Lý Sơn District - Wikipedia

Special administrative region in South Central Coast, Vietnam

Lý Sơn Đặc khu Lý Sơn
Special administrative region
Lý Sơn Special Administrative Region
Lý SơnLocation of Lý Sơn District in Vietnam
Coordinates: 15°22′51″N 109°07′03″E / 15.38083°N 109.11750°E / 15.38083; 109.11750
Country	Vietnam
Region	South Central Coast
Province	Quảng Ngãi
Capital	Lý Sơn
Area
• Total	10.39 km2 (4.01 sq mi)
Population (2019)
• Total	22,174[1]
• Density	2,134/km2 (5,527/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (UTC + 7)

Lý Sơn (listenⓘ), previously known as Cù Lao Ré,[2] is an insular region of Quảng Ngãi province, lying off the South Central Coast of Vietnam.

Geography and geology

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The district covers approximately 9.97 km2 (3.85 sq mi) of land on the Cù Lao Ré volcanic islands, consisting of two off-shore volcanic islands in the South China Sea, and a few islets. The main island, Lý Sơn (Cù Lao Ré) has three prominent craters, the largest of which is Mount Thoi Loi (Thới Lới). Hydrothermal waters on Lý Sơn provide heat for the local power plant. The secondary island is known as Little Island (Cù Lao Bờ Bãi) and is also well populated.

Climate

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Climate data for Lý Sơn
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	30.4(86.7)	29.9(85.8)	31.7(89.1)	33.7(92.7)	35.9(96.6)	36.4(97.5)	36.2(97.2)	36.8(98.2)	35.5(95.9)	33.0(91.4)	31.5(88.7)	31.0(87.8)	36.8(98.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	25.2(77.4)	25.7(78.3)	26.8(80.2)	28.9(84.0)	31.2(88.2)	32.4(90.3)	32.5(90.5)	32.5(90.5)	31.0(87.8)	29.2(84.6)	27.8(82.0)	25.8(78.4)	29.1(84.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	23.1(73.6)	23.4(74.1)	24.3(75.7)	26.3(79.3)	28.3(82.9)	29.5(85.1)	29.5(85.1)	29.5(85.1)	28.4(83.1)	27.1(80.8)	25.9(78.6)	24.0(75.2)	26.6(79.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21.7(71.1)	21.8(71.2)	22.8(73.0)	24.6(76.3)	26.3(79.3)	27.2(81.0)	27.2(81.0)	27.2(81.0)	26.2(79.2)	25.2(77.4)	24.3(75.7)	22.6(72.7)	24.7(76.5)
Record low °C (°F)	16.9(62.4)	16.3(61.3)	15.4(59.7)	19.8(67.6)	21.8(71.2)	23.1(73.6)	23.0(73.4)	22.9(73.2)	21.8(71.2)	21.2(70.2)	20.0(68.0)	17.1(62.8)	15.4(59.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	123.9(4.88)	53.5(2.11)	89.1(3.51)	61.7(2.43)	113.5(4.47)	56.1(2.21)	52.5(2.07)	124.8(4.91)	411.7(16.21)	513.2(20.20)	429.7(16.92)	262.5(10.33)	2,302.8(90.66)
Average rainy days	14.4	8.5	7.1	4.8	6.4	4.4	5.3	8.2	14.8	19.6	19.7	19.4	133.0
Average relative humidity (%)	85.5	88.2	89.9	89.5	86.4	81.8	80.3	80.0	83.5	85.3	85.6	84.7	85.2
Mean monthly sunshine hours	147.2	170.3	213.0	230.	278.3	264.9	265.8	254.3	197.2	164.6	138.0	101.4	2,394.3
Source: Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology[3]

History

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Remains of the pre-200 C.E. Sa Huỳnh culture have been found on the islands. The Cham used Ly Son as a transhipment base. Xó La well, one of the wells used to provide fresh water for ships, still remains on the shore of the main island and is still in use.[4] The islands were used as a geographical landmark for navigation by Admiral Zheng He's crew during the 15th-century treasure voyages.[5] In the 17th century the Nguyễn lords started a colony on the islands from An Vĩnh, Bình Sơn district, in Quảng Ngãi, as part of the activities of the Hoàng Sa Company's development of the Paracel Islands.[6] During the United States involvement in the Vietnam War, Lý Sơn was the site of a U.S. Navy radar installation that was used to track shipping along the Vietnamese coast.

Economy

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The economy was founded on,[6] and remains, primarily based on seafood extraction. Lý Sơn is a major offshore fishing center with an output of 29,000 tonnes worth VND241.2 billion ($11.4 million) in 2012, accounting for almost one fourth of Quảng Ngãi's total.[7]

Lý Sơn is also known throughout Vietnam for its production of a special variety of garlic,[8] although coastal sand mining to support its extensive cultivation has led to significant erosion. In the 21st century Lý Sơn began to develop its tourist industry.

Tourism

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Lý Sơn island is well known for its number of scenic spots and freshly-served seafood among Vietnamese locals.

Here are the following tourism attractions:

• To Vo Gate (Cổng Tò Vò)
• Mount Thoi Loi (Núi Thới Lới)
• Hang Cave (Hang Câu)
• Garlic fields

Culture

[edit] See also: Vietnamese folk religion

As in other parts of coastal Vietnam[9] whales are important in local mythology and religion. Around one hundred whale skeletons are kept in temples, the largest and most important of which is in Tan Temple in An Hai Commune.[10] According to a local legend, the 200-year-old skeleton are the remains of Nam Hai Dong Dinh Dai Vuong (the king of whales), the most powerful whale in the South China Sea.[10] Whale skeletons are worshiped and huge funerals are held when a stranded whale is found because they are believed to protect fishers while they are at sea.[10]

Administrative divisions

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Lý Sơn district is a special district. It is not divided into administrative divisions.

Gallery

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• Lý Sơn Island in the background, seen from Sơn Thủy area.

Notes

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1. ^ https://opendata.quangngai.gov.vn/organization/huy-n-ly-son#:~:text=Di%E1%BB%87n%20t%C3%ADch%20c%E1%BB%A7a%20huy%E1%BB%87n%20L%C3%BD,d%C3%A2n%20s%E1%BB%91%20%C4%91%E1%BA%A1t%202.134[permanent dead link]
2. ^ Ré, Cù Lao at GEOnet Names Server
3. ^ "Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology" (PDF). Retrieved 16 August 2023.
4. ^ Hardy 2009, 111
5. ^ Mills, J.V.G. (1970). Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' [1433]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 17–8. ISBN 0-521-01032-2.
6. ^ a b Chemillier-Gendreau, Monique (2000). Sovereignty Over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Kluwer Law International, page 72, ISBN 90-411-1381-9. retrieved on 28 April 2010
7. ^ "Fine weather brings bumper fishing haul". Viet Nam News. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
8. ^ "Garlic smells sweet to one island"[permanent dead link] Vietnam Development Gateway, 26 June 2007, accessed 28 April 2010
9. ^ Why Vietnamese villagers are dragging dead whales inland Adam Bray, CNN (25 February 2010):
10. ^ a b c The fishermen’s protector on Ly Son Island Saigon Times (6 August 2010):

References

• Hardy, Andrew (2009): "Eaglewood and the Economic History of Champa and Central Vietnam" in Hardy, Andrew et al.: Champa and the Archeology of My Son (Vietnam). NUS Press, Singapore

v t e Districts of the South Central Coast of Vietnam
Da Nang city	Urban districts Cẩm Lệ Hải Châu※ Liên Chiểu Ngũ Hành Sơn Sơn Trà Thanh Khê Hòa Vang Hoàng Sa§
Bình Định province	Quy Nhon city※ An Nhơn town Hoài Nhơn town An Lão Hoài Ân Phù Cát Phù Mỹ Tây Sơn Tuy Phước Vân Canh Vĩnh Thạnh
Bình Thuận province	Phan Thiết city※ La Gi town Bắc Bình Đức Linh Hàm Tân Hàm Thuận Bắc Hàm Thuận Nam Phú Quý Island Tánh Linh Tuy Phong
Khánh Hòa province	Cam Ranh city Nha Trang city※ Ninh Hòa town Cam Lâm Diên Khánh Khánh Sơn Khánh Vĩnh Trường Sa§ Vạn Ninh
Ninh Thuận province	Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm city※ Bác Ái Ninh Hải Ninh Phước Ninh Sơn Thuận Bắc Thuận Nam
Phú Yên province	Tuy Hòa city※ Đông Hòa town Sông Cầu town Đồng Xuân Phú Hòa Sơn Hòa Sông Hinh Tây Hòa Tuy An
Quảng Nam province	Hội An city Tam Kỳ city※ Điện Bàn town Bắc Trà My Đại Lộc Đông Giang Duy Xuyên Hiệp Đức Nam Giang Nam Trà My Nông Sơn Núi Thành Phú Ninh Phước Sơn Quế Sơn Tây Giang Thăng Bình Tiên Phước
Quảng Ngãi province	Quảng Ngãi city※ Đức Phổ town Ba Tơ Bình Sơn Lý Sơn Minh Long Mộ Đức Nghĩa Hành Sơn Hà Sơn Tây Sơn Tịnh Trà Bồng Tư Nghĩa Lý Sơn Island
※ denotes provincial seat. / § Sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa archipelagoes is disputed as of 30 December 2025.