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Historical secrets of Cát Bà Island: How did ancient humans survive here for nearly 6,000 years?
Cát Bà Island is located in northern Vietnam. This archipelago has 367 islands and an area of 262.41 square kilometers. It is located on the southeastern edge of the magnificent Lan Ha Bay. It combines the purity of the ocean and the magnificence of the geology. Since 2004, it has become A UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2023. However, the past of this land hides deeper historical secrets, revealing the wisdom of human beings to survive on this land for nearly 6,000 years.
According to archaeological evidence, there were traces of human habitation here as early as 6,600 years ago, especially in the southeast of Cát Bà, which is closely related to the area near today's Ben Beo Port.
According to historical records, the original name of Cát Bà Island is Cac Ba, which means "Women's Island". This noteworthy name is related to an ancient legend from the Chen Dynasty. The souls of three women were said to have drifted here. Later, local residents built temples for them, making this land famous.
Some archaeologists said: "The Cai Beo people may be the first population group on the northeastern coast of Vietnam, and may be an intermediary link between the populations at the end of the Neolithic Age."
The history of this island doesn't end there. With the fallout from the French-American War, local fishermen faced numerous challenges. The island of Cát Bà was once a strategic observation point and thus became a scar of the war, with the islanders often having to hide in giant caves. This past has become tourist attractions today, such as the Hospital Cave and the Cannon Fort, which provide people with the opportunity to directly contact history.
In the 1990s, due to improvements in infrastructure, Cát Bà Island's tourism industry developed rapidly, attracting more than 350,000 tourists every year. In recent developments, a huge project called "Cát Bà Amatina" is underway, which plans to transform the southern part of the island into a world-class complex that will integrate casinos, resorts and theme parks and is expected to accommodate 6,000 people. name resident.
In addition to the development of the tourism economy, the natural park on Cát Bà Island has also become the focus of ecological protection. Since 1986, this site’s 9,800 hectares has become Vietnam’s first land-sea protected area.
According to reports, 865 species of plants and 279 species of animals live here, among which the unique Cát Bà gibbon is one of the world’s endangered species.
However, Cát Bà Island also faces many environmental challenges amid the tourism boom. Problems such as illegal hunting, over-exploitation and water pollution need to be solved urgently. The local government works together with multiple organizations to establish a sustainable protection network for the island's ecological environment.
This series of historical and ecological challenges is not only what the local people need to face, but also a story about how humans survive, adapt and rebuild in the precarious environment. Where will the island of Cát Bà go in the coming days?
