Summary of the Coordination Efforts in the management, protection and promotion of the values of Ha Long Bay and the Bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago
On November 22nd, in Ha Long City, Ha Long Bay Management Department and the People's Committee of Cat Hai District held a conference to summarize the coordination efforts in the management, protection, and promotion of the values of Ha Long Bay and the Bays of the Cat Ba Archipelago in 2024.
Attending the conference, on behalf of the People's Committee of Cat Hai District, were Mr. Tran Van Phuong, Secretary of the District Party Committee; Mr. Bui Tuan Manh, Deputy Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cat Hai District; Mr. Hoang Trung Cuong, Deputy Chairman of the People's Committee, concurrently Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Management Board of the Cat Ba Archipelago Bays, along with leaders of relevant agencies and units.
On behalf of Ha Long Bay Management Department, there were Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Secretary of the Party Committee, Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department; Mr. Pham Dinh Huynh, Deputy Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department, along with representatives of the leadership from affiliated units participating in the conference."
In 2024, the implementation of coordinated contents, programs, and plans was carried out effectively by both sides, ensuring the scope, goals, principles, and methods agreed upon in the regulations. Ha Long Bay Management Department and the People's Committee of Cat Hai District proactively carried out the coordinated tasks with the highest level of dedication and responsibility to ensure that the management and protection of the environment and natural resources of Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago were timely and effective, in compliance with regulations.
The two sides coordinated 6 campaigns to promote regulations ensuring inland waterway traffic safety, environmental sanitation, and entrance fees for Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago scenic areas to tourist transport operators. They also organized 9 awareness sessions on protecting aquatic resources and the environment. Joint patrols, monitoring, and handling violations were carried out in close coordination, with many joint patrols organized. Regular coordination on environmental protection was conducted on the 20th of each month, with environmental cleaning efforts in areas along the boundary between the two Bays."
At the 45th Annual Meeting (September 2023), the World Heritage Committee approved the extension of the boundaries of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province to include the Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong City, due to their similar natural landscapes and geological features, making it the first inter-provincial World Heritage Site in Vietnam. As a result, in 2024, the challenges and difficulties in coordinating the management and protection of this inter-provincial heritage increased.
In 2025, Ha Long Bay Management Department and the People's Committee of Cat Hai District agreed to focus their cooperation on several key tasks, such as: issuing a 2025 coordination plan, working closely to effectively implement management, protection, and promotion of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site; continuing to effectively implement the directives, resolutions, programs, and plans from Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City regarding heritage management and protection; and strengthening the inspection and supervision of socio-economic activities in the border areas.
Translated by Thuy Ha