Tet in Tho Chau - the most remote island commune on the southwest coast of the country

Amidst the vast sea and sky, Tet days in Tho Chau - the most remote island commune on the southwest coast of the country are always calm and peaceful.

Amidst the vast sea and sky, Tet days in Tho Chau - the most remote island commune on the southwest coast of the country are always calm and peaceful.

Although it is a commune of Phu Quoc city (Kien Giang province), Tho Chau is more than 100km from the city center and about 220km from the mainland (Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province).

Tho Chau is located about 220km from the mainland (Rach Gia city, Kien Giang province). This is a rare island commune in the country that still retains nearly 100% forest coverage.

Tho Chau commune includes the entire Tho Chu archipelago with 8 islands: Tho Chau, Hon Tu, Hon Cau, Hon Cao Cat, Hon Xanh, Hon Nhan, Hon Kho, Hon Da Ban, with a total natural area of ​​more than 1,398 hectares. .

People live concentrated in Bai Ngu, the only hamlet of Tho Chau island commune. This is also the headquarters of units of Military Region 9, Navy Region 5, Coast Guard Region 4, Border Guard Command and Kien Giang Province Forest Protection Department.

Every year, since before the Lunar New Year, many working groups from the mainland have come to visit, encourage, and wish the armed forces, the government, and the people of the island communes a happy New Year.

Mr. Do Van Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tho Chau commune, informed: This year's Lunar New Year, all goods and necessities are guaranteed at stable prices. The commune's current population is nearly 1,900 people with 549 households. People make a living mainly from fishing, aquaculture, boating, small-scale trading and doing preliminary processing and preservation of seafood for warehouses purchasing from offshore fishing boats.

Unlike on the mainland, Tet flowers often appear in Tho Chau very late. This year, on December 27, there will be a train bringing out Tet flowers to serve the needs of people, agencies and units on the island.

"Compared to 5 years ago, Tho Chau has had steady development, the average income per capita in 2023 is estimated to reach 33 million VND/year, the entire commune only has 1 near-poor household and 3 poor households," Mr. Dung adds.

Below are some pictures of Tet in Tho Chau - the most remote island commune on the southwest coast of the country:

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, a boat operator, said: Actually, on the island, few families have the habit of displaying Tet flowers, so sellers from the mainland are afraid to sell them. Tet on the island is different from normal days in that all work stops, I also tie up the boat because no one rents it

A corner of Tho Chau market, selling all kinds of vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish, no different from those on the mainland, but prices are 10% higher.

In the evening, the main "street" of the island commune is very short, driving a motorbike in less than 5 minutes and the road runs out. Tet is a relaxing opportunity for men to go to cafes and chat after days of hard work at sea.

Children are innocent on Tho Chau island

Long-time residents of Tho Chau say they like Tet days, the island is always quiet and peaceful.

The space is filled with warm sunlight

Border guards patrol the coastal road

On the southwest coast of the country, Tho Chau serves as a transit station for offshore fishing vessels from the Central region and inward. The island commune also has great potential as it is located near international maritime routes, including the shipping route Bangkok (Thailand) - Kom Pong Som (Cambodia) - Hong Kong (China) - Ho Chi Minh City.

Kien Giang 1448 view

Update day : 14/02/2024