It has been nearly 60 years since Unclo Ho visited Co To Island on May 9, 1961. At that time, Co To was a poor land with its simple infrastructure. Having engraved in mind Uncle Ho’s teachings, the island district’s army and people have always united to build Co To into a dynamic economic region as well as a strong fortress to protect sea and island sovereignty of the Northeast of Vietnam.
With the infinite respect for Uncle Ho, the army and people on the Co To Island asked for Uncle Ho’s permission to build his statue. The aspiration of Co To islanders was then agreed by Uncle Ho. The meaningful work was inauguarated on May 22, 1986, marking Co To is the only locatity nationwide which received Uncle Ho’s permission to build his statue when he was alive.
Nearly 60 years since Uncle Ho visited the island, Co To people are always proud of being visited by Uncle Ho. In 2013 since the district was connected to the national grid, Co To District has seen strongly development. In 2016, Co To was the second locality of Quang Ninh Province and the first island district in the country that has been recognized for completion of the new rural construction program.
For many years, Co To people have always united to actively build a strong and prosperous island from the high rate of poor household to the current rate of 0.5% and strived for no poor household in next years. In 2019, Co To makes efforts to get an average income of more than 88 mil.VND/ person/ year, 100 % of people using clean water, etc.
Notably, with successful tourism growth, Co To has become a dynamic island, connecting the remote island with the mainland and welcoming tens of thousands of tourists. In the 2019 tourism season, Co To District strives to increase tourism revenue from 10% and over compared to the figure of 498 bil. VND in 2018. In the first 6 months of 2019, the district received 81,716 tourist arrivals, a 7.3% year on year increase. Revenue from tourism reached nearly 145 bil. VND, up 9% over the same period last year.
To facilitate tourism growth, Co To District has invested in many large-scale project and put into use since the beginning of this year, especially 5.1 km long Co To trans-island road which plays an important role in national security in the frontline island and a developing beach resort.
Co To is researching to develop other special tourism products in line with the local advantages, such as: beach tourism combined with medical treatment, MICE tourism (the combination of tourism, conference, event, gala dinner, social activities, charity), spiritual tourism etc.
Co To is on the way to become a focal point in the province’s sea and island economic development strategy and the firm fulcrum of the fishery industry throughout the Northeast sea region as well.
Translated by Thu Giang
