Maintaining the world heritage brand of Ha Long Bay

Possessing outstanding global values and many domestic and international titles, Quang Ninh always identifies Ha Long Bay as a treasure bestowed by nature, an important driving force for developing the tourism industry and transforming the development method from "brown" to "green".

Many effective solutions in management

In line with the spirit of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, over the years, Quang Ninh has always made efforts and been responsible in implementing solutions to effectively manage, protect the integrity and sustainably promote the heritage of Ha Long Bay.

Many major policies and guidelines have been issued and implemented by the province to strengthen heritage protection activities, such as: Relocating all residents of fishing villages on Ha Long Bay to the mainland to live; regulations on not catching aquatic products in the core heritage area; policies on planning aquaculture outside the heritage area; reducing the quantity, increasing the quality, safety and efficiency of exploiting tourist boats on the bay; deciding to establish a special-use forest to protect the landscape of Ha Long Bay. Regulations on inter-sectoral coordination within the province and with Hai Phong City have been signed and implemented...

Cruise ships on Ha Long Bay are increasingly invested in to increase quality, safety and operating efficiency.

In addition, the province has increased resources to carry out survey and research activities to supplement scientific data on heritage values, which is the basis for proposing management and protection solutions.

The research results of the topics have been and are being applied in practice, such as: Establishing scientific records on the values of Ha Long Bay; installing warning signs and implementing solutions to ensure the safety of tourists in areas at risk of landslides and collapses in the bay; restoring some typical cultural features of fishermen in fishing villages in Ha Long Bay, excavating and displaying archaeological sites to preserve and maintain cultural and historical values and diversify tourism products; adjusting the lighting system in caves to inhibit the growth of plants; developing an outline of a sustainable Ha Long Bay tourism management plan, suitable for the determined carrying capacity...

In order to minimize the impact of socio-economic development activities on and along the bay's shores on heritage resources and environment, many policies and orientations have been put forward by the province, such as: Replacing styrofoam buoys on floating structures on the bay with sustainable, environmentally friendly materials; relocating polluting facilities out of the buffer zone; not granting operating licenses to factories that pose a risk of affecting the environment of Ha Long Bay; implementing a roadmap to close open-pit coal mines.

Waste generated from socio-economic activities in the bay is centrally managed and controlled. All cruise ships have a system to treat wastewater mixed with oil; newly built cruise ships must install a domestic wastewater treatment system that meets standards; wastewater treatment systems at tourist attractions in the bay are invested in and upgraded, applying advanced technology in treatment, ensuring standards are met.

Responding to the program "Ha Long Bay without plastic waste", service establishments on the bay have had suitable alternative products.

In order to spread the message of a green Ha Long Bay and mobilize the participation of the community and businesses in developing a green economy in the heritage area, since 2019, the program "Ha Long Bay without plastic waste" has been launched and implemented. Conducting waste classification at source, recycling and using environmentally friendly products; building a community model for managing, classifying, collecting and treating plastic waste in coastal areas, contributing to improving the capacity of people, students, business households, and the community on knowledge and measures to reduce plastic waste, protect the environment...

In addition, solutions to strictly manage socio-economic activities in Ha Long Bay have been strengthened. Accordingly, violations in the bay have been increased and promptly handled. Continue to review and take measures to handle cases of illegal aquaculture in absolute protection areas and buffer zones, strictly handle acts of exploitation and use of prohibited fishing gear in the area bordering Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba.

Cruise ships are managed to reduce quantity, increase quality, safety, environmental protection, exploitation efficiency and monitoring through modern equipment such as GPS, cameras... Tourism service business activities on the bay are strictly controlled, each type has a designated operating area and a management organization plan is developed...

Tourists kayak in Luon Cave area on Ha Long Bay.

Bright spot on the regional tourism map

In recent times, the province has implemented many solutions to increase the value of heritage through developing tourism products and services and improving the experience of tourists. Accordingly, completing and upgrading typical tourism products and services of Ha Long Bay, such as: Overnight tourism on the Bay; discovery cruise; visiting and experiencing the unique cultural values of the fishing community on the Bay and archaeological sites; experiencing rowing boats, kayaking; experiencing Ha Long Bay from above with a seaplane...

Along with that, direct the provincial units to continue to survey, research and select potential areas to develop new, highly competitive tourism products and services to target the high-end tourist market, such as: Experience swimming and relaxation services at small sandy beaches with pristine landscapes and private spaces on Ha Long Bay; perform folk light music; explore the pine-agar ecosystem combined with relaxing fishing...; deploy assessment of tourism capacity of Ha Long Bay heritage site; develop plans to expand routes and distribute visitors at tourist attractions to serve the management and regulation of tourist attractions' capacity, reducing the burden on the heritage area. Announce 8 sightseeing tours on Ha Long Bay...

Seaplane takes tourists to experience sightseeing service of Ha Long Bay.

Continue to maintain and expand relationships with international organizations to enhance the exchange and sharing of knowledge and experience in the management, protection and promotion of heritage values. From 2020 to the end of 2024, despite being heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Ha Long Bay heritage has welcomed and served over 9 million visitors, resulting in more than 2,000 billion VND in entrance fees, contributing to increasing budget revenue and increasing investment resources for the conservation of Ha Long Bay's values.

With efforts in managing, preserving and promoting heritage values according to the World Heritage Convention, Ha Long Bay has become a bright spot on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region. At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia in September 2023, the World Heritage Committee recognized and commended Member State Vietnam and Quang Ninh province for their efforts and responsibilities in implementing effective solutions to manage, protect the integrity and sustainability of Ha Long Bay heritage site in accordance with the World Heritage Convention.

Some typical solutions that Quang Ninh has implemented have been highly appreciated, such as: Building a Heritage Management Plan; implementing a tourism capacity assessment of the heritage site; strengthening environmental protection solutions; building a strategic outline for sustainable management of Ha Long Bay tourism; promoting the process of "green" economic transformation...

To harmonize conservation and development

However, there are still many problems in harmoniously resolving the relationship between protecting, preserving and promoting heritage values in the spirit of the World Heritage Convention and complying with Vietnamese law.

Because Ha Long Bay is increasingly becoming an attractive destination, attracting domestic and international tourists, it is synonymous with challenges in management and conservation when the heritage is spread over the marine environment, and is also the place where many complex socio-economic activities take place, related to many industries and fields such as: Tourism; aquaculture, fisheries exploitation; seaport traffic... The coastal area of the bay is also adjacent to many localities with strong urbanization rates... always creating many multi-dimensional pressures.

The pristine Cat Oan Beach is expected to be put into operation to serve high-end tourists when visiting Ha Long Bay.

In addition, some institutions and legal bases related to the management, conservation and promotion of heritage values are still lacking or do not have specific instructions, especially since September 2023, Ha Long Bay heritage was adjusted by UNESCO to expand its boundaries to Cat Ba archipelago (Hai Phong) to become an inter-provincial heritage.

Meanwhile, awareness of protecting and preserving heritage values and environmental protection of Ha Long Bay among a part of the community is still inadequate and has not had any positive changes. In addition, the sharp increase in the number of tourists in some areas and tourist attractions in Ha Long Bay has led to the need to increase accommodation and entertainment services, potentially causing negative impacts on the ecological environment and depleting tourism resources, while reducing the quality of tourists' experiences...

These issues require continued effective solutions to manage, preserve and promote the heritage value of Ha Long Bay in accordance with the World Heritage Convention in the coming time.

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