Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung recently approved a water supply project for Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai that uses official development assistance (ODA) from the Republic of Korea (RoK), according to Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.
The project costs about US$12 million. Of this, the RoK contributed US$10.8 million. It is scheduled to begin operations in a little over three years.
The project will supply clean water to An Vinh and An Hai communes in Ly Son district, and improve the quality of life on the island. Ly Son district lies 18 nautical miles off the coast and covers an area of 10km2. It includes three communes: An Hai, An Vinh and An Binh.
The island district has a population of approximately 21,000. The majority of residents earn a living from fishing, or farming garlic and onions. Ly Son is striving to become a maritime economic centre by 2025, with a focus on tourism and aquaculture.
The island boasts numerous forms of intangible cultural heritage, such as traditional boat races and the Hoang Sa Soldier Feast and Commemoration Festival, which was recognised as a national heritage item in April 2013.
Source: VNA