10/10/2016
Cù Lao Chàm (Hội An city) was recognized by UNESCO as the World Biosphere Reserve on 26th May, 2009 with exceptional values on biodiversity, culture, history and particularly as a distinctive and strong proof of the combination and interactions between nature and humans in conservation and promotion of global values.
 |
| Coral reef is typical of Cù Lao Chàm island |
Cù Lao Chàm is endowed by the nature with poetic and rare beauty, of which the most impressive landscapes are nine pristine and charming beaches with blue water, white sand and gold sunlight shadowed by green coconut trees of many fruits.
The coral reef is typical of the tropical oceans and has typical features of the island, which are rare resources of Việt Nam and the region. With 311 ha of coral reefs, more than 300 species of 15 hard coral reef families; 15 species in 11 genus of six soft coral families which are the habitats of 200 fish species in 85 genus of 36 families; sea landscape of Cù Lao Chàm is colourful, beautiful and attractive.
Cù Lao Chàm is one of islands in Việt Nam that still has high forest cover; the forest is the place of many rare fauna and flora genetic resources. Of which, there are medicinal plants (116 species), ornamental trees, orchids in the Northeast side with Renanthera species (huyết hung tía) and in the Southeast side with Cycas revoluta of around three hundred years old. In addition, there is Erythrina variegata species (vông nem) with a diameter of 2 m; some banyans with roots anchoring into rock cliff or around other timber trees which create a primitive, elegant and beautiful appearance. Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment has awarded the Heritage Tree Title to three banyans in the east side of the island, sánh tree and Casearia grewiaefolia (cây kén) in the bird net and the endemic Firmiana colorata R.Br forest in the island.
 |
| Cù Lao Chàm is one of few islands in Việt Nam that still maintains high vegetation cover |
The primitive forest makes up 95% of the area in the island with a diverse vegetation cover which is a habitat of many rare fauna and flora species: 12 mammals, 13 avian, 130 reptiles, including Aerodramus fuciphagus (yến hàng) and long-tailed macaque which are two species listed in the Việt Nam Red Book. As a place for bird’s staying and nesting, the bird net is located in rocky cliffs and in open cracks, about tens of metres height, has become an attractive destination for tourists to Cù Lao Chàm in many last years.
Being inhabited more than 3,000 years and having had commercial relations with the Middle East, China, India, Southeast Asia for more than 1000 years ago, going through Sa Huỳnh, Chăm Pa, Đại Việt, Việt Nam cultural eras, Cù Lao Chàm people have been continuing sharing, changing and developing to create a diverse, typical and characteristic cultural value of the island. With seven national relics, traditional legends, folklores, folksongs, lullaby melodies; festivals, traditional customs and social experience and professions of island residents have illustrated profound indigenous knowledge and humanity cultural characteristics.
Located in the central heritage tourism route including Huế - Đà Nẵng - Hội An - Mỹ Sơn, Cù Lao Chàm has been a very attractive destination, hundred thousands of guests visit the area; the number of guests is increasing. As in 2009, Cù Lao Chàm attracts 26,691 tourists, as in 2015 the number is 400,931 tourists. Currently, Cù Lao Chàm is having large-scale investment projects to improve the infrastructure and enhance the service to become a high-class resort centreas well as a place for scientific studies and research, training linkage and workshop and conference venues…
Not only being a wonderful ecological landscape, Cù Lao Chàm leaves good impressions in tourists with unique features: no nylon bags in the island, ecologically labelled stone crab; in addition, the tourism capacity is being studied to meet the increasing demands of entertainment and relaxation of tourists.
Trần Thanh
Cù Lao Chàm Marine Protected Area
