Ha Long Bay: Connecting for Development

Since becoming a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, Ha Long Bay has faced numerous challenges as well as opportunities, including the chance to connect both domestically and internationally for further development.

Unique Interprovincial World Heritage Site in Vietnam

Sunrise View from Cat Ba Island

On September 16, 2023, UNESCO approved the nomination dossier of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago complex (spanning Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City) as a World Natural Heritage site. This event made Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago the first trans-provincial world heritage site in Vietnam.

Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province and the Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong City boast numerous important national and international titles, including: the special national relic of Ha Long Bay, the special national relic of the scenic Cat Ba Archipelago, Cat Ba National Park, Lan Ha Bay – one of the most beautiful bays in the world, a marine protected area, the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve, and Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage Site (in 1994 and 2000).

The “ Lagoon" Ecosystem (Saltwater Lakes on Mountains) at Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because it contains areas of natural beauty, including limestone islands with lush vegetation, sharp limestone mountain peaks rising above the sea, and karst features such as arches and caves. The stunning scenery remains unaffected by the islands with vegetation, saltwater lakes, and the sharp limestone peaks with their steep cliffs towering above the sea.

With a core area of 65,650 hectares and a buffer zone of 34,140 hectares, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is known as the "pearl of the Gulf of Tonkin," a symphony of majestic mountains and vast islands.

This trans-provincial natural heritage site is home to 1,133 limestone islands, each with unique shapes and sizes, including 775 limestone islands in Ha Long Bay and 358 limestone islands in the Cat Ba Archipelago, all covered by rich vegetation against the backdrop of shimmering emerald waters.

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is considered a geological museum, holding globally significant natural heritage. It has witnessed distinctive changes in the Earth's development history, with evidence in the form of pristine forests, bays, and islands.

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was recognized as a World Heritage site due to its natural beauty, which includes limestone islands with vegetation, sharp limestone mountain peaks rising above the sea, and karst features such as arches and caves. The breathtaking scenery remains unspoiled by islands with vegetation, saltwater lakes, and the sharply defined limestone peaks with their steep cliffs towering above the sea.

UNESCO

With the convergence of mountains and islands, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is a representative area of high diversity in Asia, possessing seven marine-island ecosystems that are adjacent and develop consecutively: the pristine tropical rainforest ecosystem, cave ecosystem, mangrove forest ecosystem, tidal flat ecosystem, coral reef ecosystem, soft-bottom ecosystem, and saltwater lake ecosystem.

Fish farms on the Cat Ba Archipelago

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, with its extensive marine forest area of over 17,000 hectares and diverse ecosystems, is home to 4,910 species of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, including 198 species listed in the IUCN Red List and 51 endemic species. The approximately 1,045 hectares of primary forest on Cat Ba Island are a key factor contributing to the ecological value and biodiversity of this heritage site.
Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is home to 138 saltwater lakes, formed from sinkholes, karst funnels, and closed valleys, representing about one-third of the total saltwater lakes in the world.
Notably, the Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is a rare species, listed among the highest-risk endangered animals, and is recorded in the World Red Book. Only about 60-70 individuals of this species remain, found exclusively in Cat Ba, with no other populations in the world. Additionally, researchers have discovered several endemic plant species that thrive only on limestone islands, which cannot be found elsewhere in the world.
With over 17,000 hectares and diverse ecosystems, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago hosts 4,910 species of terrestrial and marine flora and fauna, including 198 species listed in the IUCN Red List and 51 endemic species.
Furthermore, scattered throughout the area are 138 saltwater lakes formed from sinkholes, karst funnels, and closed valleys. These lakes, which make up about one-third of the world’s saltwater lakes, preserve ancient, rare species of great value for conservation and scientific research, and provide a favorable environment for evolutionary species.
Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago comprises 1,133 limestone islands, each with unique shapes and sizes, including 775 limestone islands in Ha Long Bay and 358 limestone islands in the Cat Ba Archipelago. These islands are home to seven adjacent marine-island ecosystems that develop sequentially, ranging from tropical to subtropical.
Expanding the Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage site to include the Cat Ba Archipelago will further enhance the heritage's inherent value, as evidenced by the harmony of landscapes, geology, geomorphology, ecosystems, and the diversity of flora and fauna. The globally outstanding values of the area are identified through its physical and biological formations, geological and geographical features, and its role as a habitat for endangered species, from an aesthetic, scientific, and conservation perspective.

Connecting for Conservation and Development
The recognition of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as the first inter-provincial World Heritage site in Vietnam presents both Quang Ninh and Hai Phong provinces with an opportunity to collaborate and jointly conserve and promote the value of this heritage.

Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department, believes that, in terms of natural factors, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is an inseparable complex with shared values in landscape, geology, and geomorphology. Therefore, expanding the boundaries of the Ha Long Bay World Heritage site to include Cat Ba Archipelago helps to supplement the values and further affirm the integrity of the Ha Long Bay Heritage site as recognized by UNESCO, while also strengthening management solutions for the marine ecosystems unique to Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago.

Regarding the connection between the protection of the Ha Long Bay Heritage and locations such as the Cat Ba Archipelago, Ms. Nguyen Huyen Anh, Director of Quang Ninh's Department of Tourism, mentioned that in 2023, UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Heritage site, highlighting the similarities between the two areas, which are now officially acknowledged and extended. The legal framework for linking them to protect the heritage is clear in regulations such as Decree 109, which defines the management of the heritage located across the administrative boundaries of the two provinces. Both Quang Ninh and Hai Phong have worked together to issue legal documents for joint management.

Quang Ninh and Hai Phong are neighboring provinces with many similarities. In line with regional cooperation trends, the two have worked together to address challenges and issues related to tourism development in both areas—from public administration coordination and product development to promotional efforts, human resource development, environmental protection, and business environment management.

The two localities have also collaborated on establishing a coordination framework for state management over transportation activities, including tourist boats on Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. They are working to standardize passenger transport times, extend visit and stay durations, ensure security, and protect the marine environment between Ha Long and Cat Ba.

Connecting Locally, Nationally, and Internationally

In Quang Ninh's tourism development policy, Ha Long Bay remains the central hub for various connections, as highlighted in the Master Plan for the management and development of tourism products in Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long, Van Don, Co To, and Cat Ba (Hai Phong). This initiative aims to connect the heritage tourism spaces, promoting ecological, cultural, and community tourism products in these areas. The goal is to integrate the unique and diverse tourism resources of Ha Long Bay and the surrounding regions, both within Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, to create a comprehensive, sustainable tourism experience. This approach not only strengthens the local tourism infrastructure but also enhances the appeal of the region for both national and international visitors.

Nguyễn Huyền Anh, Director of Quang Ninh's Department of Tourism, shared that, according to scientific assessments, Bai Tu Long Bay is very unique. While it shares many similarities with the core area of Ha Long Bay, it also has its own distinct features. In addition to its natural landscapes, geological and geomorphological systems, and caves, Bai Tu Long Bay is home to many islands with a long history of fishing communities, which have contributed to the local maritime culture in the Van Don-Co To region. In Bai Tu Long, the Co To Islands boast beautiful beaches and, alongside the natural landscapes and long-standing culture, there are historical landmarks such as the Van Don port, Quan Lan communal house, traditional festivals, and rich ecological values, including the ASEAN Bai Tu Long National Park.

In addition, according to Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Director of the Ha Long Bay Management Department, the Bay is also connected and collaborates with various localities and heritage management organizations, both domestically and internationally, to cooperate and learn from experiences in development.

"We have made initial connections through websites, and later with organizations like UNESCO, such as the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World. We also participate in forums organized by international organizations, including UNESCO, and take part in promotional trade fairs," Mr. Vu Kien Cuong shared.

Domestically, Ha Long Bay is a member of the Vietnam World Natural Heritage Club. In December, the club will hold a general meeting in Quang Ninh. The club includes many world natural heritage sites in Vietnam, such as Ha Long, Phong Nha – Ke Bang, and the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, among others.

"We hope to establish connections with global heritage sites, as it is a great idea. If we achieve this, it would be wonderful for sharing experiences and values both domestically and internationally," said Mr. Vu Kien Cuong.

Linking and collaborating for development is an inevitable trend today. Ha Long Bay is facing both challenges and new opportunities, allowing it to gather valuable experiences in heritage conservation and protection, while also attracting new resources in various aspects to exploit and enhance the value of the heritage.

Translated by Thuy Ha