Awaken… Pisces
Ngư Island has been considered a natural barrier protecting the eastern part of the Cửa Lò and Cửa Hội areas throughout the history of nation-building and defense. And now, as Ngư Island is gradually being invested in to become a key tourist destination of the province, many believe that it's time for Song Ngư... to awaken.
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In late June, I took the newly opened cable car across the sea to find my way there.Ngư IslandIn stark contrast to the intense heat and scorching hot winds from the mainland, upon setting foot on the island, I was greeted by a vast, lush green landscape, filled with endless trees and the joyful sounds of birds.
Looking west from Ngư Island, to the left is Cửa Hội, also known as Hội Thống or Hội Hải Khẩu, meaning the place where hundreds of rivers and streams converge, flowing from the Lam River into the sea. To the right of Ngư Island is Cửa Lò, formerly called Xá Hải Khẩu, where the waters of the Cấm River (formerly called the Xá River) merge with the East Sea.
Historical records state that in the 15th century, King Le Thanh Tong, while touring the South, stopped his boat to visit Song Ngu Island. In the 18th century, the scholar Bui Duong Lich (1757-1828) also wrote famous poems about Song Ngu Island. He later described the topography of the Cua Lo area and Song Ngu Island in his "Nghe An Chronicle".
In the 19th century, Dr. Duong Thuc Hap (1835-1920), from Quynh Doi commune (Quynh Luu district), who passed the Third Class Doctoral examination in the year of Giap Than, Kien Phuc 1st year (1884), and was also appointed as the Head of Education in Nghe An province, wrote a poem titled "Hoi Hai" describing the scenery of this place:“Thousands of miles of water flow down the Lam River / Flowing gently from the mountains / The two peaks of Song Ngu stand close together / High in the distance, surrounded by the wind / Fishing boats bob up and down morning and evening / Merchant ships come and go in all four seasons…”
Ngư Island, also known as Song Ngư Island, is formed by two mountains 133m and 88m high above sea level. The island covers an area of 2.5 km² and is located about 4km from the coast. The two rocky mountains of Ngư Island were described by ancient people as resembling two fish leaping amidst the endless blue waves. With its beautiful shape and proximity to the mainland, right on the North-South sea route, the name Ngư Island has appeared frequently in poetry and literature since ancient times."Pisces, vast and boundless / If the time is right / Talented people will flourish.".
Currently, on Ngư Island, there is also Song Ngư Pagoda - an ancient pagoda over 800 years old, built in the early 14th century during the Lý-Trần dynasties. The pagoda is built on a spacious area of over 11,000 square meters.2This is where fishermen often stop by to pray for safety before setting sail.
Meeting Venerable Thich Minh Huong, the abbot of Song Ngu Pagoda, I gained a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural values of this pagoda. It is one of the rare pagodas built on the island and is over 800 years old. This demonstrates the historical and cultural significance of this island throughout the nation's history.
Venerable Thich Minh Huong said: Like many ancient temples in Vietnam, Song Ngu Temple worships the Buddha, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, various Buddhas, and Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon, who made many contributions in the fight against the Yuan-Mongol invaders in the 13th century and is also a benevolent deity who always protects the people of the coastal region.
Regarding Song Ngu Pagoda, the "Complete Chronicle of Dai Viet" and legends also recount the love story between General Tran Khac Chung and Princess Huyen Tran. The book states that "In the winter, in the tenth month, the Emperor sent the Minister of the Interior, Tran Khac Chung, and the An Phu envoy Dang Van to Champa to bring Princess Huyen Tran and Prince Da Da back. According to Champa custom, when the king (King Che Man) died, his queen had to be cremated. King Tran, knowing this and fearing for Princess Huyen Tran's safety, ordered Khac Chung and his men, under the pretext of attending the funeral, to speak to the Champa people:"If the princess is cremated, there will be no one to preside over the funeral rites. It would be better to go to the sea to summon her soul from the edge of the sky, welcome her spirit back, and then cremate her later; it wouldn't be too late."The Champa people obeyed. Khac Chung used a light boat to abduct Princess Huyen Tran... On this return journey by sea, Khac Chung stopped the boat at Ngu Island, and together with Princess Huyen Tran, went to the temple to worship Buddha."
In the temple courtyard, there is still an ancient well, also known as the "fairy well," with clear, blue water that almost never dries up, along with two ancient banyan trees, hundreds of years old, providing shade over the entire front courtyard. Venerable Thich Minh Huong also said that since 2003, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has invested significant financial resources in restoring the temple. Every year, many tourists from near and far, upon hearing about Song Ngu Temple in Cua Lo, overcome difficulties and travel across the sea to visit the temple.
"Nowadays, with easier travel between the island and the mainland, we hope that more and more tourists will discover this sacred ancient temple."
Venerable Thich Minh Huong
To develop Ngư Island into a tourist destination, since 2019, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Decision approving the detailed construction plan at a scale of 1/500.Cua Hoi Amusement Park, Cua Lo town. According to this plan, in addition to the amusement parks on the mainland, an area of over 12 hectares, comprising various functional zones and a cable car station, has been developed on Ngu Island.
Currently, the cable car station area, along with several functional areas such as restaurants and check-in points along the western foothills of Song Ngu Island, has been constructed and opened to visitors since June 1, 2024. This has contributed to creating a new look for Song Ngu Island, a blend of modernity and the ancient charm of the old temple, contributing to the harmony and balance of this green island.
Mr. Hoang Thanh Son, Head of the Culture and Information Department of the Cua Lo Town People's Committee, enthusiastically shared some information with us. He stated that on December 29, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee approved the investment plan for the restoration and renovation project of Song Ngu Pagoda. The restoration and renovation of Song Ngu Pagoda will contribute to meeting the spiritual needs of local people and serving the needs of tourists visiting Cua Lo for Buddhist worship. At the same time, it will contribute to creating a harmonious connection within the landscape of Ngu Island tourist area, laying the foundation for the development of local culture, economy, and tourism. The good news is that this project is entirely funded through social contributions, with a total budget of over 31 billion VND, sponsored by the Thien Tam Fund - Vingroup Corporation.
On April 8, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision 861/QD-UBND approving the detailed construction plan at a scale of 1/500 for the project to restore and renovate the historical relic of Song Ngu Pagoda. “These are important steps in promoting the development of tourism in Cua Lo. Along with the completion of the expressway, which shortens travel time from Hanoi to Vinh, this has contributed to attracting a large number of tourists to Cua Lo in general and Ngu Island in particular,” Mr. Son shared.
Once the construction of tourist attractions on the island is completed and the restoration and renovation of Song Ngu Pagoda is finished, more and more tourists from near and far will know about Ngu Island.”
Mr. Hoang Thanh Son - Head of the Culture and Information Department, Cua Lo Town People's Committee
In fact, while on Ngư Island, interacting with many tourists from several northern provinces, we received quite surprising answers. Many first-time visitors to Ngư Island were surprised that this island, located less than 4km from the mainland, was still relatively unspoiled and little known to tourists. They believe that with proper development, Ngư Island could be just as good as famous tourist islands like Phú Quý or Lý Sơn.
Mr. Phan The Doan, a tourist from Hanoi, said: "Although I've been to Cua Lo many times, this is the first time I've set foot on Ngu Island. The most surprising thing is that there's an ancient temple here that's little-known. This is understandable, as traveling between the mainland and the island used to be quite inconvenient."
Once transportation becomes easier, Ngư Island will also need to undergo significant transformation to provide tourists with more enriching experiences and ensure their trip is worthwhile.
Mr. Phan Thế Doãn - A tourist from Hanoi
It is clear that for Song Ngu Island to transform, it will certainly require more time, especially in building infrastructure to serve tourism, as well as accommodation facilities, restaurants, culinary services, and new and unique entertainment venues. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to retain tourists on the island. In particular, despite being relatively close and having received approval from the Northern Power Corporation for a national grid power supply to the island many years ago, this has yet to be implemented. The island still relies on low-capacity solar power and generators. The lack of grid electricity will hinder the island's transformation. This is something that relevant authorities need to consider and implement soon.
Only in this way can we realize the policies and resolutions for the development of tourism in Cua Lo in general and the Ngu Island tourism complex in particular, contributing to the sustainable development and further expansion of tourism.
On June 14, 2021, the Standing Committee of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 01-NQ/TU on the construction and development of Cua Lo town until 2025 and beyond. The goal of this Resolution is to focus all resources on building Cua Lo into a rapidly and sustainably developing tourist town, becoming, along with Vinh City, a leading growth engine and innovation center of Nghe An and the North Central region; with increasingly progressive socio-cultural development, improved material and spiritual lives for the people; strong national defense and security; and a comprehensively strong political system.
The issuance of Resolution 01 demonstrates the determination of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee to develop Cua Lo tourism into a key economic sector with synchronized tourism infrastructure and facilities, diverse and high-quality tourism products that are environmentally friendly, deeply rooted in national cultural identity, and possess a strong brand with high competitiveness. The goal is to maximize all potential and strengths to develop tourism into a leading economic sector, building Cua Lo into an attractive destination with distinctive tourism products, and establishing it as a major tourism center in the North Central region.
