The North Sea island not only has Cat Ba, Co To … but also Long Chau archipelago with a 100-year-old lighthouse and a wild and magnificent natural landscape.
Where is Long Chau Island?
Long Chau Island, also known as Dragon Eye Island, is an archipelago located southeast of Cat Ba island and about 50 km from Hai Phong city center. Currently, Long Chau is under the management of the Long Chau Border Observatory.
This archipelago has a total of about 30 islands, made up of limestone and reefs, creating unspoiled terrain, creating curiosity for visitors interested in exploring.
There are no residents on the island, but only officers and soldiers guarding the lighthouse and Long Chau observatory. This place is also not a professionally touristized place. Only those who really want to discover the majestic beauty of nature will come to Long Chau and experience the life here.
No residents living nor exploiting tourism, the space here is peaceful and pristine. Photo: biengioibiendao.vietnamplus.vn
Although not exploited for tourism, Long Chau Limestone Island still plays an important strategic role. This place is considered a guard post to the estuary of Ha Long and Hai Phong. Therefore, the ancient lighthouse with a lifetime of more than 100 years was built on a very large scale. From a distance, the lighthouse appeared on the veranda like a giant pen tower between the vast sky and earth.
What to play on Long Chau island?
You will not find a motel, hotel or a luxury tourist service on this wild island of Long Chau. Therefore, when deciding to make a trip here, prepare all necessary furniture and a spirit of steel to explore the amazing nature.
The lighthouse over 100 years old stands between white and gray limestone islands. Photo: tinTM.com
Coming to Long Chau, the first thing that you should do is to find the 100-year-old lighthouse, climb up the steps to reach the lighthouse and zoom down to the entire sea. You will find the nature really majestic with characteristic white limestone islands located peacefully in the emerald blue sea water. On some limestone islands, there will be grass and some typical trees, covered with a green patch as a highlight in the middle of the sea.
To fully explore the wild and poetic beauty of the archipelago, you should hire a boat to carry around the island. The high rocky mountains climbing in the middle of the ocean or the calm and peaceful sea surface all bring memorable emotions.
The interesting thing about this remote archipelago is that there are very few species of plants. Because the limestone terrain is not suitable for plants to grow. Here there is only a characteristic gray color of cat’s ear rock and gourd, some medicinal plants with weeds. So during the daytime, the island is usually very sunny.
Taking a boat ride around the island to discover the majestic beauty of the limestone mountains is a must-try. Photo: vietnammoi.vn
Currently, on this limestone island, there is only one restaurant selling specialties of mountain goats. You can visit here to enjoy dishes from goat. If you can’t eat goat meat, prepare some dry foods like cakes to take with you on your journey.
Guide to Long Chau island
To reach this 100-year-old lighthouse island, the only way is by boat or boat. From the city center of Hai Phong, you can go to Ben Beo, Cat Ba to rent a boat to the island with prices from 400,000 – 600,000 VND / boat. A ship usually carries about 10 people.
The second option is to go to Dinh Vu ferry or Ben Luan (Cat Ba) to charter a boat to Long Chau. The price is up to you to negotiate and depending on the number of people who will board the boat to the island.
Note when coming to Long Chau archipelago
Although it is a beautiful archipelago with a majestic natural landscape, Long Chau is not allowed to exploit tourism but mainly serve for observation and guarding. Therefore, before you want to visit and explore the island, you must apply for a permit from the Management Board of the Border Observatory about 3-5 days in advance.
Want to come here to visit and explore, you must ask for permission from the Border Guard in advance. Photo: letuananh
On Long Chau Island there is no water source so you must bring water to drink, as much as possible. Since there is no overnight accommodation, it is best to go during the day and then return or combine travel to Cat Ba Island for convenience and saving time.
Finally, on the island there are mountain goats and snakes, you should be careful when traveling and preferably in large groups. In addition, if you want to take beautiful photos on the island, you should take it looking down from the lighthouse. If you want more romance, you should wait for the moment of sunset.
Photo: Internet