Thanh Lan, the biggest island in Co To district, Quang Ninh province, is tranquil and primitive, unlike the noisy tourist venues on Co To island. People call Thanh Lan Island a hidden gem of the sea that every visitor hopes to return to one day.
A beautiful beach on Thanh Lan island, Quang Ninh province (photo: VOV5Media)
A high-speed boat brings tourists from the busy Ao Tien international seaport in Quang Ninh province to the peaceful island district of Thanh Lan. After a 90-minute journey, the visitors arrive at the green, sunny island, where an electric car awaits them.
Local driver Bui Van Sac said: “I take tourists from their hotel to beaches and entertainment spots on the island. I’ve been on the island for nearly 10 years. At first there were only two cars on the island. Now we use electric cars to protect the environment.”
The electric car runs smoothly and quietly on the zigzagging roads.
Thanh Lan has maintained its natural beauty. Lush forests cover about 70% of the island, cooling the air and shading the road to the beaches - Don 10, Ba Chau, Hai Quan, and C76 - beyond whose arcs of white sand, clear, calm sea water hides coral reefs and schools of colorful fish.
Lush forests cover about 70% of the island. (photo: VOV5Media)
Some tourists share their feeling: “This is my first visit to Thanh Lan. The local people are friendly. The sea is clean and the air is fresh. Prices here are affordable for someone of average income.”
“I left busy Ha Noi to come to Thanh Lan and I’m enjoying the fresh air and pristine beauty here.”
“Blue sea, white sand beach, and beautiful landscape. It’s a wonderful place that brings us closer to nature. I hope more people will come here to discover its beauty.”
Hoping to develop green, sustainable tourism, the authorities and people of Thanh Lan Island are keen to preserve the environment, said Doan Dac Hung, cultural officer of Thanh Lan commune.
“Thanh Lan has beautiful landscapes and fresh, cool nature. To sustainable tourism development, we are paying attention to two things: First, the natural environment. People are the protectors of the environment and also the beneficiaries. Second, the friendly, hospitable business environment. We put visitors’ safety first and don’t destroy the natural landscape.”
Calm sea water hides coral reefs and schools of colorful fish. (photo: VOV5Media)
Mr. Hung says that, Thanh Lan used to receive only a few hundred tourists per year. After a promotion conference in 2022, the island’s tourism began to prosper and welcomed more than 10,000 visitors that year, equaling the total number of tourists in the 10 previous years. This year a Sea Opening Festival was held on Thanh Lan Island for the first time.
Nguyen Viet Dung, Secretary of Co To district’s Party Committee and Chairman of the district People’s Committee, said: "Thanh Lan is more beautiful than Co To island. We call it a hidden gem which has not been effectively tapped. We aim to develop Thanh Lan into a high-end resort and eco-tourism site.”
Sac, the driver on the island, said: “The local authorities have promoted tourism. We’re trying to improve our service so that when tourists leave the island, they’ll recommend it to their friends and maybe return themselves some day. Every islander is a tour guide who contributes to Thanh Lan’s tourism development.”
Visitors to Thanh Lan take home memories of beautiful sunrises and gorgeous sunsets, a glowing sky reflected on a shimmering sea, and flocks of seagulls fluttering on the beach.
Thanh Lan
