A new village paints has just been unveiled on An Binh Islet, Ly Son District, Quang Ngai Province.
Tam Thanh Village in Quang Nam Province has emerged as a new tourist destination after being brightened up with murals last year thanks to a joint project between Vietnam and South Korea, however all daubed by South Korean artists. There are 18 paintings on the An Binh islet, which is fewer than Tam Thanh, but these masterpieces were painted by Vietnamese.
The murals are the result of a project themed “I love the sea and islands/Born to live wild”, co-organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Ly Son Marine Protected Area in early June.
Only 11 murals were planned at the beginning, but locals decided to try their hands and the number rose to 18. Hong Minh, a volunteer, told that it took 10 artists 10 days to complete 10 paintings, after which volunteers stepped in and started working on railings and water jars.
Local authorities hope the paintings will change local people’s attitudes towards the marine environment, especially to wild animals. The murals should also lure more tourists to Ly Son.
Sea turtles feature in many of the murals as the islet is among the few places in Vietnam they can still be found, but their numbers are falling.
Tourists enjoy having their photos taken by the colorful walls. Before the project, the islet’s services were limited to swimming, diving and camping.
According to Kim Dong, a tour operator on An Binh, the number of tourists has risen sharply.
Taking a boat out is a great way to explore the islet. Paddling a coracle and diving are popular activities among tourists. It costs VND60,000 (over $2.6) per person for a group of three or four, including life jackets and goggles.
Read more: 6 Emerging Destinations In Vietnam