The island named Con Co island, more than 27km from the coast of Quang Tri, has a wild animal as big as a giant crab.

The sunset falls on Con Co ( Quang Tri ) with a brilliant yellow color, the clear blue sky and the murmuring waves make daily life on the island strangely peaceful.

That island is located on the eastern sea, a watchtower in the war against America in the difficult and heroic years. Now that island is peaceful amidst the murmuring waves, becoming a pearl island in the middle of the blue sea and sky.

Living among the waves

The sunset over Con Co (Quang Tri) is a brilliant yellow, the sky is clear blue and the waves are murmuring, making daily life on the island strangely peaceful.
Few people know that more than 66 years ago, this was also one of the enemy's key battlefields.

Welcome gate on Con Co island (Quang Tri province).

When mentioning Con Co Island, people cannot forget the heroic past during the years of fighting against American invasion.

How many bombs, bullets, and toxic chemicals were dropped by American planes and warships on this small island? More than 65 years ago, when the 17th Parallel divided the country in two, Con Co became the outpost of the Socialist North, the solid rear of the great front line in the South.

The US empire concentrated its air force and navy to surround and attack, dropping thousands of tons of bombs of all kinds on the island in an attempt to level and destroy Con Co island.

For nearly 1,500 days and nights, the army and people of Con Co lived and fought under the enemy's bombs and bullets. In nearly 1,000 large and small battles, Con Co soldiers shot down 48 planes and sank 17 American warships.

The vestiges of the arduous and heroic years of Con Co are still here. They are the 28-kilometer long traffic trench system, the artillery position, Ben Nghe tunnels, our soldiers’ water wells and two underground field clinics.

With those great achievements, Con Co was honored to be awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces by the Party and State twice, 2 Independence Medals and hundreds of other noble awards and letters of commendation from Uncle Ho.

In early August 2024, the Party Committee, army and people of Con Co island district were honored to receive the Third Class Labor Medalfrom the President .

Decades since the war ended, amidst the blue sea and sky, Con Co appears like a proud blue gem amidst the sea and sky.

Moreover, in the memories of those who fought to protect this island, Con Co is always the outpost, the eye of the mainland. Each construction, each house, each stone wharf... are touching stories of a difficult but very proud time.

Maintaining the island is a difficult process, but building the island to develop more and more is also a lot of effort. Con Co is one of 12 island districts in the country, but this island district is smaller in area, has fewer residents, is more economically disadvantaged, and has more limited investment costs. But that does not mean that the people here are less diligent.

Amidst the stormy seas, more than 20 years ago, the process of civilizing the island began. In 2022, 43 youth volunteers from Vinh Quang, Vinh Giang and Vinh Thach communes (Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri) boarded a ship to the island to build Thanh Nien Con Co island.

Those people, between rocks and waves, between trees and the sun, built the island day by day. Together with the Border Guard, the first islanders brought construction materials to shore, then loaded them onto tractors and transported them to the construction site with many difficulties.

There was no TV, no mobile signal, and landline phones had to be called through the military switchboard. The difficulty of fresh water for daily use was also not easy to overcome.

From the 43 young men of that day, the island has gradually become more vibrant. There are many people who still stay on the island until now, such as Mr. Trinh Viet Cuong, or Mr. Hien, Ms. Ai, Ms. Quyet...

Of the nearly 20 female volunteers on the first day, there are now only about 7 sisters left on the island, and there are 19 families that have lived on the island since those early days.

Over time, a new village was built in 2014. An additional 10 families with 34 people were approved by the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee to settle permanently on the island in 2017. Like a tree that has taken root in the island's soil, they have witnessed the island's daily changes and do not want to return, even though many people already have houses on the mainland.

Con Co - a peaceful island amidst the murmuring waves, becomes a pearl island in the middle of the blue sea and sky.

In their memories of the island, people like Mr. Cuong, Mr. Hien, Ms. Ai, and Ms. Quyet all remember the first days on the island filled with hardships. Building a house and establishing a new life, they increased production by growing vegetables, raising chickens, pigs, etc.

Con Co Island has been nurtured by the hands and minds of many generations of islanders, including the significant contributions of the early generations of youth volunteers. And once they got used to it, life became more peaceful with great support from the authorities at all levels.

Each household is assigned a plot of land with an area of ​​200 square meters, including a house and garden, along with all accompanying infrastructure such as internal residential roads, electricity and water supply systems according to standards.

In addition, households migrating to the island are also supported to stabilize their lives in the initial period, such as financial support of 12 months' salary. Households also enjoy policies to support production development, such as consulting and support to build a number of production and business models suitable to the specific conditions of Con Co island district.

Supported with livestock breeds for households raising livestock, poultry and aquatic products; unsecured loans to serve agricultural and rural development; interest rate support when borrowing capital to build new ships or upgrade ships for offshore fishing.

At the same time, migrant households also enjoy full health insurance policies, enjoy central and provincial policies on fisheries development, social security, and economic development support as applied to poor households in particularly difficult areas in Quang Tri province.

The Island of Dawn

On Con Co Island now, a new life has taken shape and begun to develop. The first residents of the island, in addition to basic administrative work, also increased production by raising livestock and poultry such as chickens, ducks, goats... to improve their lives.

Just like that, more generations of residents came to the island. Many generations of young volunteers stayed on the island, reviving the outpost of the Fatherland, creating conditions for them to go to school and become cadres like Mr. Thanh, Ms. Duyen, Mr. Nghia, Mr. Hien, Mr. Long. Many people also made efforts with the work of the front, cadres of the District Party Committee, the Management Board of the Con Co Island Marine Reserve...

Many people like Ms. Ai and Ms. Quyet have also opened shops to serve the people and tourists on the island. Day by day, they have gradually built a clean and beautiful island. New houses have been built, rows of trees have been planted in straight lines, and are cared for every day.

Children were born one after another, keeping them attached to this small island. After more than 20 years, in addition to Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten, the first primary school class opened on the island in the 2023-2024 school year, helping people fulfill their wish to stay on the island and the sea.

Ms. Ai and Ms. Quyet were the first generation of youth volunteers to go to the island. Now they are environmental workers, preserving the green beauty of Con Co island.

In 2017, the island was supplied with 24/24 hour electricity for the needs of the island and installed 2 more generators with a capacity of 1,000kVA. Thereby, creating a positive change in socio-economic development and especially tourism, as well as attracting more investors to learn and set up tourism projects with capital of thousands of billions of VND.

Now, this island is bustling with tourists. More than 400 people on the island work every day in administration, along with providing tourism services, bringing in a considerable income. In 2023, the average income per capita will reach 55 million VND/year.

There are two shipping companies taking turns transporting hundreds of tourists and goods to Con Co Island, leaving one morning and returning to shore the next morning.

Many new farming models such as stone crab farming have been developed by islanders. In 2004, after Con Co island district was established, in order to preserve stone crabs, hunting and exploitation in any form was banned.

When the natural supply was not met, the people of Con Co island district boldly brought stone crabs back to raise, initially bringing positive results. In 2016, the leaders of Con Co island district organized for people to go to Ly Son to visit the commercial stone crab farming model such as the family of Ms. Hoang Thi Lam (35 years old).

Many islanders have learned and raised stone crabs, bringing about stable economic efficiency. Currently, the selling price for each kilogram of finished stone crab fluctuates around 1 million VND. With unique stone crab products, it has become a typical product of the island.

Stone crabs in the sea of ​​Con Co island (Quang Tri province) bring stable economic efficiency with selling prices fluctuating around 1 million VND.

Mr. Trinh Viet Cuong, Deputy Chief of the Office of Con Co District Party Committee, shared that with the goal of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector, in 2024, Con Co strives to attract about 9,500-10,000 tourists. Revenue from tourism and services will reach about 15 billion VND.

In recent times, to continue implementing tourism activities to Con Co, the People's Committee of Con Co island district has proactively allocated funds to build a Traditional House (phase 2); renovate and upgrade Ben Nghe and tourist attractions; restore Thai Van A Observatory; decorate the flagpole area and central routes with LED lights to create more highlights for visitors to visit and take photos. Complete the multi-functional Sports Center of Con Co island district.

With a capital of nearly 1,500 billion VND, many essential projects were invested such as fishing ports, fishing logistics service areas, anti-erosion embankments to protect the island, electricity, water, traffic systems, and high-speed trains.

In addition, the district has also created conditions and encouraged households to invest, repair, and equip additional facilities to improve the quality of services such as: investing in electric vehicles, repairing motels and homestays, upgrading restaurants, and improving the quality of services.

With many efforts, in early August 2024, the Party Committee, army and people of Con Co island district were honored to receive the Third Class Labor Medal from the President.

Standing strong under the enemy's bombs during the years of resistance against the US to save the country, Con Co today is growing, gradually becoming a driving force for tourism development on the East-West economic corridor.

Now, when the sun sets, the island sparkles with electric lights like a thousand stars shining in the middle of the night sea. There, many generations of islanders and tourists enjoy a peaceful, dreamlike life.

Source: https://danviet.vn/hon-dao-ten-dao-con-co-cach-bo-bien-quang-tri-hon-27km-co-con-vat-hoang-da-to-nhu-cua-khong-lo-20241222212613653.htm