Con Co - A unique destination captivating tourists in Quang Tri

Tourists visiting the Con Co Special Zone. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Not only impressive with its pristine, lush natural scenery, this destination in Quang Tri also captivates tourists with many enticing experiences and fresh specialties.

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Vietnam: A destination offering diverse experiences

Located nearly 30km from Cua Viet Port, Cua Viet Commune (former Gio Linh District), the Con Co Special Zone (formerly Con Co Island, also known as Hon Co, Con Ho, or Hon Me) is one of the attractive tourist spots in Quang Tri. This island was formed from volcanic eruptions, characterized by unique basalt rock terraces along the coast and small pristine beaches made from shells, scallop shells, sand, and coral fragments...

Nhi Linh, a young tourism professional in Quang Tri, shared that to reach the Con Co Special Zone, tourists travel to Cua Viet Port and then continue by boat for about 1-1.5 hours.

Currently, there are two speedboats transporting passengers to the island: Chín Nghia and Con Co Tourist. The two boats operate alternately, with only one trip to the island at 8 AM and returning to the mainland at 8 AM the following day. The ticket price is 340,000 VND per person per trip.

“Tourists are almost required to stay overnight on the island as there is only one boat departing the port each day and returning to the mainland the next morning,” Linh said.

According to the website of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Con Co Island straddles the 17th parallel, serving not only as a frontier island protecting national sovereignty but also as one of the rare beautiful islands in Central Vietnam.

With an area of about 2.3km², over 70% of which is primary forest, this island is also one of the few places in Vietnam where a three-layer tropical forest ecosystem is preserved almost intact. Therefore, when visiting this island, tourists should not miss the exciting experience of cycling through the primary forest amid the sea.

The ideal time to visit Con Co Island is from April to August. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Since Con Co is a small island, tourists can rent bicycles to take a leisurely ride around, enjoying the fresh air and exploring the island's rich flora and fauna without worrying about spending too much time or effort.

Nhi Linh suggests that when visiting Con Co, tourists can explore historical sites or check-in at some prominent spots on the island, such as: Ben Nghe, Bai Tranh, the lighthouse, the national flagpole, the Hill 37 Martyrs Memorial... Among them, Bai Tranh and Ben Nghe are the two main beaches on Con Co Island. These areas are close to the shore, with calm waves and weak currents, and the water is clear enough to see the bottom, making it safe for tourists to experience. Ben Nghe is also a familiar sunrise viewing spot for visitors to the island.

Notably, from 2024, several structures on the island will also be restored and refurbished to meet the diverse experience needs of tourists, such as: Thai Van A Observation Tower, the Bang Vuong cluster, military medical bunkers, and traditional houses...

Nhi Linh further shared that besides visiting some locations, tourists can also engage in various activities such as renting tandem bicycles (or motorbikes, electric bikes), paddleboarding, shellfish hunting, and sea grape picking.

In the past two years, Con Co has also developed some new tourism products such as: touring around the island by glass-bottom boat, snorkeling to see coral (depending on the time), campfires, cultural and artistic exchanges between tourists and the island's military and civilian residents...

Currently, accommodation services on the island mainly consist of official guesthouses and local homestays, priced at about 400,000 - 600,000 VND per room per night. These accommodations often provide direct dining services for guests. Additionally, tourists can dine at some local restaurants and eateries on the island and enjoy unique seafood dishes such as king oysters, thorny snails, cone snails, earth snails, and sea grapes...

Among them, king oysters (also known as sawtooth oysters, ghost oysters, or fixed oysters) are a unique specialty of Con Co Island, notable for their large size, comparable to an adult's hand. Each king oyster here weighs about 1.2-1.5kg, with some weighing up to 3kg.

Due to their fresh quality but scarce quantity, king oysters are primarily harvested to meet culinary demands on Con Co, with only a few transported to the mainland.

According to Nhi Linh, not only king oysters but all seafood dishes prepared on the island are fresh and reasonably priced. The young woman also noted that if visiting Con Co, tourists should book tickets in advance to manage their time effectively. The boat schedule can change flexibly depending on sea conditions and the number of booked passengers.

Additionally, since Con Co is a strategic military island, the border guards will check passengers' documents. Therefore, tourists should remember to bring identification and equip themselves with other necessary personal items such as motion sickness medication, insect repellent, sunscreen...

On the island, tourists should also be mindful of using freshwater sparingly and reasonably, limit bringing plastic waste, and avoid taking photos, filming, or flying drones in prohibited areas and refrain from catching or eating land crabs...

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