"Sea Eye" in the middle of the ocean

(Baonghean) - Mat Island is located about 20 km southeast of Cua Lo beach. There are many stories explaining its name, but the most talked about and told story is the story of To Nuong waiting for her husband.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named To Nuong from An Lac, Ha Tay. She married a man from Ham Hoan (now Nghe An). Both she and her husband participated in the Hai Ba Trung uprising until the uprising was suppressed and they lost each other. To Nuong missed her husband so much that she sailed to Ham Hoan to find him. However, the journey was dangerous and she met with an accident and drifted to an island called Quynh Nhai. Being a woman on a long journey, the danger was unpredictable. She was exhausted and had no means to go to the mainland so she had to stay on the island and could only stand on the island day and night, looking towards her husband's homeland, waiting wearily until he passed away. Moved by his loyal heart, the people named the island Mat Island.

Tourists visit Mat Island. Photo: Tran Hai

Mat Island with 70% of the area is rocky mountains but still has its own wild beauty. The rocks are stacked on top of each other like sediments and historical steps, so Mat Island is likened to the Dong Van stone plateau of Ha Giang. Mat Island - an attractive tourist destination of Cua Lo Town. Standing on the highest peak of Mat Island, we can see the whole island, a green color of mountains and forests, interspersed with a few terraced fields of vegetables, rice, rocky outcrops and blue sea water - a beautiful scene that is not inferior to other places.

Mat Island is also covered by a rich vegetation. Here, there is a species of island fig that is considered the symbol of the island. The fig grows from the crevices of rocks. The trunk of the fig tree is not as tall as the fig tree on the mainland but is extremely strong and sturdy. The fig fruit is also smaller than on the mainland but has the salty taste of the ocean, the sweetness of the few pieces of soil on the rocky island. Along with the fig tree, there are also many banyan trees. The ancient banyan trees have tightly intertwined roots and hug each block of rock like the spirit and strength of the island soldiers facing the waves and winds all year round.

At night on Mat Island, the wind blows coolly, the waves rustle, the air is fresh and pure. Around the island, countless bright, sparkling lights radiate from the fishermen's fishing boats like a floating city. The scenery is very peaceful... Mat Island is an important outpost to protect the peace of the mainland. On the island, there are green forests with many species of seabirds, goats, wild boars... which are diverse eco-tourism potentials that attract tourists. In the middle of the ocean, Mat Island is also known as the "eye of the sea." When going out to sea, fishermen will feel more secure when the island guards and protects them.

TB (Summary)