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Van Don island: a prominent eco-tourism destination

Located in the country's northeastern sea, Van Don island has been gradually turned into one of the four key economic-tourism areas in the northern border province of Quang Ninh.

About 60 km from Bai Chay resort in Ha Long city, Van Don island has 600 islets, covering an area of 584 square metre. Its population of 23,000 people belong to the Kinh, San Diu, Dao, Tay, Hoa, Cao Lan, Muong and Lung who are living in 20 large and small islands, including the Cai Bau, Quan Lan, Ngoc Vung, Ban Sen, Tra Ban, Ba Mun, Cong Nua, The Vang, Van Canh, Phuong Hoang and Sau Nam.These islets form firm screens and small bays, facilitating vessels.

Visitors to Van Don island can see lovely white-sand beaches with clear blue water, the Van mountain at the height of 445 metres on Ban Sen islet and the Bai Tu Long national park on Ba Mun island. The national park boasts a primeval forest with precious trees like erythrophleum fordii, burrettiodendrom hsienmu, madhuca pasquieri, vatica tonkinensis and podocarpus fleuryi, and wild animals such as wild boars, monkeys, nemorrhides, gibbons, varans, eagles, squirrels and deers.

With favourable terrain, Van Don served as a sea trade route, linking Viet Nam with China and other Southeast Asian countries, ten centuries ago. It was the country's first international commercial sea port under the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties.

The island is also well-known for several historical victories, with the first successful naval battle against foreign invasion in the early 13th century. In 1288, General Tran Khanh Du was posted at Van Don garrison as its deputy commander. He attacked the Yuan fleet as it transported food past the Van Don garrison. The whole convoy was destroyed, the Yuan troops were either killed or captured, and all food supplies for the advancing army were lost.

Du's exploit wiped out the entire enemy fleet, and brought about the end of the Yuan invasion.

Many shrines and temples were built in commemoration of Tran Khanh Du, notably those in Quan Lan. The shrines are imbued with cultural and architectural values celebrated with an annual festival.

Unspoiled natural beauty and cultural, historical values are favourable conditions for tourism development in Van Don. Over recent years, changes have been seen with the increasing flow of tourists to Ha Long bay. Together with strength in aquaculture and fishery industries, the tourism industry will help Van Don's economy take off. In the near future, Ngoc Vung, Minh Chau, Quan Lan, Bai Tu Long park and Cai Rong town will form a maritime tourism complex with various kinds of activities such as trekking, relaxing and caves to explore. Tourists are attracted by the green water and white sand, especially at Dai beach in Cai Bau, Ngoc Vung beach, Son Hao-Quan Lan-Minh Chau beach. Tourists can stay in fishing villages and join with local residents activities.

Van Don's People's Committee chairman, Nguyen Minh Trang said the district was building infrastructures such as roads, ports, electricity grids, safe water and is finalising a master plan while inviting foreign investment for tourism projects.

A joint venture between Vietnamese and American partners has begun to operate an eco-tourism project on 110 hectare with an investment of VND 120 billion, including a network of stilted houses, shopping centres and water parks. From Bai Tu Long, a tour is offered to Quan Lan, along with visits to aquatic farms in Phat Co island and Rong Doi bay.