Located near the mainland, with pristine nature and and rare seafood, Con Co island in the central province of Quang Tri has become a popular destination in recent years.

Con Co is about 15 nautical miles from Cua Viet Port in Gio Linh District. There is no passenger ship to the island so tourists often hire fishing boats. Another way is to ask for a ride on public ships or vessels carrying construction materials to the island.

The small island of Con Co has a long and interesting history. The island looks like a plump green pearl rising from the ocean and experts consider its geology, biology and scenery a museum of biodiversity.

The evergreen island is 80% natural primeval forest, which has remained in pristine condition despite the passage of time. It was formed by a volcano which left behind giant, strange shaped basalt rocks and many stunning beaches that have turned the island into a charming and splendid place.

The flora on the island is very diverse, with many giant trees, measuring 15 to 20 feet wide. Some are unique to the islands, such as the striped-trunk trees and many kinds of wild potatoes with huge leaves.

The island is also home to a rich array of marine life with 113 types of coral, 57 kinds of seaweed, 19 different crustaceans, and 224 saltwater fish species, as well as 164 species of flora and 68 types of fauna and seafood such as oysters, lobsters, crabs and mussels.

There are two endangered species of crabs on the island that are able to live on the ground or in the water and are strictly protected.

The island also has some historical relics including a 20-kilometer-long military tunnel, and a number of blockhouses along the beaches.

People have come from the mainland to settle on Con Co for hundreds of years and many soldiers have sacrificed their lives to protect it.

Local authorities plan to invest about VND300 billion to develop infrastructure on the island to improve local living standards and develop tourism.

Popular tours on the island include scuba-diving, canoeing, fishing and marine sports. However, these activities are mainly offered by local residents who still struggle to do business professionally due to a lack of adequate infrastructure, such as electrical power and accommodations, together with a lack of transport to the island.