Kien Giang (VNA) – The southern coastal provinceof Kien Giang has outstanding advantages for marine tourism compared to othersouth-western localities, and it is working to turn its Hon Son Island,considered a masterpiece of the nature, into a tourist magnet.

Hon Son, or Hon Son Rai, belongs to Lai Soncommune of Kien Hai district. It is located between Hon Tre island commune andNam Du archipelago.

Untouched natural landscapes, pure environment,blue sea, and beautiful sand beaches such as Bai Nha, Bai Xep, Bai Bang, BaiBo, Bai Bac, Bai Gieng and Bai Thien Tue, are a few attractions to name.

Hon Son has roads skirting around and traversingit, together with streams, Bai Nha and Bai Bac wharfs, and Mount Ma Thien Lanhthat is highest in the island. It also houses several temples and pagodas,along with traditional festivals imbued with specific cultural values.

Dang Van Huong, Vice Chairman of the Lai Soncommunal People’s Committee, said the tourism potential of Hon Son Island isbeing tapped. Lai Son welcomed a record of more than 10,000 tourists in theNational Tourism Year 2016, which took the theme of Phu Quoc – Mekong Delta.

Despite certain infrastructure and servicesshortcomings, Hon Son has gained a foothold in the tourism industry of KienGiang and the whole Mekong Delta, he noted.

In the absence of modern hotels, luxuryrestaurants or high-end services, Lai Son is promoting home-stay service. Thecommunal People’s Committee is working with relevant agencies to providetraining on communication skills and tourist services for businesses andhouseholds which want to do tourism activities.

Many infrastructure facilities have also beenbuilt to serve socio-economic development such as roads and wharfs. In November,2016, a 110kV power line was put into operation to supply electricity from themainland for some 2,000 households with more than 8,000 people in Lai Soncommune.

A longed-for freshwater reservoir with a volumeof 80,000 cu.m. is under construction, expected to be another source offreshwater supply for islanders.

Vice Chairman Huong said it now takes only 90minutes to go from Rach Gia city in the mainland to Lai Son by high-speedboats, helping to bring more and more tourists to the island commune.

The power line and freshwater reservoir – twokey projects – along with other infrastructure facilities have given a faceliftto this island commune and provided an internal momentum for local social-economicdevelopment, especially tourism, he added.

While a tourism site on Bai Bang beach of HonSon Island is waiting for approval, restaurants and hotels are being built onBai Bo beach, and tourism products like swimming, coral diving, sightseeing byboats, fishing, and a trekking tour of Mount Ma Thien Lanh are being developed.They are helping to turn Hon Son Island into a tourist attraction.

The communal authorities will step up promotinginvestment that matches local natural conditions with a view to developingsustainable tourism in Hon Son Island, Vice Chairman Huong said.

In the short term, they will focus on home-stayservice, protecting the environment and natural landscapes and ensuring safetyfor visitors so that Hon Son will truly become an attractive and friendlydestination, he added.-VNA