With its potential and natural advantages, over the past 30 years, Ha Long Bay (VHL) has won many prestigious domestic and international awards. VHL has become a brand of Quang Ninh tourism, a top choice destination for tourists, worthy of being recognized as a World Natural Heritage site three times.
Ceremony to receive the UNESCO Certificate recognizing Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage (first time, 1994). Photo: Document
VHL is formed by thousands of large and small limestone islands, overlapping in the middle of emerald green water, creating a majestic and spectacular landscape as the quintessence of nature's arrangement for many centuries. The magical limestone cave system hidden deep under the stone pillars is covered by tropical vegetation, exuding a wild, mysterious look, along with the vestiges of the earth's development history, attracting tourists around the world to come and admire and explore.
VHL is also one of the cradles of ancient Vietnamese people with 3 successive cultures: Soi Nhu, Cai Beo, Ha Long from 18,000-3,000 years ago; is a place that preserves many outstanding tangible and intangible cultural values, such as: Tien Ong, Me Cung, Thien Long relics... This place also contains biodiversity values, typical ecosystems of tropical seas with nearly 3,000 species of animals and plants preserved...
With its unique and highly aesthetic natural landscape values, VHL was ranked as a National Monument (1962); a Special National Monument (2009). In 2017, VHL was awarded the title of Vietnam's Leading Tourist Area and was announced as one of Vietnam's top tourist destinations in 2018.
Ha Long Bay is "Asia's Top Destination 2021".
Not only honored to receive the noble titles of Vietnam, VHL also affirms its value, brand, and marks a proud milestone of Quang Ninh province in particular and the whole country in general when it was recognized as a World Natural Heritage 3 times. For the first time in 1994, VHL was the first heritage of Vietnam to be named by UNESCO in the World Heritage List for its outstanding value in terms of landscape and aesthetics. 6 years later (in 2000), VHL was recognized by UNESCO for the second time for its geological and geomorphological value. On September 16, 2023, VHL and Cat Ba archipelago (Hai Phong city) were recognized as World Natural Heritage, becoming the first inter-provincial and municipal World Heritage in Vietnam.
Surpassing 200 wonders from more than 200 countries and territories, VHL has entered the top 7 New Natural Wonders of the World. On April 27, 2012, the New Open World organization awarded the title of New Natural Wonder of the World to VHL. VHL also received the title of "Asia's Leading Attractive Destination 2021" from the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia region.
Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, affirmed: VHL has a unique ecosystem, with countless limestone mountains, caves and cave arches, small islands rising from the crystal clear water and a beautiful natural environment, captivating all those who come to Vietnam, bringing unforgettable experiences and memories. Since being recognized as a heritage, Quang Ninh province has made efforts to preserve and promote the unique value of VHL. VHL is not only a heritage of Vietnam, but also a heritage of the whole world.
Ha Long Bay was used as the setting in the movie Kong: Skull Island.
In addition, VHL has been continuously voted by many international organizations, forums, and leading travel magazines in the world to be in the list of the world's top beautiful destinations, such as: One of the top 25 landscapes on earth; one of the 50 most beautiful natural wonders in the world; one of the 4 ideal destinations to watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets; one of the 10 most beautiful destinations in Asia; one of the 51 most beautiful destinations in the world... Especially in 2024, VHL has been continuously named in prestigious rankings and travel magazines. Notably, in January 2024, VHL ranked 3rd in the list of the world's best destinations in 2024 of the annual "Travelers" Choice Awards - Best of the Best Destinations" by TripAdvisors; in May 2024, VHL was one of the 55 most beautiful destinations in the world voted by Travel + Leisure.
The majestic natural beauty of VHL is the attractive factor for international filmmakers to choose as the setting for many famous movies as well as documentaries and reality TV shows, such as the movies: "Indochina"; "Kong: The Skull of Island"; "The Creator".
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[/caption]Clipper Round the World Race crew visit Thien Cung Cave (Ha Long Bay), February 2024.
Speaking at the 30th Anniversary Ceremony of VHL being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage (December 14, 2024), Comrade Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, emphasized: After 30 years since being recognized by UNESCO, VHL has outstanding global values of the heritage preserved intact; potential strengths have been promoted; become an attractive destination, attracting domestic and international tourists; truly become a famous brand of tourism in Quang Ninh, Vietnam and the world. From 1996 to now, there have been over 57 million visitors to VHL, with entrance fees reaching over 8,600 billion VND. Thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of Quang Ninh province.
VHL is increasingly affirming its position as a unique natural wonder, beautiful in landscape and attractive, suggestive of cultural and historical values. VHL has made a worthy contribution to the development of the province, making Quang Ninh tourism a pillar of economic development, contributing to socio-economic development and improving people's lives./.
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