The pristine beauty of Quan Lan Beach has yet to be spoiled and is amecca for tourists. The deep blue waters, strong waves and white sandybeaches span over several kilometres. Wild, green pines flank the beach,which adds charm to the pristine location.
Thebeach is on Quan Lan in Bai Tu Long Bay, which is 55km away from Ha LongCity.
Stilted guest houses hide under the lushfoliage of casuarinas. A brick-paved road leads tourists from theirbungalows to Quan Lan Beach.
Among the network ofinhabited islands, the beautiful isle of Quan Lan still remains largelyunexplored. The undeveloped island and its gorgeous white sand beacheshave been tagged by major investments that are aiming to expand itsshaky tourist infrastructure.
The sand on Quan LanBeach is stranger than the sand on other beaches. It's white, tiny, pureand smooth. The transparent water allows you to gaze at the bottom ofthe sea where you can watch fish swim around colourful coral.
Visitors can stay in bungalows on the beach or with locals in aquiet village. In the future, tourists are bound to discover thegorgeous shores of this island paradise, and its unsullied beaches arelikely not to stay isolated for too much longer.
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been a centre along the commercialroute. In the 12th century, Quan Lan was the first trading port ofVietnam built under the Ly dynasty.
In 1149, King LyAnh Tong took this place to set up Van Don town and Van Don tradingport in order to speed up commercial relationships between Vietnam andSoutheast Asian countries. Relics of former trading port have beendiscovered with traces of ancient architecture and grazed terracotta ofmetres thick to prove that this place used to be a crowded urban.
During the fifth and sixth lunar months, the area annuallycelebrates religious ceremonies to remember the area's former king, andresidents also hold boat rowing festivals.
In 1288,the beach was also the site of the well-known defeat of invading Mongoltroops, who were destroyed by General Tran Khanh Du's army. Tourists inQuan Lan can visit a temple dedicated to the General, where they canlearn about the history of the region and the achievements of thecommander. The temple's roof is hidden under pine canopies.Approximately 100 steps lead to the temple's entrance that is halfway upa mountain.
Because Quan Lan is a strategicallyimportant seaport, the French built a lighthouse on its shores in the19th century in order to protect the beach and to signal to passingmerchant ships.
For tourists resting on the beach inevening, the illuminations from the lighthouse look like a twinklingstar.
The dearth of post-midnight electricity makesnight life a wee bit difficult to sustain in this town. During theevening hours, locals and a few tourists stroll along the village's mainstreet, where sugarcane juice vendors and a few cafes stay open. Theonly sounds that dare to disturb the island are the melodic vibrationsof karaoke bursting from living rooms and local cafes.
Sa sung (kind of sea worm) is a speciality of the region. It's used incooking soup, which helps provide a wonderful taste and addsnutritional sustenance to dishes. Fishing for sa sung with the locals isa popular activity for tourists.
"While men in thevillage go fishing in the sea, we catch sa sung and sell them totourists and businesses on the main land as our secondary job," says alocal woman.
There are no five-star hotels at QuanLan Beach, but tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that hasyet to be overdeveloped./.
Thebeach is on Quan Lan in Bai Tu Long Bay, which is 55km away from Ha LongCity.
Stilted guest houses hide under the lushfoliage of casuarinas. A brick-paved road leads tourists from theirbungalows to Quan Lan Beach.
Among the network ofinhabited islands, the beautiful isle of Quan Lan still remains largelyunexplored. The undeveloped island and its gorgeous white sand beacheshave been tagged by major investments that are aiming to expand itsshaky tourist infrastructure.
The sand on Quan LanBeach is stranger than the sand on other beaches. It's white, tiny, pureand smooth. The transparent water allows you to gaze at the bottom ofthe sea where you can watch fish swim around colourful coral.
Visitors can stay in bungalows on the beach or with locals in aquiet village. In the future, tourists are bound to discover thegorgeous shores of this island paradise, and its unsullied beaches arelikely not to stay isolated for too much longer.
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan had been a centre along the commercialroute. In the 12th century, Quan Lan was the first trading port ofVietnam built under the Ly dynasty.
In 1149, King LyAnh Tong took this place to set up Van Don town and Van Don tradingport in order to speed up commercial relationships between Vietnam andSoutheast Asian countries. Relics of former trading port have beendiscovered with traces of ancient architecture and grazed terracotta ofmetres thick to prove that this place used to be a crowded urban.
During the fifth and sixth lunar months, the area annuallycelebrates religious ceremonies to remember the area's former king, andresidents also hold boat rowing festivals.
In 1288,the beach was also the site of the well-known defeat of invading Mongoltroops, who were destroyed by General Tran Khanh Du's army. Tourists inQuan Lan can visit a temple dedicated to the General, where they canlearn about the history of the region and the achievements of thecommander. The temple's roof is hidden under pine canopies.Approximately 100 steps lead to the temple's entrance that is halfway upa mountain.
Because Quan Lan is a strategicallyimportant seaport, the French built a lighthouse on its shores in the19th century in order to protect the beach and to signal to passingmerchant ships.
For tourists resting on the beach inevening, the illuminations from the lighthouse look like a twinklingstar.
The dearth of post-midnight electricity makesnight life a wee bit difficult to sustain in this town. During theevening hours, locals and a few tourists stroll along the village's mainstreet, where sugarcane juice vendors and a few cafes stay open. Theonly sounds that dare to disturb the island are the melodic vibrationsof karaoke bursting from living rooms and local cafes.
Sa sung (kind of sea worm) is a speciality of the region. It's used incooking soup, which helps provide a wonderful taste and addsnutritional sustenance to dishes. Fishing for sa sung with the locals isa popular activity for tourists.
"While men in thevillage go fishing in the sea, we catch sa sung and sell them totourists and businesses on the main land as our secondary job," says alocal woman.
There are no five-star hotels at QuanLan Beach, but tourists are able to enjoy a pristine atmosphere that hasyet to be overdeveloped./.
