Lesson 2: "Opening the way" to the island

Con Co Island has no shortage of potential to become a unique tourist destination, so why has it been progressing slowly for so many years? It's not because it lacks beautiful scenery, nor because it lacks stories to tell. The problem lies in the fact that access to the island is not yet fully accessible – and behind this are fundamental bottlenecks in infrastructure, mechanisms, and resources that have yet to be resolved.

Developing Con Co Island into a tourism and service center, while maintaining its role as a strong outpost at sea. (Photo: VNA)

The project was conceived early, but the process has been lengthy.

The story of developing tourism on Con Co Island was actually raised quite early. On April 19, 2010, at the 20th session of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Council, the plan to develop Con Co Island into a tourist island by 2020 was approved, with a total estimated budget of 986 billion VND; the initial phase, until 2015, alone required approximately 641 billion VND. This is a large sum, reflecting significant expectations for this strategically important island. But as many planners say, "having a plan" is only the starting point. The deciding factor lies in the resources and the implementation method.

It took seven years, until 2017, for the tourist route to the island to officially begin operating. The first boat departed carrying tourists and the hope that Con Co Island would enter a new chapter. From that milestone, the island began to move forward. Infrastructure was gradually invested in; accommodation and food services gradually developed; and experiences such as island tours, snorkeling, and fishing began to appear.

Base point A11 in the Con Co Special Zone - one of the landmarks affirming national sovereignty at sea. Photo: Nguyen Linh/TTXVN.

From 2017 to April 2024, the island welcomed over 38,400 visitors, generating approximately 44.6 billion VND in revenue from tourism and services. In 2025, the Con Co Special Economic Zone is expected to welcome over 9,268 visitors, with estimated revenue exceeding 13.9 billion VND. These figures, for a newly established destination, are noteworthy. However, when considered in relation to its potential, the room for growth remains enormous.

According to Mr. Pham Thanh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Co Special Economic Zone, there are currently 14 accommodation establishments on the island with approximately 78 rooms and 254 beds. The transportation route from Cua Viet to the island has two boats, each with a capacity of over 240 passengers. Four households have started operating food and beverage services, capable of serving more than 200 guests simultaneously.

Tourists enjoy the experience of touring the Con Co Special Economic Zone by electric vehicle, fully exploring the lush green beauty of this strategically important island. Photo: Nguyen Linh/TTXVN

Support services are also gradually improving, including electric sightseeing vehicles, boat rentals, fishing, snorkeling, camping, and water sports. Some local products such as fish sauce, dried fish, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, sea grapes, and king oysters are beginning to make their own mark.

Mr. Tuan stated: In 2026, the locality will focus on renewing tourism products such as coral viewing by glass-bottom boats, bonfires, cultural exchanges, etc., with the goal of welcoming more than 12,000 visitors and generating revenue of approximately 18 billion VND. Con Co Island is changing. But clearly, that is still not enough to create a turning point.

The "bottlenecks" behind the wave

The small, narrow harbor entrance prevents large ships from docking at Con Co Island, becoming one of the limitations in transportation connectivity to the island. Photo: Nguyen Linh/TTXVN

In the development story of Con Co Island, there are some immediately visible problems – such as the dependence of boats on weather conditions. But there are also deeper, more subtle "bottlenecks." Mr. Tran Xuan Anh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of the Con Co Special Economic Zone, named four main "bottlenecks": transportation, fresh water, human resources, and mechanisms. Of these, transportation is the "root bottleneck." Just a rough sea, with winds of force 5-6, forces small boats to stop. At that time, almost all plans are "frozen," tourists cannot reach the island, and people on the island cannot travel to the mainland. For tourism – an industry heavily dependent on stability – this is the most direct and obvious obstacle.

But behind transportation lies a whole other set of problems. The island's internal infrastructure – from electricity and water to environmental treatment and telecommunications – despite investments, still falls short of long-term development requirements. In particular, freshwater resources are limited during the dry season, a crucial condition for any type of accommodation.

From a business perspective, Mr. Duong Ba Hung, General Director of Top Ten Travel Company, believes that the bottleneck lies not only in infrastructure. Mr. Hung shared: "The effective operating time each year is short. Frequent disruptions to ships make it difficult for businesses to develop stable products, especially for group tours or international partners. As a result, tour costs increase, while selling prices struggle to compete with developed destinations like Da Nang or Nha Trang – where infrastructure is complete and operations can be year-round."

Another "bottleneck" lies in tourism products. Currently, most tourists visiting Con Co Island only stay one night. Their trips usually stop at sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, exploring the forest, or learning about historical sites. When night falls, the island almost "goes to sleep early"—lacking experiential activities. Specialized products such as ecotourism, environmental education, and marine research are not yet systematically organized. The service chain is therefore fragmented and insufficient to retain tourists. At a deeper level, policy mechanisms are a "soft but decisive bottleneck." Although some incentives exist, they are not strong enough to attract strategic investors. Some procedures related to investment, land, and construction—especially for projects linked to national defense and security—are still lengthy. These bottlenecks are not isolated; they are interconnected, creating a vicious cycle: Insufficient infrastructure makes attracting investment difficult. Lack of investment makes infrastructure difficult to improve; unstable transportation hinders product development.

"Opening the way" is not just about trains.

The small, narrow harbor entrance prevents large ships from docking at Con Co Island, becoming one of the limitations in transportation connectivity to the island. Photo: Nguyen Linh/TTXVN

Looking directly at the "bottlenecks," the question is no longer "whether to develop or not," but "how to develop." Mr. Nguyen Duc Tan, Director of the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center of Quang Tri province, said that the locality is making efforts to gradually remove obstacles. From investing in essential infrastructure such as electricity, water, and intra-island transportation, to improving service quality, the special economic zone's government is striving to create an initial foundation for a nascent destination. Investment promotion and marketing efforts are being intensified; coordination with transportation units to increase the frequency of ferry services to the island is being maintained under favorable conditions. At the same time, plans to upgrade transportation are being studied to reduce dependence on weather conditions.

At the community level, according to the Director of the Quang Tri Provincial Center for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion, encouraging local people to participate in tourism – from homestays to food and beverage services and experiences – is gradually forming a local ecosystem. In attracting investment, the local government is actively reviewing and proposing mechanisms suitable to the specific conditions of this frontier island, gradually removing barriers for businesses. The development of tourism in an ecological and sustainable direction, linked to the conservation of resources and historical values, is also clearly defined. While these movements haven't created dramatic changes yet, they are contributing to laying the foundation.

From a planning perspective, Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, believes that priority should be given to removing traffic bottlenecks – a key factor in forming a stable tourist market.

Tourists arrive at Con Co Island by speedboat, docking at the port as they explore this strategically important island in the middle of the ocean. Photo: Nguyen Linh/TTXVN

According to Mr. Quynh, it is necessary to increase the frequency and quality of high-speed boats, ensuring stable operation even in not-too-unfavorable weather conditions. Simultaneously, infrastructure development should focus on ecological and environmentally friendly approaches; prioritizing suitable accommodation models such as bungalows and homestays, incorporating green technology. Another important direction is to develop in-depth tourism products, such as experiential tours like "A Day as an Island Soldier," "Journey to Discover the Green Island," or "Night Scuba Diving," to extend the length of stay and increase tourist spending. "When these elements are implemented synchronously, Con Co Island can completely become a unique destination – rich in historical value and attractive for its ecological experiences," Mr. Quynh stated.

It's clear that "opening access to the island" isn't just about adding a few more ferry trips; it's a comprehensive solution – from infrastructure and products to mechanisms and organizational development. Recent developments are creating initial momentum. Con Co Island is no longer waiting, but is gradually "opening its own path." And if the "bottlenecks" are properly and effectively addressed, Con Co Island can completely move beyond its "slow-moving" state and embark on a different journey – a journey to assert its position on the map of Vietnam's island and coastal tourism. (To be continued)

Lesson 3: A "breakthrough" mechanism is needed for a breakthrough.

By Manh Thanh - Nguyen Linh (VNA)

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/bai-2-mo-loi-ra-dao-a202164.html