Tourists return 14 kg of pebbles taken from Co To beach many years ago

Tourists return 14 kg of pebbles taken from Co To beach many years ago, November 14. Photo: Nguyen Hai Linh .

On November 16, speaking with Tri Thuc - Znews , Mr. Nguyen Hai Linh, Head of the Department of Culture - Society of Co To Special Zone (Quang Ninh Province), said that two days ago, the unit received a special parcel sent by post from Ha Long. Inside were 14 kg of pebbles and an apology letter.

The sender is tourist VLN (residing in Ha Long ward, Quang Ninh ), who has been to Co To island many times during the period 2015-2018.

In the letter, N. said that out of curiosity and love for the beauty of the island, especially the rocky beach, he secretly took some rocks to display.

"Through information on the media, knowing that young people are struggling to rebuild the rare coral population on the island, I feel that my previous actions have damaged the pristine and pure beauty of this island.

Today, I am writing this letter to sincerely apologize to the people of Co To Island and to return the stones I brought back. I hope these stones will be returned to the correct rock beach on the island, restoring the beauty of this place," the letter reads.

Special parcel sent to the Department of Culture and Society of Co To special zone on November 14. Photo: Nguyen Hai Linh.

According to Mr. Linh, all the stones will be brought to Mong Rong rock beach on the island by officers of the Department of Culture and Society.

For many years, the locality has stepped up propaganda and encouraged tourists to "not take away - not take back" natural items such as rocks, shells, corals, etc. to protect the landscape and ecosystem of the islands.

The unit hopes that the tourist community, especially the youth, will continue to join hands to protect the marine environment and preserve precious natural values.

Tourists check in at Co To beach in June. Photo: Aki Lan.

Co To Special Zone has nearly 50 large and small islands, of which tourists mainly visit the large Co To island cluster, Co To Con and Thanh Lan.

On the big Co To island, there are Van Chay, Tinh Yeu (also known as Tau Dam), Hong Van, Bac Van beaches; on the small Co To island, there are Nam and Dong beaches. The most attractive points here are the long beaches, white sand, and clear water.

Co To’s beaches are also ideal places to watch the sunrise and sunset. Visitors can go to the market early to buy seafood and organize a BBQ party on the beach in the evening. The island also has a walking street, a night market and many historical sites.

To get to the island, visitors take a speedboat from Ao Tien or Cai Rong port, the journey time is from 90 to 120 minutes depending on the type of boat.

Recently, foreign visitors to Co To can also experience harvesting rice, plowing, carrying rice or raking clams.