Quan Lan island belongs to Bai Tu Long bay; part of an island range on the outside of the gulf of Bac Bo. Quan Lan has an area of 11 square kilometer, and features eight populated hamlets. This island stretch toward East – West from the foot of Van Don Range to the Got Mount with many high mountains to the east barring waves and winds, protect the villages. Quan Lan island is situated on an important navigation route that connects Vietnam with China, Japan, Thailand and Philippines.
Along two sides of the island are tens kilometres of sand beaches, that is the endless resource for glass making which the sea gives to man and it is also the extremely interesting tourism, the attractive destination
Since the 11th century, Quan Lan island had been one of the centres of the ancient commercial port of Van Don, that was animated and prosperous at the time. Nowaday, there are still many vestiges linked to the ancient commercial port.
This also explains why the island, lying deep in the sea, has the large pagodas and archaeological sites seen today. On the island there is the Quan Lan Communal House built in the 18th century; exceedingly beautiful and almost entirely preserved. Next to it is Quan Lan Pagoda (Linh Quang Tu), which is dedicated to Buddha and God Lieu Hanh.
The pagoda also worships the statue of old Hau, a local person who made lots of contributions to the construction of the pagoda. The statue features a gentle and cheerful old woman, which adds an original character to the pagoda. Beside Quan Lan Pagoda lies Nghe Quan Lan (Duc Ong) Shrine, which is dedicated to Pham Cong Chinh, a local people who participated in the historical Van Don battle against the Yuan invaders. He was later honored as a god. Quan Lan has many valuable sea products such as octopuses, butterfish, mackerel fish, holothurian, shrimp, and Sai Sung.
