There are many risks of heritage encroachment.
In recent years, the tourism industry in Quang Ninh province has recorded a consistently high growth rate. In 2024, the locality welcomed about 19 million visitors with a revenue of more than 46,460 billion VND. However, along with that development, Ha Long Bay heritage also faces many worrying risks of encroachment.
In fact, in recent years, many violations at Ha Long Bay heritage have been discovered, typically including illegal construction of permanent houses, discharge of waste into the environment, illegal fishing...
Illegal construction on Dragon Eye Island. (Photo courtesy).
Faced with the above situation, Quang Ninh province has taken many drastic measures to deal with these pressing issues. Accordingly, in May 2024, a working group of Quang Ninh provincial leaders directly inspected and handled violations that risked damaging the landscape of Ha Long Bay at Dragon Eye Island and Yellow Card Island.
In addition, the authorities of Quang Ninh province have also discovered and punished many cases of illegal discharge into the bay environment. For example, Quang Ninh Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company (address: 35, Ben Tau Street, Bach Dang Ward, Ha Long City) did not pump wastewater from the receiving compartment into the equalization tank or settling tank for treatment, but pumped wastewater from the receiving compartment directly into the environment, or the case of 2 subjects illegally dumping mud into Ha Long Bay was caught red-handed by the authorities and fined hundreds of millions of VND.
A working delegation of Quang Ninh provincial leaders inspected and handled violations at Ha Long Bay heritage site. (Photo: Archive).
In addition, according to research by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are currently nearly 500 tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay. On average, each passenger will emit 5 liters of gray water per trip and 15 liters of black water per trip. The total amount of wastewater generated on each passenger boat is 1,200 liters per trip. The amount of domestic water consumed in a day is 2-3 m3. For accommodation boats, the amount of wastewater is much larger than that of hourly boats. On the other hand, the rapid urbanization and land leveling projects have increased sharply, putting considerable pressure on the environment of Ha Long Bay.
Speaking to Nguoi Dua Tin, the Ha Long Bay Management Board said that in 2024, this unit coordinated with functional forces to organize 227 patrols, inspections and supervisions. Thereby, it handled 185 violations, proposed administrative sanctions, and fined 1,688,500,000 VND. Of which, there were 47 administrative violations of ANTT - ATGT with fines of 327.75 million VND, 127 administrative violations of the fisheries sector with fines of 1.36 billion VND, confiscated 22 iron rakes and other fishing gear, 6 violations of tourist boats, 2 violations of landscape - environment and 3 violations of regulations on entertainment activities.
No forbidden areas, no exceptions in heritage protection
Through inspection and determination of violations of construction order in the Ha Long Bay heritage area in May 2024, the leaders of Quang Ninh province requested the competent authorities to conduct inspections, checks and thoroughly resolve this project with the view of strictly handling related organizations and individuals in accordance with the regulations of the Party and the laws of the State, without "forbidden zones" or exceptions. At the same time, properly assess the potential to have a direction for exploiting tourism in a methodical, public, transparent, effective, safe manner, absolutely free of corruption, negativity, group interests and interest groups.
In a development related to the conservation of the heritage value of Ha Long Bay, recently in December 2024, public opinion was abuzz about the risk of Ha Long Bay being considered by UNESCO to be removed from the heritage list. Many people are concerned that in recent years, the speed of tourism development in Quang Ninh has always been high, so there is a risk that some important factors of Ha Long Bay are at risk of being affected.
Responding to Nguoi Dua Tin about this issue, Ms. Le Thi Thin, Head of the bay's professional and research department, affirmed that the information that Ha Long Bay was being considered by UNESCO to be removed from the heritage list was completely fabricated.
"The fact that UNESCO is considering removing it from the list of world heritage sites is a fabrication. We have confirmed this issue on the Board's information page. In fact, this year UNESCO plans to inspect and evaluate Ha Long Bay heritage. However, this is a regular task that will take place every 4 to 6 years and the most recent time was in 2018," said Ms. Thin.
Ha Long Bay is a favorite destination with millions of visitors each year.
According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, for acts of environmental encroachment in Ha Long Bay, authorities have taken many measures to strictly punish and impose large fines.
However, because Ha Long Bay is a large sea area with an area of about 1,553 km², management and supervision work faces many difficulties. At the same time, Ha Long Bay area has many socio-economic activities, adjacent to many localities, so there are always potential and complicated problems arising in the management, protection and promotion of Heritage values. In addition, some legal regulations related to Heritage are still unclear, lacking guidance or still inadequate...
Maintain world heritage status
With its position as the center of Quang Ninh tourism industry and in the locality's overall development strategy, in 2024, Ha Long Bay will welcome a total of 3,216,484 visitors (including 1,189,950 Vietnamese visitors and 2,026,534 foreign visitors), an increase of 19.5% compared to 2023. Entrance fees will reach VND 973.68 billion, an increase of 22.9% compared to 2023 and exceeding the province's assigned plan by 21.5%.
Speaking with Nguoi Dua Tin , the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism said that Quang Ninh aims to develop into a tourism center connecting with the region and the world by 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Cruise ship anchored in Ha Long Bay.
With an area of 1,553km2, Ha Long Bay has nearly 2,000 large and small islands creating a majestic, beautiful, enchanting and captivating landscape. Among them, there are many rocky islands with strangely beautiful shapes such as: Hon Ga Choi, Dinh Huong, Con Coc, Sung Sot Cave, Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Bo Nau Cave, Me Cung Cave, Luon Cave... With unique aesthetic values and its own geological values, Ha Long Bay has been honored to be recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage three times in 1994, 2000 and 2023. With its own unique landscape values, the preservation and harmonious promotion of the heritage values of Ha Long Bay is considered a central task.
According to Quang Ninh Electricity Portal, in an assessment related to the conservation and harmonious exploitation of Ha Long Bay heritage, Mr. Christian Manhart, Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam, once said that the universal and outstanding value of the heritage has made Ha Long Bay famous, attractive, and attracted a large number of visitors. From the perspective of benefits for local people, tourism is like a "golden goose", so Ha Long Bay is an extremely valuable resource that we need to maintain, protect and exploit harmoniously, but cannot exploit excessively.
Talking to Nguoi Dua Tin , Ha Long Bay Management Board said that in order to preserve and harmoniously exploit the heritage value of Ha Long Bay, in 2025, the unit will continue to focus on implementing a number of key tasks, specifically completing the Plan for preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of scenic spots for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. Implementing the Plan for managing the world natural heritage of Ha Long Bay in 2025 and advising on the development of the Plan for the period 2026 - 2030.
With many amazing landscapes, Ha Long Bay has been recognized by UNESCO three times as a world natural heritage.
Accordingly, in 2025, the Ha Long Bay Management Board will carry out specific activities to preserve and promote heritage values such as: completing legal procedures, conducting scientific research on Ha Long Bay, strengthening inspection and supervision, actively strengthening propaganda work, raising public awareness of environmental protection, upgrading facilities, completing the Ha Long Bay Digital Heritage Project and being proactive in ensuring security and order; preventing natural disasters, fires and explosions, searching and rescuing, ensuring safety for tourists...
"In addition to effective solutions, the unit also enlisted the support of all functional units and people to effectively preserve and promote the value of the heritage. For example, after storm No. 3, there was a sudden waste pollution situation. However, after that, the Ha Long Bay Management Board, together with units and people, organized 5 peak campaigns to mobilize 1,744 vehicles, 5,191 human resources, collected 4,771m3 of various types of waste and 660 bamboo rafts to clean up waste on the bay,... thereby quickly returning the beautiful landscape to Ha Long Bay" informed the representative of the Ha Long Bay Management Board.
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