HÀ NỘI – The first official tour to Cồn Cỏ Island in the central province of Quảng Trị will be launched on April 17 by local authorities and the Quảng Trị Trading Corporation.

The tour starts from the mainland Quảng Trị Province at 7am on April 17 and concludes at 4pm the next day. The two-day package is VNĐ1.5 million (US$67) for residents of Quảng Trị province and VNĐ2 million for other domestic residents.

The destinations include historic relics on the island, the local beach, the pristine forest and the local light house.

In the trial period, there will be two package tours organised every week. Each tour will gather at least 25 tourists.

“If the tour is sold well, we will organise it every day,” Lê Minh Tuấn, chairman of Cồn Cỏ District said.

Tuấn said that currently the popular tours on the island include scuba-diving, canoeing, fishing and marine sports.

However, these activities are mainly offered by local residents, he said.

The tour will offer accommodation at the province’s guest house, home stay with local families and camping on the beach.

Hundreds of tourist groups visit Cồn Cỏ annually and the demand is increasing every year.

Covering an area of 2.3sq.km in the south of the Gulf of Tonkin, Cồn Cỏ Island is blessed with diverse tropical marine ecosystems. Thanks to its large forests, beautiful beaches and pristine coral reefs, the island has huge potential for tourism development.

It is also renowned as a pivotal battlefield during the American war, and much evidence remains there of Việt Nam’s ultimate victory. Authorities believe that this also makes the island a great place to develop for tourists with a taste for history. – VNS