Quang Ngai, Vietnam - About 7,000 tourists flocked to Ly Son Island, visited Cau Cave, Hang Pagoda, swam at Bai Sau Beach, and watched the Four-Spirit Boat Racing Festival from April 30 to May 2.
Tourists arrived at Sa Ky Port, passed through the security control gate to go to Ly Son Island, April 30.
According to statistics from the Sa Ky - Ly Son Port Management Board, on April 30 and May 1, about 6,000 tourists traveled to Ly Son, an increase of about 20% over the same period last year and 5-7 times higher than normal days.
Tourists arrived at Ly Son after about 40 minutes by speedboat from the mainland. To serve the travel needs of visitors, the Management Board coordinated with relevant departments and units to mobilize about 28 boats to transport visitors to the island.
Ly Son was formed from sediments of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. Waves and seawater then carved deep into the cliffs and majestic caves. Among them, Cau Cave in the east of Big Island, formed thousands of years ago, is one of the first places tourists explore when coming to Ly Son.
Hang Pagoda, located in a cave formed by waves eating into the rock mountain, is also an attractive destination. Many visitors come to visit the pagoda, worship, and buy souvenirs.
Tourists offer incense at Hang Pagoda.
Hang Pagoda, also known as Thien Khong Thach Tu, was originally a Cham temple. By the early 17th century, the pagoda became a place for immortality and later a place for Vietnamese people to worship Buddha. The pagoda is located in a cave 24 m deep, 20 m wide, 3.2 m high, with an area of about 480 m2.
After visiting the Big Island, many tourists go to the Small Island in Ly Son to admire the emerald-colored beach, swim to cool off, and go SUP paddling under the volcanic sedimentary rocks.
Tourists come to admire the 22 and 28 m long whale skeletons, a Vietnamese record, preserved by Ly Son people for the past 200 years. Associated with the seafaring profession, Ly Son Island has many shrines to worship whales.
The festival atmosphere in Ly Son on the occasion of the holiday is bustling with the Four Spirits Boat Race, consisting of 8 boats, on April 30. The traditional Four Spirits Boat Race Festival of Ly Son is a national intangible cultural heritage, preserved by the people for many generations to honor the seafaring profession, pray for favorable weather, and full holds of shrimp and fish.
Ms. Thanh Phuong, from the mainland of Quang Ngai province, said she has watched the boat race many times, but every time she feels the bustling atmosphere of the people here when they cheer.
View from a temple on the coast of Ly Son, people and tourists hold umbrellas to watch the boat racing festival, the morning of April 30.
Ms. Pham Thi Huong, Chairwoman of Ly Son Island district, said that from April 30 to May 2, Ly Son welcomed about 7,000 tourists.
Ly Son Island is about 10 square kilometers wide, 15 nautical miles from the mainland of Quang Ngai province. The island is famous for its geological structure from volcanic eruptions, the tradition of the Hoang Sa heroic army, and its unique indigenous culture.
According to the direction of the Central Government, Ly Son island will become a special zone in the future, a national sea and island tourism center.