Garlic dried in the yard of Mr. Nguyen Quan’s house. Photo: Van Chuong In early May, farmers on Ly Son island spread the last batch of dried garlic before putting it in bags to officially put agricultural products on the market. The old farmer Vo Tri Thoi has a smooth black skin and compares the story of garlic with high prices and waiting times, but the price does not go up by the story of picking garlic. Mr. Thoi ran to the stall to collect a handful of garlic sprinkled to make a stir-fry sound, then smiled wryly and said: “In the days when garlic was expensive, it only took a few handfuls of garlic to sell and it was enough money for a drink together with karaoke, But now I’ve collected half of the bamboo stalls and sold them, but it doesn’t work.” The people of Ly Son island have a bit of a sense of humour, especially the people on Be Island. The story of gathering garlic to sing karaoke is just a way for this farmer to liken the story of garlic to make me laugh. Because old farmer Thoi also admitted that his life was only fun with a few glasses of wine, and going to the shop to tip the youngest brother was just a joke to make the wives startle. Because working in garlic is very hard, you have to buy sand to cover it, then take care of it, rent a water machine to water it, stay up late and get up early, it’s very hard to get to the harvest day. Every time farmers in Ly Son island harvest garlic, the whole island immediately turns into an interesting picture. Many families spread garlic on the roof of the house to the yard and leave only a small road to go. The old farmers, after several months of struggling with the green garlic fields, now continue to dry the garlic in the sun, wait for the garlic to dry, then pack it, throw it in the mezzanine indoors and wait for the price. Life on the island during the garlic season is very busy, many people run up and down to ask for the price of 70 or 65 (70,000 VND or 65,000 VND). In the past years, fresh garlic harvested was often quoted by farmers at that price. If anyone accidentally talks about selling at a low price, their relatives will respond with a funny story, instead of talking too cheap, not selling. Mr. Vo Tri Thoi, said, 336ha of garlic growing on the island every year farmers collect more than 2,000 tons of garlic. If the dried garlic is sold at 70,000 VND/kg, it will make a profit. Currently, farmers on the island are not hoarding garlic, but keeping garlic dry to wait for the price, but the current price is difficult. Farmers in the island grow garlic on volcanic soil, so Ly Son garlic has a more spicy and aromatic taste than garlic grown in the mainland. At times, garlic is sold for 170,000 VND/kg of dried garlic. The current price of dried garlic is 40,000 VND/kg. At this price, many farmers share a loss, so they decided to keep, pin their goods and wait for the price to move up. However, the number of tourists to the island has decreased deeply, so farmers wait for garlic in inland markets to increase the price to bring garlic in. But the path of garlic from the island to the mainland is not easy. Because now, farmers Ly Son go to Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces to grow garlic and this item is also falling in price, farmers complain because they can’t sell it. The price of garlic in this locality has dropped to only 17,000 VND/kg of fresh garlic. Because of the price difference of garlic, farmers in Khanh Hoa moved to Quang Ngai, and the press continued to report fake Ly Son garlic. This is a blow that makes it harder for real Ly Son garlic to price up and farmers have to wait again. Ly Son garlic market usually starts to get crowded at sunrise. Farmers bring garlic to the trading market so that buyers can take the garlic by train down to the mainland. Some professional garlic buyers shared the story that bringing garlic in the island to the shore cost a lot of money, but when they met the garlic stream in the south, the garlic looks quite similar, the quality is not equal, so the quality is not as good. harder to consume. At Mr. Nguyen Quan’s house located at the end of Ly Son island district, his 5 children spread 7 tons of garlic all over the yard, around the house and on the cement corrugated iron roof. Garlic market information in Quang Ngai city and in Khanh Hoa province is always updated by farmers. Mr. Pham Tan Thanh, 61 years old, a senior garlic grower said: “If garlic is low, then you must invest in growing onions, but basically farmers still rely on garlic.”

Summer is considered the “business season” of Ly Son tourism (Quang Ngai). This year, however, everything turned upside down. These days, the pace of life on Ly Son island seems to slow down. There is no longer a busy scene of tourists as usual, instead it is a lonely, cold scene. That is because to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from entering the area, Quang Ngai province banned all foreign tourists and international visitors to the island district. Therefore, industries related to tourism such as boats, canoes, trams, motels, hotels, homestays, restaurants, eateries, … all fall into a state of “hibernation”. The center of the island district at night is deserted Almost all accommodation establishments in the area are closed due to lack of guests Anchor ships wait for their turn to run alternately, operating frequency is only 20% of normal There are a total of 92 rooms of 4-star standard accommodation, nearly a month ago, Muong Thanh Ly Son hotel was still open for operation. Said to be active, but almost no guests came to rent the room. Mr. Bui Xuan Nghia – Director of Muong Thanh Ly Son Hotel, said that the unit has a total of 66 employees, currently only 5% are arranged to rotate activities. However, people who come only do cleaning and maintenance of equipment, but there are no guests to receive. Although there is no revenue, the unit still pays 40% of the monthly salary for employees to cover their lives and overcome difficulties. “Just got up after several consecutive epidemics, then storm No. 9, if this situation persists, I am afraid that people who live by tourism in Ly Son will find it difficult to sustain themselves” – Mr. Nghia worried. Opposite Muong Thanh Ly Son is Ngoc Island Resort – one of the large accommodation units on the island – which has been closed for more than three weeks now because there are no guests. Nearly all hotels, motels and homestays in Ly Son district are in a similar situation, “doors closed and bolted”. Many hotel and motel owners admit that they are facing a lot of difficulties because they have no revenue, while maintenance costs and bank loan interest are putting great pressure on. There were no tourists, so for nearly a month, the parking lot of the Ly Son District Labor Union was always in a state of no space. All cars are gathered here to “wait” for tourists, most tram drivers have found other jobs to make a living. The fleet of trams transporting tourists is gathered to the parking lot… lying down and waiting All shops and souvenir stalls serving tourists at scenic spots on the island are “covered”. If about a month ago, they were busy from early morning to late evening to take guests in and out of the port, visit, eat, … now, Vung – a 7-seat driver transports tourists on island – free again. Sighing, the young man sadly shared: “In the past, I ran a lot, now it takes a long time to get people on the island to get here and there. I don’t know when the situation will improve again.” Sharing the same fate at the wharf with the car is a fleet of ships and canoes. Normally, at the lowest point, every day the Sa Ky – Ly Son route also has at least three trains to connect the island to the mainland. But now there is only one turn left to serve the travel needs of people and officials working on the island, absolutely no tourists. Being able to run seems to be better if you look at the scene of dozens of canoes on the big island – the small island that have to be lined up close to each other, sunbathing in the rain for more than a month now in the boat anchorage because the route is completely paralyzed. . Fuck it, go find a job “fire fighting” Experiencing three consecutive epidemics, plus the impact of natural disasters, most of the restaurants in the area have been “hit”. Along the mobile route around the island, there are dozens of shops specializing in serving tourists, which have almost closed over the past month. The shop lingered open, but only a few local guests. Anh An – Manager of Ly Son Basket Seafood Restaurant, said that since the day there was a ban on visitors to the island, his restaurant had temporarily stopped operating, all staff were laid off. This time, he focuses on repairing the restaurant and upgrading the facilities so that when the epidemic is under control, the ban is lifted and it reopens. All major restaurants on the island are closed “There are many difficulties, but united and fighting the epidemic is the prerequisite task of each person. I believe that we will come back to life when the epidemic is under control,” said An. Without tourists, the source of income is therefore completely cut off, so tourism workers in Ly Son are facing the challenge of “survival” when their work will never return to normal. . Taking advantage of the availability, many guides have chosen to post the seafood sale on their personal facebook page; most drivers of ships, canoes and cars get off the boat to go to the sea; hotel owners selling onions, garlic, soft drinks, etc. Everyone tries to find a job “fire fighting” to make ends meet. Nhung – the receptionist of a large hotel – has been out of work for more than a month due to the closure of the hotel, and has managed to find a temporary job at a cafe near her house. “Like I was lucky, because many people now just stay at home, now have a job, have an income to cover expenses is what many people want, but the specificity of the island district is not easy.” , Nhung shared. Mr. Le Van Ninh – Vice Chairman of Ly Son District People’s Committee, said that due to the influence of the epidemic, the island district is not currently welcoming tourists. This is a move to protect people against complicated developments of the disease in some localities. “We do not know when the tourism activities in the locality will be restored, currently the impact of the epidemic is very large, seriously affecting the income and life of people,” said Ninh. to speak.

Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai province consists of 3 islands: Big Island, Be Island and Mu Cu island. Big Island, also known as Cu Lao Re, is the center of Ly Son. Be Island is also known as An Binh. Mu Cu Island in the east, close to Big Island, is the smallest and uninhabited island. To get to Ly Son, visitors go from Quang Ngai city along Highway 24B to Sa Ky port, then go to the island by speedboat and rent a motorbike to visit attractions on the island. Pictures taken at the morning fish market on Ly Son island Ly Son beach is beautiful sparkling in the sunny day The road to Thoi Loi mountain is roundabout. On one side are bare hills covered with beautiful green grass, on the other side is the blue sea. In Ly Son district, there are 5 bowl-shaped mountains formed by volcanic activity, of which the highest is Thoi Loi mountain (169m). Thoi Loi Mountain is a spectacular natural attraction of the sea tourist routes – Ly Son island. Standing on Thoi Loi mountain overlooking the sea, visitors feel the immensity of the sea and sky Tourists enjoy taking pictures on Thoi Loi mountain The national flagpole was built on the top of Thoi Loi mountain, the highest mountain on Ly Son island, with a height of 20m, the base of the flagpole and the foundation of the flagpole are made of reinforced concrete, facing the Hoang Sa archipelago, the flag 4 x 6 m in size, the main side on the radio shows the coordinates of the flagpole, bearing the appearance of a landmark of Vietnam’s sovereignty The majestic scenery of mountains, sea and sky on Thoi Loi mountain. Many tourists are surprised by the beauty of nature. This place is endowed by nature with many beautiful scenes that cannot be found anywhere else, the wild beauty of the mountains and islands is like a paradise in the middle of the blue sea, which has been attracting many tourists.

Spinach dish has a cooling effect on hot summer days. PHOTO: SMALL She said, every morning or evening, when the tide recedes, people on the island bring baskets and sickles to rake and cut spinach to bring back to prepare food or sell. In order to have a delicious cup of spinach, she cooks it very meticulously. My grandfather used to say that summer is sweeter and cooler when enjoying her richly flavored jelly. Before cooking, she soaked the jelly, then washed and added a little lemon to deodorize, then rinsed with water. She shared, if the discharge is not clean, the smell of seaweed remains, making the taste of the jelly not delicious. She put the jelly into the pot, poured the ginseng water into the pot, brought it to a boil, about fifteen minutes, put the golden brown sugar and ginger in it and stirred it, when the vegetables were cooked, turn off the stove. When cooking, you have to work hard to watch the fire so that the jelly fibers are not overcooked to keep the crispy and delicious. After cooking, pour the jelly into a bowl to cool, the jelly will solidify into a jelly. Her spinach jelly has an extremely eye-catching yellow color, and there are small strands of ginger on the top of the cup. The jelly is crispy and has a sweet taste with the aroma of ginger. I also don’t remember the first time I ate the jelly that she cooked, only knowing that it was the jelly that followed me throughout my childhood years. When I go to school away from home, she cooks jelly and sends it as a gift, a gift that encapsulates all the love and taste of home. Now, I sometimes visit the market to buy dried seaweed to cook. Enjoying the spinach jelly, I miss my grandma, I miss my childhood memories.

In addition, the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee requested to stop festival activities, religious ceremonies, sports tournaments, gathering events (over 20 people) in public places, stadiums and other major events. really necessary. Encourage outdoor sports activities, no close contact. In addition, continue to stop non-essential business establishments such as: amusement parks, entertainment, karaoke, massage, bars, game shops, internet, discos, cinemas, gyms (gym, yoga,…). The filial piety and joy (wedding, mourning, party, house party, etc.) are held, but not with more than 20 people; encourage people to organize simply and neatly, limiting the number of people to gather. Restaurants, shops, and food service establishments are allowed to serve less than 20 people/place. Temporarily suspend the reception of tourists (outside the province and foreign visitors) to Ly Son island.

Ly Son Island owns many unique and strange check-in points, attracting young people to explore. Move 1. From Ho Chi Minh City to Ly Son I moved from Ho Chi Minh City to Chu Lai airport, Quang Nam. Round trip ticket price is about 2.3 million VND / person. From Chu Lai airport, I booked a taxi to Sa Ky port and stayed here for one night. Taxi cost is 350,000 VND, takes 45 minutes to reach the hotel. Early in the morning, I started moving to Ly Son Island by speedboat. Travel time is about 30 minutes. Ticket price 175,000 VND / person. 2. In Ly Son I rent a motorbike at the hotel to move for 120,000 VND / day. When I moved to Be Island, I had to buy a canoe ticket with the help of my siblings at the hotel. Round trip ticket price is 100,000 VND / person. On Be Island, you can call a motorbike taxi, or rent a motorbike. I stayed on the island for one night, so I rented a homestay car to take the initiative in moving. Rested The first night at Sa My port, I stayed at Hoa Mai hotel near the harbor with the price range of 250,000 VND / night. The accommodation is quite good, clean, the owner is enthusiastic. On Ly Son Island, I stay at Tien Tri Hotel located in the center of the wharf, room price is 250,000 VND / night. This place is located in the center of the island so it is convenient to move and eat. Overall assessment is a fully equipped room, port view, enthusiastic owners. The minus point is that the room is quite small. In Be Island, BeEcolodge is the homestay of my choice with the price of 650,000 VND / night. The homestay is designed in a bungalow style, the roof is covered with coconut leaves so it is quite cool. Homestay serves 3 meals a day. I value the food is fresh, delicious and delicious. The host is friendly and hospitable. Here, you will have to save water due to the limited amount of fresh water on the island and the difficult way for people to store it. Eating 1. Dai Hang seafood rice The shop is located in the center, near the harbor. The restaurant is crowded, but the service is fast and enthusiastic. The menu includes a variety of seafood. Food that meets my taste, the price is quite cheap, about 150,000 VND / person includes a full range of dishes. Lunch here is reasonable. 2. Khoi PM seafood restaurant Spacious space, quick service, enthusiastic staff. The restaurant serves a variety of seafood, especially crab and fish. Fast and delicious food. I find fish salad a bit difficult to eat. In Ly Son, the food prices are relatively cheap. Schedule Visitors to Ly Son should spend 4-5 days exploring the island. To save time and travel costs, you can refer to the following schedule. Day 1 – 15h30: From Tan Son Nhat airport, move to Chu Lai, Quang Nam – 19h30: Present at the airport and take a taxi to Sa Ky port, Quang Ngai – 19h30: Check in at Hoa Mai Hotel Day 2 – 7h30: Depart from the port to Ly Son by high-speed train – 8h30: Check in at Tien Tri Hotel – 9am: To Vo Gate is a place not to be missed when coming to Ly Son. The time I arrived was quite a lot of tourists, so it was a bit difficult to take check-in photos. – 11am: Have lunch at Dai Hang seafood rice shop – 14h: Going to Hang Cau, I must be amazed by the majestic beauty. Here, you will be immersed in the cool blue water, enjoy the peaceful scenery and enjoy taking pictures by checking-in. – 17h: From the way down to Hang Cau, you just need to run one more section to reach Thoi Loi peak. The road is steep, but the two sides are rows of very poetic pineapples. You can take many beautiful photos. – 19h: Dinner at Khoi PM restaurant – 20: Snacks at the harbor night market Day 3 – 5h30: Watch the sunrise at the summit of Thoi Loi – 7:30: Have breakfast with fish noodle soup – 8h30: Depart for Be Island – 9:30: Check in and walk along the beach. The beach here is clean, the water is clear. – 11h30: Have lunch at the homestay – 14h: From the center of Be Island harbor, you drive about 2 km along the coastline to reach Thuc beach. Standing on the cliff and looking down, you will see a series of colorful basket boats lying on the white sand. 16h: This time the canoes are not anchored at the port, you can come here to take beautiful pictures without being stuck on people. 17h30: At the homestay, dinner is served with BBQ seafood. Sipping grilled squid while listening to the sound of waves is an experience you should try. 4th – 5h30: Watch the sunrise at Th Thuc beach. From the Basket beach, you will run up a section and a very poetic slope appears along the coast. – 7h30: Have breakfast at the homestay – 10am: Move by canoe back to Ly Son Island – 11am: Have lunch at Ut Ngoc seafood rice – 14h: Visit Hang pagoda – 4:00 PM: Ly Son flagpole is located on the top of Thoi Loi – the highest mountain on the island. – 17h30: From the top of Thoi Loi, you will continue on a one-way way to Thoi Loi freshwater lake. The left side of the lake has a view for everyone to see the panoramic view of Ly Son island. – 19h: Dinner at a seafood restaurant Day 5 – 7am: Have breakfast – 8:30: Visit the church in Ly Son – 9am: Walking around the island, you should go deep into the alleys to feel more about the lives of the people here. – 12am: Lunch and check-out at the hotel – 13:00: On the train back to Ho Chi Minh City

Along the S-shaped strip of land with more than 11,409.1km of coastline, the livelihoods of fishermen are always very hard. Mr. Nguyen Gia Vien (An Vinh island commune, Ly Son island district, Quang Ngai – owner of the boat QNg-96111TS) is a veteran fisherman and has a reputation for “killing fish” of Ly Son land. Only 45 years old, but he has nearly 30 years of clinging to the sea, of which 20 years as a captain of a fishing boat specializing in fishing at Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds and owns a fleet of three large-capacity fishing vessels. His grandfather’s life was associated with the sea, his father’s life was associated with the sea, then he also grew up from trips like this. Mr. Vien said: “In the life of our ancestors, we went to sea by small old ships but still reached Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Their ships are bigger, more people are equipped with more advanced equipment, they must reach out further. Despite storms and storms, the sea still goes out to sea without a day’s rest. Behind me is the rear. Also the family and the country! “. To have sea trips like this, he has worked hard for many years, in 2000, he bought 3 ships to sail, officially becoming the mainstay of his family. A corner of Ly Son Island. “Anh Vien has a knack for finding flocks of fish, so he always wins. Many other boat owners complained about the loss of capital, but with photos, each year, a fisherman like me is divided between 40-60 million VND. He is also a boat owner who has a heart for the sea “, said a fisherman on the boat Mr. Vien said. Nearly 30 years of clinging to the sea, clinging to ships with dozens of times facing great waves to save fishermen in distress, the reward for him is to regain the fisherman’s life from the hands of the water god, glasses of thanksgiving with many certificates of merit and certificates of merit from all levels and functional branches awarded. Many people jokingly call him Vien “inoc” because he can swim and dive under bone-cold water for many hours. Mr. Vien is one of the fishing boat owners who should work in Ly Son. Each year, with 3 fishing boats practicing lead net, he earns tens of billions of dong. On board, he equipped with many modern means to serve fishing. Mr. Vien confided: “This ship has a capacity of 450 CV, so it only takes 17 hours to run from Ly Son to Hoang Sa. The other fishermen’s ships took 2 days and 2 nights to arrive. Having fish is happy but without fish is sad. Although it is extreme, you still have to stick to the job, you can also bear it with any hard work. Going to the sea not only does business but also protects the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. That is the responsibility of our fishermen! ”, He said as the boat was turning its nose back to Ly Son island in the middle of dawn. And Mr. Tan, another fisherman on Ly Son Island, confided: “Life is tied to the sea, rich and poor are also caused by the sea. In the past, it only took a few laborers to go to the sea to support the whole family, now the whole family goes to the beach not enough to eat. But, if you are hungry, you must come out! “. The sea also gave him a high-rise house with expensive equipment, and the children were allowed to go to school. Mr. Tan also lends capital to many fishermen to buy fishing gear. To the people here, he is not only a brave fisherman but also a kind neighbor, a model both at sea and on land. Looking at the flag on the ship, fishermen like Mr. Vien and Mr. Tan all whispered that when they came to Hoang Sa they could understand how the national flag and soul of the Fatherland were sacred. It is the Fatherland Flag that has given fishermen the strength to overcome storms, natural disasters and human ears, firmly clinging to the sea. Every time of danger in the ocean, looking up at the flag is like seeing our Fatherland and our people by our side. Sometimes during the fishing journey, fishermen’s ships have to carry some national flags so it is necessary to replace as soon as the gambling is stained or the wind is torn, to ensure that the flag on the roof of the ship is always crimson. , fresh. The Fatherland is sacred, the Fatherland Flag is the place where fishermen reach out to convey their beliefs and dreams. Despite the storms and dangers, but for them, the Fatherland is forever! Ly Son garlic specialty. One man happily boasted: “Do you see our island is beautiful? Is it worth being called a tourist paradise? ”, We nodded, he went out in the afternoon very well. He said, the main job on the island is just growing garlic, going to the beach and doing tourism. We have seen travel stories. What about going to the beach? “If you don’t go to the sea on an island, you are not an islander,” he said. Here, most of them are followers of the sea career, some 4-5 generations already! The sea is one with us! ”. Then he led us to the old fishermen who lived a lifetime in the sea. For the people of Re Island (another name of the big island of Ly Son), doing tourism is a profession belonging to the “royal court” compared to the seafaring profession, but only a few decades ago, still before. There, from the old to the children, all use the bow of the ship to make a living. When the sun had reached the roof of the West slope, we were happily sitting and chatting with the elders in the seafaring profession of this island, the side of the rice tray was also full of marine products. The elders who are in the age of “tri heaven” tell us about going out to sea the day before and feeling cold in their spine. Because in the old days, boats went wild and could not be compared to now. They are mainly sailing boats with the wind, yet the elders reached out to the “golden sand” (Hoang Sa) beach to catch them. Old fisherman Le Luong (77 years old) takes a full sip of wine and leisurely tells the story of his voyage nearly 20 years ago. That time, there were 6 nets on the old Luong boat, each arm was nearly kilometer long, but only 5 people. When they discovered large fish schools near Hoang Sa, people hurriedly released their nets and then rested for midnight to visit the net. At midnight, 1 person stayed in the boat, and 4 people divided into 2 baskets, following the edge of the net. Regardless of the storm, no one can contact each other, trying to cling to the buoy to keep the boat from being blown away by the wind. The lights of the storm went out, in the middle of the night, we struggled to save their lives, each of us struggled with the storm, with hunger for a whole day and night, then old fisherman Le Luong was thrown into the sea, morning After being rescued by a friend ship in the sea … Quang Ninh. And the people on the boat with him lost their breath. After a few days on a friend’s boat, the old man bought a train ticket to Quang Ngai, then boarded the boat to the island. That journey took exactly 10 days. When I got home, I found that the fishermen’s relatives were doing the rituals for us. When asked that, the friend on a basket in the storm drifted into the estuary of Da Nang, then came back and announced that he was missing in the middle of the sea during a thunderstorm night. Therefore, villagers in the fishing village and their family perform a burial ceremony, build a doll and prepare to be a wind tomb. Whoever doubts the old man will return, rejoice in the suspicion of smoky incense that day. Then, after that time, the old man went to the sea with his fishing friends, but now he cannot remember how many more trips. There are many other stories of old fishermen sitting around us, which cannot be fully told. When the wine of the old fishermen is coming to revival, the sea of ​​dark clouds comes. No one told anyone, as fast as a squirrel, the old fishermen of that age had stepped on the rocky edge of the water, the piles, the people pulling the ropes, brought the boats close to the shore to avoid being hit by the waves. Mr. Nguyen Quoc Chinh, Chairman of An Hai Commune Fisheries Union – Ly Son shared about the work that the fishing union is actively doing to help fishermen of this island: “Ly Son is an island to spend money. Country. The only job of the people is fishing and seaweed processing. People for generations just stick with the sea because the sea is a source of life that brings a piece of rice and money to school for children to go to school. However, fishing also brings losses and grief that cannot be compensated in kind. However, the salty taste of the sea has seeped into every grain of land, the people here, so clinging to the sea is an unchanging belief! ”. On the island money spent Brave fishermen of many generations have passed since ancient times, despite knowing the danger always lurking in the sea, perhaps for them, the salty taste of the sea is part of the inseparable flesh and blood. the crashing waves on the side of the boat were part of a sparkling hope. So even though many generations have been permanently lying in the ocean, people still look towards the sea. Every year, on March 16 of lunar calendar, the people on the island solemnly hold a ceremony to honor the posture of Hoang Sa soldiers to commemorate and pay tribute to the soldiers of the old Hoang Sa Squadron who bravely sacrificed and forever lying in the sea. The people and authorities on the island district have built up wind graves and set up the temple “Am Linh Tu and the tomb of soldiers of Hoang Sa”, which is the place to worship Hoang Sa soldiers and soldiers, Bac Hai, and “witnesses”. live ”is an important historical evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago. The fishermen on the island prepare to fish at night. Compared to other festivals of the fishermen in the Central region, the Hoang Sa soldiers’ stance ceremony not only stops at the value of spiritual beliefs, but above all is an opportunity for the children of the country to express their gratitude to the mother of the East Sea. . The strange attraction of the festival is not only its rituals, rituals, practices, folk festivals but also its deep community meaning and value. The hot sun dissipates in the gentle waves that clap against the white sand. In the distance, there is a glimpse of fishing boats letting go of nets. Currently, the population of Ly Son island is more than 21,000 people. They remain with this land from generation to generation. Not because of the temptations around but leaving the homeland. The people here are always trying their best to study, strive and bring their strength to the development of their homeland. Life here is also quite prosperous now. The 2-3-storey houses have sprung up, cable TV is used by many households, there is a school for children on the island to come to class and a lot of facilities are built to serve people’s lives. . The life of the residents here is no different than on the mainland, there are spacious restaurants, 3-star hotels to serve tourists, bustling music cafes, market for all kinds of hammer, but most still. garlic and seafood species such as abalone, shrimp and fish. Except for seafood, other items are priced higher than the mainland because of the distance by the sea but not too expensive. The peaceful night of the island, only the waves crashing onto the rocky rapids, like the lullaby of the ancient sea. The island crouched in sleep after a day of welcoming guests. In the distance, the light of squid fishing boats shimmering like flocks of fireflies flickering in the thick black sea. Standing between the earth and the sky and the vast sea like that, you can see that your country is extremely beautiful. I kept on talking about the vitality of people in the first wave. They are the lights on the sea of ​​money to spend, to keep the sea and sky the country for many generations.

From April to September, Ly Son entered the tourist season. At this time, the weather is stable and suitable for exploring the sea and islands. Move 1. Travel by speedboat – You buy train tickets at Sa Ky port for about 180,000 VND / person / time. – Train timetable: From 7:50 to 15h10. – Travel time is about 35 minutes. 2. Travel by speedboat – High-speed train ticket departing from Sa Ky port is about 135,000 VND / person / way. – Train timetable: From 7:30 to 15:00. Each day only about 5 flights / day. – Travel time is about 60 minutes. To avoid seasickness, you should travel by speedboat. Photo: Kangjiri1402. Resort The wild and magnificent beauty of Ly Son Island always attracts tourists. There are many places to stay here from budget to high class. Some reference addresses: – Ly Son Pearl Island Hotel & Resort (8.5 / 10 points). Muong Thanh Holiday Ly Son (8.2 / 10 points). – Bep’s House (9.3 / 10 points). – Central Ly Son (7.2 / 10 points). What play 1. Hang Cau About 15 minutes by car from the center of Ly Son island district, Cau Cave is a famous destination for its fresh and pleasant air. Over time with the impact of wind and waves, the cliffs in Cau cave have been deeply gouged out to form many special and impressive shapes. Here, you will be immersed in the cool blue water, enjoy the poetic, peaceful scene and enjoy taking pictures by check-in. Hang Cau is a famous check-in place in Ly Son. Photo: Bing29496, Iam.rachelbui, Nhonho200496. 2. Hon Mu Cu Located 3.2 km from the district center, close to the An Hai boat mooring puddle, Mu Cu islet is a new check-in site recently unearthed. The scene here is wild, created by black rocks with unique shapes. Hon Mu Cu is known as the most ideal sunrise viewing place in Ly Son Island. Photo: Lenglynnn, Kimtien_1208. 3. Arch Gate This is a tourist attraction in Ly Son, To Vo gate 2.5 m high, formed from the volcanic eruption millions of years ago. Around the gate are shiny black lava rocks with strange shapes. You can visit To Vo Gate at any time of day, every hour brings a different interesting perspective. The clear blue sea water in Ly Son Island always attracts tourists. Photo: Lindathuw, Bing29496. 4. Be Island Dao Be, also known as An Binh Island, is about 1 km from Ly Son island district. This place is becoming the “island tourist paradise” in the Central region, attracting many tourists, especially young people. Here, visitors will be immersed in the clear water and fine white sand beaches, participating in fun activities such as diving, watching coral, camping and eating seafood. The cost to see coral is 120,000 VND / person. After you agree, the islanders will take you to the middle of the sea by basket boat. They will also be your guide and protection throughout your journey to explore the underwater world. The wild natural scenery of Be Island. Photo: Tvkhang1412, Phuongngabui_, Gucci318, Huyentrangg262. Eating Garlic and seaweed salad are two famous specialties that must be tried in Ly Son. The seaweed here is not limp and fishy, ​​in contrast it is fragrant with crunchy. Meanwhile, the garlic salad has a special aroma. When sipping, you may feel spicy, but when swallowing it will feel warm garlic flavor. Reference shops: – Phat Hai Seafood Restaurant, located near the busiest entertainment area on the island, is a delicious seafood restaurant in Ly Son that is well-known. Spacious airy space with a variety of seafood for you to choose from. Price is about 100,000-650,000 VND. Dai Hang Seafood Rice: The restaurant has a diverse and rich menu for diners to choose from. Average price is about 100,000-700,000 VND.

Again, this project was started more than 5 years ago. Resolution of the XIXth Congress of the Party Committee of Quang Ngai province has identified the implementation of the project as one of the key tasks to promote socio-economic development, especially tourism. At the end of 2019, the Ly Son – Sa Huynh Geopark project was sent to UNESCO and passed the preliminary round, awaiting UNESCO’s recognition. But now, considering withdrawing the project, the opportunity for international tourists to know about this unique geological area is very fragile. Ly Son Island (Quang Ngai) – Photo: LE THI THU THANH Geopark is a unique natural area with high geological, historical and cultural value. Recognizing this geological area, the country will have specific regulations on planning and conservation to protect its unique value, while also introducing it to the world, especially tourists. For a province with few tourism products like Quang Ngai, this is an opportunity to promote the local image, revive the way of sustainable tourism. It is a pity to deny this opportunity while the revenue of the local tourism industry is still modest, only about 1,100 billion VND (in 2019). Ly Son island district in recent years is mentioned quite interestingly by many beautiful natural seascape. If only that, Ly Son is also difficult to compete with other destinations because our country has 28 provinces and cities bordering the sea with a length of more than 3,200 km and hundreds of islands near the shore. Beautiful scenery everywhere, but when it comes to geological parks recognized by UNESCO, there are only 3: Dong Van Rock Plateau (Ha Giang), Cao Bang Non-country and Dak Nong. Without perfect protection policy, soon Ly Son – Sa Huynh special geological area will be compromised. Look at Quang Nam’s “neighbor” doing tourism. An ancient town of Hoi An, quiet for hundreds of years, is suddenly a destination attracting tourists from all four directions. The idyllic, abandoned My Son in the forest has been awakened by great historical and cultural values ​​… Quang Nam’s “Heritage Road” brand is always in the tourist handbook of international tourists for decades. More specifically by numbers: in 2019, Quang Nam attracts more than 4.6 million international visitors, tourism revenue of more than 4,600 billion. This is cultural – historical – scientific tourism, so immediate effects cannot be expected. However, cultural tourism will have a stable source of income, creating sustainable jobs for local residents. Therefore, Quang Ngai province needs to consider carefully when making a decision on the Ly Son – Sa Huynh Geopark project.

Nguyen Ngoc Ga, a photographer living in Da Lat (Lam Dong) often spends once a year to visit his hometown of Quang Ngai. Leaving the busy streets of tourists in Da Lat, he felt a peaceful breath in his days back home. “I come from Quang Ngai but only come back once a year so I don’t know the point, I have to look it up online. In the morning, I often go for a walk and record the daily life of the people. very beautiful, “shared Ngoc Ga. In the photo, a resident is catching mussels in Sa Huynh. During her return to her hometown, Ngoc Ga spent her time traveling to many places such as My A Sea, Sa Huynh Sea, Sa Huynh salt field, Ly Son island, Ba To mountain area … “Quang Ngai is a pristine land, The weather is harsh, hot and often subject to natural disasters and floods, “he said. My A sea mouth (Duc Pho) has a vague color in the moment of harmony between light and darkness. This is not a tourist destination that is often interested by tourists. This place mainly concentrates fishing boats of fishermen. Walking around this area you will also find breakwaters covered with green moss. People mentioned a lot about the breakwater and moss season in Phu Yen. However, few people know that in Quang Ngai, there are also wave-breakers in this beautiful picture. “The scenery here is beautiful but the tourism has not made a breakthrough. I think Quang Ngai needs to invest heavily in island tourism, connecting tours, routes, expanding the convenient shuttle system to Ly Son”, he commented. During the day wandering at the estuary of My A sea, Ngoc Ga waited until night to record the moment of the galaxy on top of the shipyard. A place with little light and fresh air like Quang Ngai is a great destination for photographers looking for “milky way” hunting. A corner of the starry sky above the waves covered with green moss. The gentle and peaceful life of the local people makes Ngoc Ga want to go more and record the moments of everyday life. These green fishing nets are indispensable tools for livelihoods for marine fishermen. However, it also often appears in the photos of many photographers. They often refer to these nets as “the ribbon of the sea”. “There are lonely trees in my hometown, but no one mentioned them,” said the photographer. This photo was taken by Ngoc Ga on Be Island (Ly Son). Compared to many other regions in Quang Ngai, Ly Son is more popular with tourists. However, according to Ngoc Ga, Quang Ngai deserves to be known more, instead of just Ly Son as it is now. “My hometown has a favorable geographical position such as Da Nang – Quang Ngai expressway, Chu Lai airport, Dung Quat deep sea port. More than 100 km of beautiful coastline with Ly Son, Yen ganh, Sa Huynh. .. Quang Ngai’s topography is also diverse and many relics, cultural and historical sites “, Ngoc Ga said.