HAI PHONG: Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai District, next to the coastal city of Hai Phong City, has recovered after Typhoon Yagi.
In addition to restoring what has been destroyed, the revival offers a chance to develop the stunning island in a sustainable manner.
Cat Ba Island is located in the northeast of Vietnam, 165km from Hanoi and is known as the 'Pearl of the Gulf of Tonkin'.
The island is home to some amazing places including the Cat Ba Archipelago National Monument, Cat Ba National Park, Lan Ha Bay - one of the most beautiful bays in the world - and the Cat Ba Archipelago World Biosphere Reserve.
The Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was officially recognised by Unesco as a World Natural Heritage in September 2023.
The archipelago suffered terrible devastation from Typhoon Yagi in 2024. The fierce storm left bare forests, devastated beaches and destroyed aquaculture cages.
After nearly five months, the island has been revived and restored to its natural beauty and appeal.
Chairman of Cat Hai District People's Committee, Bui Tuan Manh, said after being devastated by the typhoon and subsequent flooding, Cat Ba had been reborn and had come back even more appealing to visitors.
One of the important breakthroughs helping revive its popularity is some upgrades to the transport infrastructure. The road system and wharf have received major investment and have been rebuilt in a more modern way, creating favourable conditions for travel and connection with neighbouring areas.
The bus system, high-speedboat service and a new and modern ferry terminal have helped tourists easily access the island.
"Businesses also play an important role in the revival. They not only invested in rebuilding affected areas but also promoted tourism development, bringing new services and experiences to visitors. These efforts have helped revive the local economy and create many job opportunities", he said.
The district welcomed 3,675,000 arrivals in 2024, up 20.3 per cent year-on-year. Among those, there were over one million international visitors, up 90.5 per cent year-on-year.
The district was looking to welcome four million visitors in 2025. - VNS/ANN
