Ha Long Bay and the times it was "crowned" by the world

Nearly 30 years ago, on December 17, 1994, in Thailand, Ha Long Bay was recognized as a World Natural Heritage for the first time. This was the first "step", paving the way for the "crowns" that followed.

Ceremony to receive the first World Natural Heritage certificate of Ha Long Bay on December 17, 1994, in Thailand. (Source: Ha Long Bay Management Board)

In a 2014 article, commemorating the 20th anniversary of Ha Long Bay being recognized as a World Natural Heritage for the first time, Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, former Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, who directly participated in the process of preparing documents and procedures to submit to UNESCO for the second recognition of Ha Long Bay, said that in the appraisal report, Professor Elery Hamilton Smith, an Australian expert, highly appreciated Ha Long Bay.

Professor Elery Hamilton Smith reports: “Ha Long Bay is the largest area of ​​sea-eroded limestone terrain in the world, and it is one of the richest, most diverse and complex examples of marine landscapes. No other area has the same geomorphological diversity as Ha Long Bay.”

"Wonder of earth built in the sky"

The World Heritage Committee has recognized Ha Long Bay as a world natural heritage site, with outstanding aesthetic value according to the standards of the International Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

In the Report sent to the Prime Minister on December 27, 1994, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO stated: "The event of Ha Long Bay being recognized as a World Heritage Site has raised the value of this heritage, placing it in global relations. This is not only an event of great cultural significance but also has long-term political and economic significance for the country's development...".

Ha Long Bay is the second site in Vietnam (after the ancient capital of Hue) to be listed as a World Heritage Site for its outstanding value in terms of landscape and aesthetics.

This place was once likened to "a wonder of the earth standing in the sky". The bay is located in the Northeast of Vietnam, in Quang Ninh province, 165 km from the capital Hanoi. The bay has an area of ​​1,553 km ² , including 1,969 islands (of which 980 have names).

The UNESCO World Heritage Site covers an area of ​​434 ^km2 , including 775 islands, of which 411 have been named. This is home to many famous rocky islands, caves and beautiful beaches.

These islands are uninhabited and untouched by humans, with majestic natural landscapes and countless limestone towers, an excellent example of mature karst in a hot and humid tropical climate.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan said that in a meeting, Dr. Hans Friederich, Chief Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Vietnam in 1999, shared: “In the world, there is no karst limestone area on the sea as large and majestic as Ha Long Bay. It is completely worthy of being recognized as a world heritage site in terms of geology and geomorphology.”

Ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage for the second time. (Source: halongbay.com.vn)

The outstanding landscape beauty is further enhanced by the typical ecosystems of the Heritage. The outstanding value of the Heritage is concentrated in the area with submerged karst limestone landforms creating a fascinating natural landscape.

Ha Long Bay is a magnificent sculpture of nature with thousands of large and small limestone islands rising from the clear blue sea in a myriad of shapes creating a wild and beautiful landscape.

The foundation of the natural beauty is created by the high biodiversity of the bay. The biodiversity of Ha Long Bay is not only expressed at the gene source and species level but also at the ecosystem level of a tropical coastal sea with 10 very specific ecosystem types of tropical limestone islands.

In particular, the conservation values ​​of caves and mangroves can be considered outstanding values ​​of the Ha Long Bay ecosystem.

Global exceptional value

After being first recognized as a World Natural Heritage in 1994, in 2000, Ha Long Bay continued to be honored for its outstanding global value in geology and geomorphology.

To achieve that result, Quang Ninh province, Ha Long Bay Management Board, central ministries, branches and relevant parties had to go through a 3-year journey, from basic research, document preparation, proposals, international mobilization...

Then, in September 2023, Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO for the third time as a World Natural Heritage.

Quang Ninh always identifies Ha Long Bay as a 'treasure' bestowed by nature, an important driving force for tourism development and transforming the growth model in the economic structure. (Source: Shutterstock)

Unlike the previous two times, this time UNESCO adjusted the boundary to Cat Ba archipelago (Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city), becoming the first inter-provincial world heritage site in Vietnam.

The recognition of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage not only creates the first unique inter-regional world heritage in Vietnam, but also increases the value of this vast, majestic and magnificent heritage area.

Mr. Pham Thanh Chien, Director of Ha Long Pacific Company Limited affirmed: "Currently, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is always one of the most attractive tourist destinations for domestic and international visitors in Vietnam. The listing of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago will certainly increase the position and attraction of these two tourist destinations".

Preserve, maintain and promote "treasures"

For nearly three decades, Quang Ninh has always identified Ha Long Bay as a "treasure" bestowed by nature, an important driving force for tourism development and transformation of the growth model in the economic structure.

Therefore, the process of exploiting and promoting heritage values, conservation and preservation work is always of interest to Quang Ninh province.

Over the years, Quang Ninh has implemented many effective measures to both protect and ensure the integrity of Ha Long Bay according to the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO's sustainable development policies and Vietnamese laws.

Quang Ninh has established a conservation area to preserve biodiversity values; zoned off forests on limestone mountains and mangrove forests to recognize them as special-use forests to protect the landscape and preserve rare genetic resources; relocated 354 households with nearly 2,000 people in 7 fishing villages to resettlement areas in 2014 with the goal of stabilizing the lives of fishermen and reducing environmental pressure on the bay; imposed standards on wastewater and waste from tourist boats, tourist attractions, and residential areas along the bay's shores, etc.

Since 2019, the movement "Ha Long Bay without plastic waste" has been launched and effectively implemented by the Ha Long Bay Management Board and received active participation from businesses and people.

The landscape and ecological environment of the Bay are managed in the direction of good control of waste sources; socio-economic activities are strictly managed and increasingly put into order...

Being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site three times has proven the outstanding global values ​​of Ha Long Bay. In the future, Quang Ninh will strive towards the common goal of honoring, preserving and promoting the unique and outstanding values ​​of this natural landscape, which has been favored and created over millions of years.

Titles of Ha Long Bay

In 1962, Ha Long Bay was specially ranked as a national scenic relic by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

On December 17, 1994, at the 18th session, UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage with universal aesthetic value.

On December 2, 2000, UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Heritage Site for the second time with its geological and geomorphological values.

In August 2009, Ha Long Bay was ranked by the State as one of 10 special national monuments.

On November 11, 2011, Ha Long Bay was recognized as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world.

In September 2023, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as the first inter-provincial - municipal World Natural Heritage in Vietnam.

In September 2024, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago continued to be recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences as an International Geoheritage.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/vinh-ha-long-va-nhung-lan-duoc-the-gioi-trao-vuong-mien-294671.html