The red flag with yellow star flutters in Ly Son on June 29 - Photo: TRAN MAI
On the afternoon of June 29, the atmosphere on Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai was bustling, red flags with yellow stars and banners "Ly Son Special Zone welcomes you; welcome to Ly Son Special Zone" filled the streets. People were full of expectations.
Waiting for the moment Ly Son becomes a special economic zone
Local people and officials eagerly await and hope for a new chapter of change to come to Ly Son.
Mr. Tan owns a small tea shop opposite Ly Son Square. He said that the island is changing every day. This man, who used to be a long-time fisherman in the Hoang Sa fishing grounds, said he is looking forward to the day Ly Son officially becomes a special economic zone.
The reason is that he has quite interesting milestones. Like before 2014, the life of Ly Son people depended on agriculture and fishing. Then the change came when national electricity crossed the sea from the mainland to Ly Son.
"Since then, Ly Son has changed dramatically. Hotels and restaurants have sprung up everywhere. People's lives have gradually shifted to tourism and services. Everyone is happy," said Mr. Tan.
Mr. Tan told the people of Ly Son to wait for the historic moment that will take place tomorrow morning (June 30). At that time, Ly Son will not only change its name from a district to a special zone, but also the policies of the Central and the province for the special zone.
"I think tomorrow the announcement and the special economic zone coming into operation from July 1st will also be the time when Ly Son turns a new page. The policies will attract big investors, turning the island into a tourist paradise.
Before, I thought it would be very difficult for Ly Son to become a tourist paradise, but now I believe it. I hope the Central Government's decision will help Ly Son take off once again," Mr. Tan confided.
Ly Son has changed now. Tuoi Tre reporters can clearly see that through more than ten years of living in Quang Ngai. Perhaps, besides the event of connecting electricity from the mainland to Ly Son, today Ly Son becoming a special economic zone is the event that people have been waiting for the most in the past 10 years.
Mr. Tan, a fisherman, has now returned to shore and opened a sweet soup shop in the center of the island. The sweet soup shop is always crowded with tourists - Photo: TRAN MAI
Ly Son people are waiting for the historic moment when the island officially becomes a special economic zone - Photo: TRAN MAI
With each decision made, we clearly see Ly Son developing.
Mr. Duong Minh Tri (64 years old) said he has lived on Ly Son all his life and remembers every event on the island. Yet today he is still waiting for time to pass quickly so that he can make it to tomorrow morning.
Mr. Tri pointed to the bustling shops and streets filled with tourists and told about a difficult time.
"Every policy of the Central Government has a direct impact on Ly Son. Like when electricity is turned on, Ly Son lights up, the number of tourists visiting the island increases day by day. I think when Ly Son becomes a special economic zone, the island will become a place for tourists to "spend money", and the lives of the people will be better than now," said Mr. Tri.
Not only the people of Ly Son, but also the tourists who come to the island at this time also share the atmosphere of the homeland of Hoang Sa Fleet. Hoai Vy (HCMC tourist area) said that she was lucky to travel to Ly Son at the right time in the history of the country.
"I didn't expect to be there at the historic moment when Ly Son Island became a special economic zone. Ly Son Island is very beautiful. I hope that the investment policy for the special economic zone will make the island more beautiful. Hearing the excitement of the people, my friends and I were also happy," said Ms. Vy.
Tourists visit and take photos at Hang Cau scenic spot, Ly Son on June 29, 2025 - Photo: TRAN MAI
Ben Dinh Port welcomes dozens of passenger and cargo ships to Ly Son every day - Photo: TRAN MAI
The historic moment is coming, said Ms. Pham Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Ly Son district, very happy. Ms. Huong also hopes that Ly Son special economic zone will have more policies and large capital sources to develop into a sea and island tourism center as proposed in Resolution 26 of the Politburo.
Ms. Huong said that Ly Son has a 1/2000 planning, currently the proportion of tourism accounts for 50% of the total production value of the island. The head of the People's Committee of Ly Son district is sure that when it becomes a special economic zone, in just 5 years the proportion of service tourism will account for about 75%.
"Every policy of the Central Government aims to make people's lives more and more prosperous. I absolutely believe that Ly Son Island will shorten the time to become a tourist paradise when it becomes a special economic zone. I am very happy and like the people, I hope tomorrow morning comes quickly," said Ms. Huong.
The administrative center of Ly Son district has been changed to Ly Son special zone - Photo: TRAN MAI
Ly Son Special Zone Medical Center is spacious and modern - Photo: TRAN MAI
Ly Son Special Economic Zone changes every day
About 15 nautical miles from the mainland, Ly Son island special zone has a natural area of 10.39 square kilometers, a population of more than 22,000 people and is located right on the sea route from north to south and right at the eastern gateway of Dung Quat Economic Zone, 90 nautical miles from the international maritime route.
With this position, Ly Son is the country's outpost island district, playing a role in ensuring national sovereignty and security at sea, while also having many potentials and advantages in natural tourism resources, cultural history, etc.
In recent years, Ly Son island district has strongly developed tourism , trade and services. From the traditional coastal life associated with offshore fishing boats and growing onions and garlic, the islanders have shifted to the tourism and service sectors.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ky-vong-dac-khu-ly-son-se-tro-thanh-thien-duong-du-lich-20250629192904874.htm
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