Ly Son Island: Island of Ancient Volcanoes
A volcanic island encircled by a ring of reefs, Ly Son is a striking, stark, and geologically fascinating destination, off the coast of central Vietnam. This area currently has traces of 10 volcanic craters, including 3 craters located on the seabed, the ancient crater Hang Cau, and Hang Thuy Pagoda about 9-11 million years ago, creating the foundation of Ly Son island today. According to the Vietnam Institute of Geological Sciences and Mineral Resources, the volcanic cluster in Ly Son and the surrounding area reveals different types of rocks and lava representing different eruptions during the Quaternary period, about 11 million to 4,500 years ago. In January 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to classify 21 monuments across the country as national monuments. Among them, the Ly Son island district has two relics: the scenic Gieng Tien Mountain (An Vinh commune) and Thoi Loi Mountain (An Hai commune). For visitors, this means striking scenery like no other...