(VOVWORLD) - Returning from the army, war veteran Tran Thi Son of Mong Cai city, Quang Ninh province, set up the Ka Long Economy Development Company, specializing in transportation and tourism. It is the first company to open tours to two border islands communes of Vinh Trung and Vinh Thuc.
 Vinh Thuc island commune is now a tourist attraction in Quang Ninh province. (Photo: VOV) |
Early each morning, 68-year-old war veteran Tran Thi Son stands at the Mui Ngoc wharf welcoming tourists to Vinh Trung and Vinh Thuc.
Son started her transportation and tourism business in 2006 using logistics experience gained in the army and working at a local cooperative. After 10 years, Ka Long has become a popular taxi brand in Mong Cai city. Son’s business has created more than 100 jobs and filled them mostly with relatives of war veterans. Her employees earn an average of approximately 300 USD per month.
“It took me a lot of time and efforts to build the company. I’m so happy that my business creates jobs for many others,” said Son.
In 2015 Ka Long provided transportation services to people who want to spend their holidays on Vinh Thuc or Vinh Trung island communes or at Hai Son or Bac Son commune in Mong Cai city.
 Tran Thi Son (R) has created jobs for more than 100 people. |
In addition to expanding restaurants and resorts, Son is proud of planning and promoting new tourism products because, at that time, developing tourism in island areas was quite adventurous.
“At first it was difficult for me, a woman with little knowledge of water transportation, to develop island tourism. I learned from the experience of others,” said Son.
Pham Thi Oanh, head of Mong Cai city's Department of Culture and Information, said that in the early days, businesses were encouraged to invest in Vinh Thuc island but few showed any interest. But Son did some research and decided to start a tourism development project there, Oanh said.
“Living on Vinh Thuc island was difficult then. Son invested in boats and electric cars and recruited people for her project. Since 2016 she has done a lot to develop island tourism.”
In 8 years Son has turned Vinh Thuc into a tourist attraction. The local standard of living has improved, according to Vinh Thuc islander Hoang Van Tang.
“Vinh Thuc used to be a primitive area with poor infrastructure. Thanks to Son’s investment, roads were paved and wharfs were built, which made transportation easier. We now have a stable income, thanks to tourism development,” said Tang.