The Halong Bay World Heritage Area is comprised of thousands of islands: big and small. Each island has its own geological characteristics, and Tuan Chau Island is the only earthen island of any size in Halong Bay. The fertile earth supports the island’s beautiful, natural treasures: pine trees, lakes, and a beautiful beach, and these are the reasons why President Ho Chi Minh chose Tuan Chau Island as a place to relax with other politcal leaders in 1959.
Tuan Chau has a population of about 1500 people It enjoys the advantage of having both road and river methods of transportation and is only about 18 km away from National Highway No.1. This area is an important part of the robust Hanoi – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh economic triangle. It takes about 3 hours to get to Tuan Chau Island from Mong Cai ( only 2 hours by boat) and 1 hour to get there from Hai Phong.
Tuan Chau Island’s name is a combination of ‘Linh Tuan’ (the patrolman) and ‘Tri Chau’ (district chief) because in feudal times, the royal army set up a guard station here to patrol and defend the borderlands. Prior to 1999, the island’s residents suffered from a very modest living standard. There was no power network and no clean water. Roads were only trails and there were no mechanical means of transportation. Tuan Chau was a very poor town where fishing with very rudimentary tools was the only means of earning a living.
Tuan Chau has become a well known, attractive destination for both international and domestic tourists, and includes places of interest such as :
– a dolphin & seal show
– a circus
– a crocodile show
– a 4 km long beach
– a Vietnamese culinary area
– a 200 room hotel and resort area matching 5-star standards
– a water recreation park with activities such as boat racing, canoeing, parachuting, water skiing, etc.
– Ha Long Bay sightseeing services by canoe, boat, helicopter.
– a high tech water fountain with music, laser lighting and film projection on water screens.
