Con Dao deserves to be a Special Economic Zone with separate mechanisms for breakthroughs.

New life

Most tourists and former prisoners returning to Con Dao after many years of living and traveling have the same feeling: Con Dao is changing day by day, people's lives are improving. Waterway and air traffic are expanding, effectively connecting with major centers such as Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Hanoi, Soc Trang , Vung Tau...

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Asphalt road leading to the center of Con Dao

Con Dao has no more poor households, more than 6,000 workers have been employed, 100% of the population has access to clean water, medical services, vaccinations, and teachers meet the prescribed standards. Security and defense work is maintained, closely combining economic development with the task of protecting sovereignty over borders and islands.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Chi, 75 years old, a former prisoner of Con Dao, shared that this was the first time since Con Dao was liberated that he had the opportunity to return to this land.

Mr. Chi said that this time he chose to go by sea to the island, because this is a favorable view for him to look back at the sacred land from the sea.

From Ben Dam pier, Mr. Chi felt the fresh, cool air and the lush green of the mountains and forests along the route leading to the center of the island. The scenery had changed a lot compared to before liberation, when he and thousands of patriotic revolutionary soldiers were detained and imprisoned.

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Con Dao prison system is always sought after by tourists.

"I intended to fly to the island, but I decided to take a boat to observe. First, stepping onto the island after many years of returning, I felt that the natural forests here are preserved, very green. Although the population is still sparse, the infrastructure in Con Dao is well planned, can be kept for the future of future generations. Not only preserving the revolutionary tradition but also leaving a sacred land, protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the fatherland," Mr. Chi shared.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, Phuoc Hung ward, Ba Ria city said that from 2014 until now, she has been to Con Dao 4 times, but each time she comes here, everything changes very quickly, from the infrastructure system, there are many 4-5 star hotels, people's lives improve, the level of cultural and medical enjoyment is greatly increased.

According to Ms. Tuyet, although Con Dao has changed a lot in appearance, one thing has not changed, which is the vitality of the land of revolutionary history and tradition.

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Ms. Tuyet is always grateful to the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the peace of today.

Every time she comes to the island, Ms. Tuyet always feels grateful to the ancestors who sacrificed for the peace of today.

"The economic and geographical changes of Con Dao are very fast and beautiful. However, the vitality of Con Dao and the sacredness of this land remain unchanged. Every time I set foot on Con Dao, I always feel grateful and remember the sacrifices of the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed so that Con Dao can have a beautiful and prosperous life like today. Next time I will continue to return to Con Dao because I really like this sacred land," Ms. Tuyet added.

As a special economic zone in the future

According to the People's Committee of Con Dao district, after 50 years, the local economic structure is shifting in the right direction, following the direction of "Tourism - services, industry, agriculture - forestry - fishery", in which the tourism - services - trade sector accounts for the majority, reaching over 92%.

The island district currently has 30 investment projects underway, including 25 domestic projects with a total investment capital of about VND1,691 billion and 5 foreign-invested projects with a total capital of about USD37 million.

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The historical site of Pier 914 is always a destination for tourists when coming to Con Dao.

Mr. Le Anh Tu, Secretary of Con Dao District Party Committee, said that after the reorganization of provincial-level administrative units, Con Dao will become a special economic zone. The locality will develop its socio-economy in a special, sustainable and comprehensive direction, associated with ensuring national defense and security and maintaining sovereignty over its seas and islands.

Con Dao will focus on developing high-quality tourism, becoming a national tourist area with a focus on marine ecological tourism, history - culture and spirituality, creating differences between sub-areas such as: the old French architectural quarter, luxury resorts, Ben Dam, Dam Trau, Co Ong and the National Park.

The district will prioritize upgrading Con Dao airport, developing a seaport that is qualified to receive international ships, building a logistics center, and ensuring a synchronous system of electricity, water, and waste treatment. All of this will strictly comply with planning, heritage protection, and natural landscapes.

Mr. Tu added that Con Dao will promote e-government, apply artificial intelligence (AI)... in urban management, tourism and security. At the same time, invest in improving the quality of human resources, especially in the fields of health, environment and innovation to serve the development of a circular economy.

Effectively exploit existing infrastructure to attract strategic and reputable investors to develop high-end eco-tourism, create sustainable revenue for the budget, solve employment problems, improve people's lives, strengthen regional connectivity, and promote comprehensive socio-economic development.

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Con Dao will become a Special Economic Zone with its own characteristics to break through and grow.

According to Mr. Le Anh Tu, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has submitted documents and documents to the Government. The Government will then carry out the procedures to submit to the Politburo and the National Assembly for consideration and approval of specific policies and mechanisms for Con Dao.

"This policy mechanism will contribute to promoting the value of heritage, such as prison relics, National Park, as well as preferential policies to attract strategic investors, special mechanisms to attract high-quality human resources and separate financial mechanisms to ensure development resources. Overall, the socio-economic development orientation of Con Dao will focus on sustainable, modern development with identity, creating breakthroughs in tourism, environmental conservation, improving people's lives, while maintaining the strategic role in national defense and security of this important area," Mr. Tu stated.

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In addition to experiencing ecology, visitors to Con Dao can also experience watching turtles lay eggs.

Looking back over the past 50 years, it can be affirmed that Con Dao has risen strongly, becoming a symbol of harmonious development between conservation and innovation. The achievements achieved today are the result of the attention and close leadership of the Party and State, the consensus and efforts of the Party Committee, government and people of the island district, and at the same time a practical gratitude for the great sacrifices of the heroes and martyrs who fell for independence and freedom on this sacred land.

vov.vn

Source: https://vov.vn/kinh-te/con-dao-xung-dang-la-dac-khu-voi-nhung-co-che-rieng-biet-de-dot-pha-post1199581.vov