Quan Lan is a beautiful island of Quang Ninh province, featuring green open space and freshly pristine scenery. Many cultural and historical monuments that marked the glorious victory of Vietnamese people are found on the island.
Quan Lan is a gorgeous island, which is appealing to tourists with its long stretch of sandy beaches. This place is tranquil enough for tourists to feel the taste of the sea and hide away from the fast rhythm of everyday life.
Like reaching Co To Island, visitors to Quan Lan also depart from Cai Rong Port. There are several options for you to reach Quan Lan Island, like starting from Cai Rong Port in Van Don district or from Hon Gai Port in Ha Long City.
The trip on Bai Tu Long Bay, to reach Quan Lan Island, is actually unforgettable for any travellers because of the feeling of pure immensity in the vast space of sky and sea. The sea is very calm. Travellers will be free from fatigue caused by seasickness. Setting foot on Quan Lan Island, the first impression is the slow motion of 3-wheel tuk-tuk vehicles going through sand dunes shaded by casuarina groves with leaves moving in rhythm with the wind. The sea is romantic sparkles in the sun.
The first place you should visit is Quan Lan Communal House where you can burn an incense to pay tribute to renowned general Tran Khanh Du who led the army of Tran Dynasty to defeat Mongol invaders in the 13th century. The communal house was built in the 17th century - during the Le Dynasty administration - in Cai Lang, an ancient trading port, to worship King Ly Anh Tong who founded the Van Don trading port in 1149. This is a beautiful old architecture which was elaborately made from tembusu timbers which only grew on Ba Mun rock island, Van Don. Patterns were carved and sculpted meticulously, sophisticatedly and subtly. After centuries, the wooden columns remain intact to the nature and insects like termite.
Legend has it that the communal house is very sacred, not only to islanders but also prayers who pray for good life.
Needless to say, beautiful beaches are must-go places when you go to the sea. Quan Lan has many picturesque beaches like Dau Lang and Son Hao where sand, in a sloping terrain, is thick and fine and water is pure and clean. Minh Chau Beach is sandy and windy. In Quan Lan, you have various options for four types of accommodation: Motel, hotel, resort and house on stilts. Minh Chau Beach is the first seaside resort with a full range of services like restaurant, coffee and bicycle for rent.
Quang Ninh seafood is famous for deliciousness but tasting in the space of blue sea and white sand makes the favour unforgettable. At dawn when the dew is dripping, you can leisurely wander along the seashore to the Tan Doai seafood market near Quan Lan Communal House or down to the Dau Lang cliff to explore the spectacular, pristine beach.
Islanders are very courteous. Apart from comfortable hotels, you can stay at small-scaled high-quality old-style but friendly hotels. Homestay is a good option if you are keen on exploring the culture and nature. You can join with the host to catch fish at night or dig to catch sipunculus nudus at beaches at the sunrise.
If you are finding a pristine beach for the holiday, Quan Lan Island is an interesting option. Nature is always generous but also very fair. Tourism activities somewhat affect the environment and the island landscape. The island also has to cope with wastes and other problems. Whoever comes to Quan Lan always wishes it a hideaway with ever-white sand and ever-blue sea like a pearl of the sea inside the Ha Long Bay - the Natural Wonder of the World.
Vietnamese
