Quan Lan Island's development is based on its reliance on the sea.

Quan Lan is an island commune located about 40km from the center of Van Don district. In recent years, the Party committee, government, and people of the commune have effectively exploited the potential and advantages of marine economic development, especially tourism, fishing, and aquaculture, to build a stronger and more prosperous homeland.

The walking trail is an attractive destination for tourists visiting Quan Lan commune (Van Don district).

Blessed with the natural beauty of an island commune in the middle of the ocean, in recent years, Quan Lan commune has effectively utilized investment resources, combined with developing its internal strengths, to improve infrastructure, contributing to socio-economic development and making tourism and services a key economic sector.

One of the projects driving the development of the commune's tourism economy is the 640-meter-long pedestrian walkway, running along four villages: Thai Hoa, Dong Nam, Bac, and Doai, which has been in use since 2023. The walkway is divided into three areas: folk games, food , and cultural exchange. These areas feature stalls selling OCOP products from Quan Lan, specialty products from various regions, and street food.

In addition, some guesthouses and hotels along the route have decorated their grounds with flowers, ornamental plants, and miniature landscapes to create photo spots and musical performances for tourists. The total investment for the project is nearly 1.5 billion VND, funded by the state budget, social contributions, and public donations. The route operates from 7 PM to 10 PM every Saturday evening, offering tourists a new perspective and experience of the destination.

To improve the quality of tourism services on the island, the commune has focused on investing in and upgrading infrastructure; and training and improving the quality of human resources in tourism. To date, the entire commune has 72 accommodation establishments, restaurants, and hotels serving tourists.

On the other hand, the commune actively preserves, develops, and promotes tourist attractions such as Eo Gió, Quan Lạn communal house, Quan Lạn fishing village, and the pristine mangrove forest; and develops tourism products to provide interesting and attractive experiences for tourists, such as: a day as a fisherman, squid fishing, digging for sea worms, catching clams, visiting Ba Mùn National Park, etc. In 2024, the total number of tourists to Quan Lạn reached 135,150; of which, foreign tourists accounted for 526. Total revenue from tourism and services reached 230 billion VND.

Tourists experience catching fish with farmers in Quan Lan commune (Van Don district). Photo: Dao Linh

Leveraging its strengths in aquaculture and fisheries, the commune has implemented many sound policies and orientations to create sustainable development for this economic sector across all three areas: exploitation, aquaculture, and processing. In particular, the harvesting of sea worms consistently accounts for over 60% of the total value of aquatic products in the area, providing stable employment for 400-500 workers.

Currently, Quan Lan has a total aquaculture land area of over 1,130 hectares, of which 516.16 hectares are planned for aquaculture. After typhoon No. 3 in 2024, the commune allocated 269 hectares within the planned area to 10 cooperatives with 127 members to reassure the people and allow them to borrow capital to cultivate high-quality aquatic products, contributing to increased income, reducing pressure on natural exploitation, and serving the conservation of aquatic resources.

The entire commune also has 105 boats specializing in coastal fishing. In 2024, the commune government focused on directing and comprehensively reviewing fishing activities, thoroughly addressing existing issues related to combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing in the area; completing the replacement of floating materials to meet environmentally friendly aquaculture standards; and disbursing 9 loan disbursements to fishermen from the Social Policy Bank totaling 4 billion VND for building new boats and purchasing fishing gear. As a result, the total output of fishing, aquaculture, and fishing in the commune reached 10,150 tons.

In 2024, the commune's production value growth rate reached over 15%. State budget revenue reached over 3.4 billion VND. Average income reached 165 million VND/person; the commune no longer has poor or near-poor households according to central and provincial standards; and continues to maintain the criteria and indicators of a model new rural commune for the 2021-2025 period.

Minh Yen

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