Exploring pristine Con Co Island in Quang Tri

Quang Tri province comes alive in the summer with sea and island tourism activities, particularly Con Co island tours, which never fail to draw large numbers of visitors from all over the nation to witness the breathtakingly beautiful and untamed island on the nation’s frontier island.

The Con Co island tour enters its busiest season in June. Con Co island is explored on a 2-day, 1-night tour that is organized by Green Travel QT Company and offers guests a wealth of unique experiences.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh, a Hue City tourist taking the tour, said the group of tourists arrived at the island via the Chin Nghia Quang Tri high-speed boat. An hour or so after the ship sailed from the wharf, it docked at the island. As with many visitors, she was moved by the sight of the island from a distance because she was going to walk on a small, brave island that was referred to as a “pearl in the East Sea.”

Director of Green Travel QT Company, Vo Thi Hong Tham, said that everyone visiting the island is excited to take advantage of the many fascinating experiences it has to offer. The benefit is that many elderly people can visit all the major locations because tourists can rent electric cars on the island for VND70,000 (US$2.75) per person for a complete package that includes transportation from the ship’s dock to the next morning.

It is also very convenient for visitors who wish to explore Con Co Island while exercising, as the district’s Tourism Service Center rents bicycles.

At approximately 10:00 in the morning, the moment that many members of the group had been waiting for – the sacred and proud salute to the national flag on Con Co Island – arrived. Everyone sang the magnificent National Anthem as the national flag fluttered proudly in the serene sky amid the sun, wind, and sea. After that, tourists continue to visit other significant island landmarks until almost 12 o’clock.

At the Tram Anh restaurant, diners can savor visually appealing seafood dishes during lunch, like oyster porridge, seaweed salad, Con Co king oyster dish, and crabs, crabs, and more that they either don’t have or have to bring them in from the island. The tourists checked in and stayed at the District Military Command guesthouse after lunch.

There are also some really cozy motels on the island, like the Sao Bien, Hung Phuong, and District People’s Committee guesthouse.

At around 2:00 p.m., visitors arrive at the traditional house of the district to hear about the heroic history of Con Co Island and the process of transforming the island into the Con Co Island District of today. They proceed to the Martyr’s Memorial, Nghe, and Tranh wharves, and take in the expansive view of Con Co Island from the lighthouse perched atop the island’s tallest hill, Thai Van A Observatory, among others.

Con Co Island offers visitors not only historical significance but also a chance to explore the ancient tropical forest, which is home to numerous uncommon animals and plants. With over 70% covered by forests, these areas are known as the island’s “green lungs,” contributing to the even fresher air.

Con Co Island Marine Protected Area, which has Vietnam’s richest marine ecosystem, is also located around the island. A vibrant seabed is produced by coral, seaweed, and colorful species of seaweed. Con Co is home to up to 109 species of coral, many of which are rare and valuable—especially red and black coral—as well as numerous valuable seaweed species, according to the findings of scientific investigations. Visitors to Con Co have the chance to see stunning coral species and take in the vibrant underwater environment.

Travelers ride their bikes to Tranh Wharf towards the end of the afternoon to take a dip in the sea. As the sun sets, guests start getting ready for an unforgettable meal on the island. On Con Co Island, everyone cooked their own seafood over charcoal burners and sang patriotic songs at dusk. These are priceless memories.

After spending the night in Con Co, many people rose early the following morning to ride their bicycles to Nghe Wharf, the island’s first location to witness the sunrise and catch the first glimpse of the sun rising above the ocean, and then had breakfast. Breakfast at restaurants that serve buffet items like fish porridge, oyster porridge, and squid noodles...

Travelers wrap up a memorable visit to Con Co Island at 8:00 am by packing their bags and heading to the pier to return to the mainland. The most poignant moment for tourists, according to Ms. Vo Thi Hong Tham, is when they bid farewell to the island and head back to the mainland. Everyone silently vowed to return to Con Co as they watched the sight of soldiers and locals waving the national flag farther away.

Two ships currently serve tourists to the island every day in the district: the “Con Co Tourist” and the “Tin Nghia Quang Tri,” according to Vo Viet Cuong, Chairman of the Con Co People’s Committee.

The district has implemented numerous policies aimed at promoting Con Co Island’s cultural and historical customs while also capitalizing on the benefits of tourism. In addition, the Provincial People’s Committee has been urging investors to construct conventional lodging facilities on Con Co Island. The island is becoming increasingly better.

Con Co, with an area of ​​2.3 km2, is an island district about 18 nautical miles from the mainland, holding a significant strategic position at the southern entrance to the Gulf of Tonkin.

Tu Linh – Linh Pham