The issue of joint management and exploitation was raised after the Ha Long-Cat Ba complex was recognized as a world heritage and Vietnam had for the first time "one heritage, two localities".
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 16 recognized the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago as a world natural heritage. This is the first time Vietnam has a natural heritage spanning two localities, with no precedent for joint management and exploitation of the heritage. Some businesses have reported that there are still management problems between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong related to Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba), causing difficulties for cruise ships and tourists for many years.
Speaking to VnExpress , Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Khac Nam said that the two localities had certain cooperation in managing and exploiting tourism in the Ha Long - Cat Ba area before this complex was recognized as a world natural heritage. Mr. Nam said that the consensus between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh was the key for UNESCO to approve the dossier to recognize the Ha Long - Cat Ba complex as a world natural heritage.
A cruise ship on Lan Ha Bay - the bridge area between Cat Ba archipelago and Ha Long Bay. Photo: Indochina Sails
"They intended to return the documents because in the past few times we surveyed, we did not see good coordination between the two localities. However, I and Ms. (Nguyen Thi) Hanh, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Province, "The two localities have been linked together in terms of security, tourism, and landscape protection," according to Mr. Nam.
Specifically, in 2021, the working delegation of the Hai Phong City People's Committee worked with the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee on tourism activities and the world heritage nomination dossier. The two sides signed agreements to coordinate in ensuring security and order, environment, transportation, tourism, and building regulations on coordination in protecting the marine environment in the border area between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba archipelago. The issue of collecting common entrance fees was also mentioned at that time, but it was only a proposal and not specifically discussed.
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of the Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that in Vietnam there is no precedent for a world heritage site located in two localities, so the management model is still a question mark.
"Without a common management board, competition and conflict between the two sides are inevitable. I have envisioned many shortcomings, from the extension of the blockade of rivers and markets to competition for destinations," he said, emphasizing that a world heritage complex with two management boards is "unacceptable."
Mr. Nguyen The Hue, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Province Tourism Association, assessed that the expansion of the heritage space is "a wonderful thing". However, what needs to be done is to create a balance between Ha Long and Cat Ba archipelago.
"Ha Long Bay has been a heritage site since 1994. The scale of tourism, management style through many stages, and exploitation methods have become very familiar with a solid foundation. Cat Ba is not really like that. The government needs to be highly unified to avoid conflicts and unfair competition," said Mr. Hue.
"Imbalance" is also a risk that Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI), raised when asked to comment on the management and exploitation of the Ha Long-Cat Ba complex. According to Mr. Quynh, the two areas are located next to each other and have similar values. From the perspective of customers or travel agencies, between two destinations with similar services, they will choose the place with the cheaper cost.
"This issue creates an imbalance and unfairness in operations in Ha Long and Cat Ba. I hope that both sides will have a common agreement for operations in Ha Long and Lan Ha (connecting Cat Ba with Ha Long)," said Mr. Quynh.
According to Hai Phong Vice Chairman Le Khac Nam, the fees collected in Cat Ba are lower than in Ha Long. Specifically, the entrance fee in Lan Ha Bay in Cat Ba archipelago ranges from 50,000 VND to 80,000 VND per adult, while in Ha Long Bay it is 290,000 VND per person. The overnight fee in Lan Ha Bay ranges from 250,000 VND to 500,000 VND, while in Ha Long Bay it is 550,000 VND to 750,000 VND per person.
For Hai Phong, the immediate task is to continue improving the quality of the fleet, ports, and rebuilding tourism products in the heritage area. Fleets in Hai Phong will have to be built at least three stars or higher, and must design anchorage areas for large ships because Beo and Gia Luan ports both have limitations.
"Since it is a common heritage area, the quality and cost must be equal," said Mr. Le Khac Nam.
The Vice Chairman of Hai Phong also added that in the coming time, Hai Phong will continue to discuss with Quang Ninh, "agreeing on more common issues such as sightseeing tours, common information channels, measures to protect the marine environment and biodiversity of the core heritage area".
Mr. Phan Dinh Hue, a destination development expert, said that tourists see Cat Ba archipelago and Ha Long Bay as a large island resort. What tourists want is to "go a lot, see a lot", regardless of which locality this bay or that island belongs to. Mr. Hue said that there should soon be a regional destination development center to build a common brand, avoiding duplication in product development.
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Hong Long hopes that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will step in and establish a common destination development model for both Ha Long and Cat Ba, not allowing each side to develop in its own way.
The boat anchors for guests to spend the night in Lan Ha Bay. Photo: Pham Ha
Mr. Pham Ha, Chairman of the Lan Ha Cruise Association, said that in addition to unifying and improving tourism products, the two localities need to pay attention to conservation issues. "The heritage in Ha Long - Cat Ba, in addition to natural landscapes and biodiversity, also includes people and culture. The ancient fishing villages need to be promoted and preserved, not erased and all the people brought ashore. We should even restore a fleet of red sailboats to create a brand," Mr. Ha suggested.
According to Mr. Ha, the method of managing and exploiting tourism also needs to change with the technology era. "It is not necessary to know where the ship picks up passengers, but only to determine where they visit through the positioning system to collect fees. Besides, the most important thing is tours that go through two localities, increasing the time of relaxation on the bay to keep tourists from 5 to 7 days," said Mr. Ha.
Le Tan - Tu Nguyen
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