Travel Guide Île De Quan Lan

The island of Quan Lan played an active role in the commercial port of Vân Dôn, which flourished during the Ly dynasty (12th century) at the crossroads of maritime routes linking Vietnam, China, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. Today, nothing remains of this past, apart from archaeological traces. The island is home to a beautiful 17th-century communal house in honor of Trân Hung Dao, conqueror of the Mongols. The island, covering an area of 11 km2, stretches out lengthwise, dotted with fishing villages. Quan Lan's reputation among tourists is growing, and the name is being whispered, evoking the mythical beach in Alex Garland's novel (made famous by D. Boyle's film). The island's coastline is dotted with beautiful white sandy beaches bathed in clear waters, and remains relatively unspoilt by mass tourism. Unfortunately, however, the island is at the mercy of the sea currents, which litter the little paradise with garbage and plastic. These accumulate and sometimes take a long time to clean up. Another danger that could turn the myth into a mirage is the development of group holidays, which could lead Quan Lan down the well-trodden paths - already taken by Ha Long and Cat Bà - of tourist horror. But there's still time to visit Quan Lan, the beautiful unknown... It's easy to include a visit to Quan Lan in a tour that complements a cruise on Halong Bay.