With many historical, cultural relics and fascinating tourist areas, Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province is considered as an amazing tourist attraction.
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A beach view under the sunset on Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai Province |
Ly Son, formerly known as “Re†Island, is an island and also a district in Quang Ngai province with a total area of about 10 km2 including 3 communes of An Vinh, An Binh and An Hai, about 24km from the mainland. As the outpost of the country, Ly Son Island held a strategic position on the East Sea of Vietnam, containing the potential for tourism and the valuable materials on Hoang Sa. In addition, the island is distinguished for its vast garlic fields since Ly Son is also called the kingdom of garlic.
According to geologists, this island was formed by the movement of volcanic lava erupting several million years ago. Traces of the volcanoes are lava blocks with variety shapes had not decomposed yet, as well as fertility red basalt soil throughout most of the island, which create good conditions for the diversity and lush of cover vegetation.
The wild and gigantic beauty of rock mountains on Ly Son, such as Thoi Loi, Gieng Tien, Hon Vung, Hon Soi and Hoi Tai, is the island’s pride. Looking down from mountains, tourists will be overwhelmed by the spectacular colorful scenery with immense fields of green grass in the pan-shaped valley and a whole world of colors from the blue ocean, white sand, and red basalt soil to the green garlic fields.
This used to be the departure point of the naval task group that protected the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands under the Nguyen Dynasty. Nowadays, the island is considered a living museum for Hoang Sa’s artifacts. The island has a 374-square-meters museum displaying more than 1,000 documents, photos and artifacts associated with the heroic Hoang Sa and Truong Sa troops. The island also holds a cemetery for the late Hoang Sa soldiers. Am Linh Temple worships the ancestors who explored and reclaimed the land four centuries ago. It also hosts offering ceremony to marine soldiers who sacrificed in missions on the East Sea and the offering ceremony to the souls of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa soldiers in the third lunar month every year.
Some must-see places in the island include Hang Pagoda, Duc Pagoda, Cau Cave, Chua Ngoc Lady Temple, Ly Hai Communal House, Lady Roi Palace, relics related with Hoang Sa – Truong Sa Teams set up in the reigns of Nguyen Lords and Nguyen Dynasty later, Am Linh Temple and some ancient tombs.
More information:
- Sa Ky seaport is about 20km from Quang Ngai City. From there, tourists can choose travel to Ly Son Island by conventional ship (about 2 hours) or speed ship (about 45 minutes).
- Personal documents should be carried, which will make getting accommodation on island more convenient. In addition, it’s advisable to buy travel medical insurance and anti-emetic medicine for unexpected cases of motion sickness.
Phuong Anh (Collected)