With just a smartphone, exploring Cô Tô Special Zone is now much more convenient for visitors. Digital services not only make it easier to find information, use services, and visit attractions, but are also gradually changing how local people run their tourism businesses, helping to build momentum for sustainable model new rural development on this outpost island.
From the visitor experience...
As soon as he arrived at the pier, Phạm Ngọc Sơn and his friends from Hanoi connected to Coto Free Wi-Fi and accessed the Amazing Cô Tô platform to look up information about accommodations, attractions, and popular places to eat. With just a smartphone in hand, the group quickly planned their island adventure.
"Before the trip, I thought things might still be quite inconvenient on the island, but it was completely different once we arrived. Information about attractions and services was easy to find, so our group could plan more independently throughout the trip. We just had to enjoy ourselves and explore," said Phạm Ngọc Sơn.
Phạm Ngọc Sơn and his friends capture a moment on the Tùy Duyên Path – Hòn Cá Chép during their exploration of Cô Tô.
To enhance the visitor experience, Cô Tô Special Zone is gradually developing a digital tourism ecosystem. Key features include the Amazing Cô Tô platform, which integrates maps, service information, attractions, and suggested itineraries, as well as multilingual QR codes at numerous tourist sites. The Hồ Chí Minh Memorial Site has been digitized using VR360 technology, while Coto Free Wi-Fi is being rolled out at public areas and key tourist sites across the island. By connecting to the free Wi-Fi, visitors can access the digital tourism portal on their smartphones to look up maps, boat schedules, accommodation, restaurants, attractions, support hotlines, and many other useful services. These applications make exploring the island more convenient and allow visitors to plan their trips with greater confidence, while also giving the destination a distinctive identity that many visitors appreciate.
"I used Amazing Cô Tô to check information about attractions in advance, which made it much easier to plan my itinerary. I didn't have to spend time searching across different sources, so the trip was more convenient," said Trần Thanh Huyền (Hanoi).
Not only first-time visitors, but also many returning travelers have noticed how much the destination has changed.
"I can see that Cô Tô has changed a lot since my last visit. Booking a hotel, buying boat tickets, and making payments are all convenient, so the trip is more relaxing. I'm sure I'll come back and recommend the island to my friends," said Lê Thị Thanh Huyền (Hanoi).
Visitors enjoy kayaking at Hồng Vàn Beach.
Local people benefit, bringing new vitality to sustainable rural development
Digital services not only make trips more convenient for visitors, but are also gradually encouraging tourism businesses to adapt to emerging trends. Phạm Hoài Sơn, owner of Cô Tô Plaza Hotel and one of the local accommodation providers, believes the growth of digital platforms is creating new opportunities for accommodation and service businesses on the island to reach visitors.
“These days, visitors usually check Google Maps, online groups, and review sites before booking a room. Digital platforms have helped more people discover Cô Tô,” Sơn said.
Beyond accommodation providers, many restaurants, transport services, specialty shops, and OCOP products are also gaining wider visibility online. Photos, videos, and posts shared by visitors after each trip have become an effective promotional channel, helping introduce Cô Tô to a broad audience.
Cô Tô provides Wi-Fi coverage in the square at the Hồ Chí Minh Special National Historic Site, making it easier for visitors to connect and look up tourism information.
These changes in the way tourism is run not only encourage businesses to invest in facilities, improve service quality, and build their reputations, but also help create a more professional and welcoming tourism environment.
"Visitors now research information before they arrive, so we also have to invest more in our facilities and service quality. When guests are satisfied, they come back and recommend us to friends. This helps stabilize our business and improve our income," said Nguyễn Văn Đoàn, owner of Đoàn Huyền Homestay.
This is also the value digital tourism brings to sustainable new rural development in Cô Tô Special Zone. From the smartphone in each visitor's hand to local people's proactive investment in innovation, digital technologies not only make exploring Cô Tô more convenient, but also help promote the image of its islands and sea, create additional livelihoods, and maintain and improve the quality of new rural development criteria in a modern, civilized, and sustainable way.
