from the mainland, previously a military island. Over the past decade, it has been transformed into a civilian island. Currently, there are about ten households living on the island.
According to Tran Ly Man Huy/Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourJanuary 18, 2018
