Aside from its distinct geopolitical, military, and economic status, the Cô Tô archipelago is also where the currents of maritime culture converge in the Gulf of Tonkin. This is why travelers always discover something extraordinary when visiting Cô Tô!
Cô Tô – Hub of Maritime Culture
The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area has recently been recognized as a special national monument. The entire memorial area comprises: Monument, campus, stele, temple, exhibition house, memorial, sweet potato fields, and salt fields. This event significantly impacts Cô Tô, reflecting the spirit of the Party and the people on the island.
The residents of Cô Tô have been living here for over half a century, yet newcomers still bring the rich cultural essence of the North Vietnamese sea region. This is because the Vietnamese people have migrated throughout the country, bringing their customs and habits with them while naturally adapting to and embracing the local culture, integrating with local customs.
The population on Cô Tô island is only about 7,000 people, coming from various regions such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, or from across the provinces of the Red River Delta. Hence, the current culture in Cô Tô is dynamically evolving, creating uniquely rich values.
Cô Tô Residents: Guardians of Maritime Culture
All islanders arrive with a background in fishing or adapt to it for sustenance and wealth. A unique profession in Cô Tô is harvesting and processing sea cucumbers, a skill not everyone possesses. Many engaged in this craft have exported their products, enriching both themselves and their homeland.
When coming to Cô Tô, residents from various places bring along their customs and beliefs from their hometowns. Thanh Lân Island has a Catholic church due to a significant Catholic population from Hai Phong and Nam Định. In Cô Tô Lớn, there is a Cô Tô Pagoda for Buddhists. People from Thai Binh, Nam Định, Thanh Hóa, Nghệ An... all contribute their unique cultural traits, creating the current cultural identity of Cô Tô through interactions with each other.
As poet Nguyễn Khoa Điềm expressed in the epic poem Thirsty Road: “They pass on their melodious voice to the child learning to speak/They carry the names of the commune, the names of the village in each migration…” All of these elements have crafted a nation rich in cultural identity and ethnic spirit, standing resilient in the face of the challenges of the times.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourJuly 20, 2022
