QUẢNG NGÃI —A Culture and Tourism Week has been organised for the first time in Lý Sơn, an island district 30 km off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province with a population of about 20,000 people.

The event, with the theme of Lý Sơn – A tradition, an identity, intends to promote the image of the locality, its people and natural beauty as well as to raise locals’ awareness about the country’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) and Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes.

The Lý Sơn Culture and Tourism Week will feature a range of cultural, tourism and sports events with the hope of creating a mesmerising impression of this serene and culturally rich island for visitors.

From June 29 to July 3, there will be a photo exhibition, a boat race, a night food market featuring dried seafood and specialties of Lý Sơn as well as music and arts performance.

An exhibition titled “Lý Sơn – Islands and Sea Culture Heritage”, opening on Friday morning, features 80 photographs and 35 artefacts. Among these, 40 photographs and 20 artefacts introduce the history and cultural characteristics of the residents of Lý Sơn, sea exploitation activities and the protection of the islands local seas. Twenty photographs and 15 artefacts showcase the Lý Sơn geological heritage. Also displayed are maps and documents which are seen as important historical and legal evidence proving Việt Nam’s sovereignty over Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes.

“The event aims to give visitors insight on the life of locals and introduce the values and identity of local culture widely to local and international visitors. It also has significant meaning in enhancing the awareness of locals and visitors on Việt Nam’s water sovereignty and proving Việt Nam’s sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes,” said Deputy Chairman of Lý Sơn District’s People’s Committee Lê Văn Ninh at the opening of the exhibition held on Friday morning.

“The cultural heritage of Lý Sơn island is diverse and various. It is formed and influenced by three cultures – Sa Huỳnh, Champa and Đại Việt,” said Ninh.

“Over the past few years, Lý Sơn has developed its tourism, agriculture and fishing sector in a sustainable direction. Many agricultural and seafood products have become well-recognised brands of this island,” he added.

Lý Sơn covers a total size of around 10sq km and is comprised of three communes – An Hải, An Vĩnh and An Bình. Archaeological findings indicate that the island was first inhabited by people 3,000 years ago. Since the 17^th century, the people of Sa Huỳnh civilisation came to settle down in Lý Sơn island. Over hundreds of years, this has become home to various tangible and intangible cultural heritages as well as traditional unique festivals and customs.

The island is now home to four national relics and one national intangible heritage.

The natural beauty of Lý Sơn is formed mostly by the mountains and beaches. A volcanic eruption helped to form the landscape of Lý Sơn of today with the geological shelf dating back millions of years.

With significant geological value, Quảng Ngãi Province is seeking UNESCO recognition for Lý Sơn- Bình Châu and the neighbouring area as a Global Geological Park. VNS