A visit to Ha Long would be incomplete without a wander around Tuan Chau Island.

Tuan Chau Island is an island on the south-west side of Ha Long City. The name of Tuan Chau is the combination between Tuan in “linh tuan” (the patrolman) and Chau in “tri chau” (district leader) since in the feudal time, the armed force built a guard station here to patrol and safeguard the borderland.

Before 1998, the island was extremely poor and isolated from the mainland and the people on the land experienced a very low standard of living standard. The only living mode is fishing with very rudimentary implements and there were just trails without mechanical transportation. In 1998, a project of building a 2 kilometer cement road was processed. It is to connect the island with national highway No.18 and the city and play a significant part in developing the island.

Additionally, a modern entertainment complex and modern tourist resort was set up and Tuan Chau Island has been well known for its entertainment and recreation activities. It includes a dolphin & seal club, a circus, a crocodile club, a Vietnamese culinary area, a hotel & resort area of 5-star standard with 200 rooms; an artificial beach with 4 km white and fine sand long and a water recreation park with activities such as motor racing, canoeing, parachuting, etc.