Quang Nam (VNA) - Cu Lao Cham (ChamIslands) in the central province of Quang Nam has showed strong development inrecent times thanks to great contributions of young people, who are working topromote local economic development and ensure security and defence in theisland.

Covering a total area of 15 square kilometres inTan Hiep island commune in Hoi An city, Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of eightislets, namely Hon Lao, Hon Dai, Hon Mo, Hon Kho Me, Hon Kho Con, Hon La, HonTai and Hon Ong. 

It is home to 3,000 inhabitants living in allthe islets, which have vast ecological diversity.

The island boasts 1,500ha of tropical forestsand 6,700ha of sea featuring a wide range of marine fauna and flora, includingmany endangered species such as salangane (swallows), the long-tailed monkeyand the crab-eating macaque.

With its diverse eco-system andmulti-hundred-year-old historical sites, Cu Lao Cham was officially recognisedas a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in May 2009.

The island, 20km off the coast of Hoi An city,is a favourite eco-tour site for tourists, and was the first locality inVietnam to ban plastic bags and promote the 3-R (reduce, reuse and recycle)programme in 2011.

Tourism development in the island in recentyears has contributes to changing labour structure and improving livingstandard for islanders. 

It hosts about 100,000 tourists annually, ofwhich 10 percent are foreigners. The island welcomes nearly 3,000 tourists aday during the peak season. 

Visitors can participate in a number of tours inCu Lao Cham such as discovering the systems of caves, springs and rocks;snorkeling and watching coral and colorful fish in Bai Bac and Hon Dai; boatrowing; and visiting Huong fishing village or swimming. 

Secretary of the Communist Youth Union’s chapterin Tan Hiep commune Nguyen Minh Duc said about 70 percent of the locality’spopulation is joining in providing tourism services.

Local youths have been also actively getinvolved in tourism development as they works as tour guides and homestay andmotorbike service providers for visitors. 

With an increasing number of overnight-stayingtourists, the local authorities allowed the local Youth Union’s chapter toorganise campfire events at nights for tourists. This work both ensure safetyfor forest fire prevention and control in the island, and helps raise fund for disadvantagedpupils and student to pursue their study. 

The chapter also called on the Hoi An city’ssocial policy bank to provide low-interest loans for poor students in thecommune. 

Additionally, young people in the island alsouphold their pioneer role in protecting the environment.

Campaigns to clean the environment have beenarranged every week along roads and beaches, while drawing contests have beenlaunched for children, contributing to raising public awareness of protectingthe environment. 

As a key force in managing and performingpatrols in the island and surrounding coastal areas, youths from the Cu LaoCham border station is always in the vanguard of implementing duties of theunit, and actively works closely with the local youth force to carry out youthmovements. 

Senior lieutenant Phan Duy Tu, Secretary of theyouth union of the Cu Lao Cham border station, said youths’ activities of theunion are linked with the station’s duties, including joining patrols andinspecting fishing ships and cruise vessels in the locality. 

In rainy seasons, they activelycoordinate with other forces to help residents, and evacuate locals to safeareas. 

From the beginning of the year to now, throughpatrols, the island’s border guard force timely support the search of rescuefor three fishing ships, which was in distress in the sea. 

The youth union of the border station built alibrary with 600 book titles to serve the reading demand of soldiers andislanders. 

In any positions, local youths always stay readyto devote themselves to the island’s development./.