Ha Long Bay - A Masterpiece of Nature

The miraculous arrangement of nature has created Ha Long Bay, which carries the beauty of a picturesque landscape, resembling a one-of-a-kind ink painting in the world.

Majestic Beauty, A Masterpiece of Nature

Before the majestic mountains and the vast sea and sky, the beauty of Ha Long Bay has long been a source of inspiration for scholars and poets. From 1814 to 1818, during a visit to Yen Quang (now Quang Yen Town, Quang Ninh), poet Ho Xuan Huong traveled to many places, including Ha Long Bay. She was deeply impressed by the landscapes and the people here, as expressed through a collection of poems written in Chinese characters.

The research work Ho Xuan Huong and Ha Long Bay by Professor Hoang Xuan Han notes that the poet wrote five Chinese poems about Ha Long Bay, including Du Hoa Phong (Passing through Hoa Phong Bay), Hai Oc Tru (Looking at Toan Ngoan Peak), Nhan Phong Thanh (Eyes shining green), Thuy Van Huong (In the place of water and clouds), and Trao Ca Thanh (The song of the rowing boat).

In the poem Trao Ca Thanh, the poet's depiction of the Ha Long landscape creates an image of Ha Long Bay as a watercolor painting:
“Linh lung tứ bích liệt vân bình/Ngọc duẩn sâm si thùy diện bình” (translated: "The sparkling waters all around, covered with a veil of clouds / The calm water, dotted with growing bamboo shoots").

With an area of 1,553 km², Ha Long Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, forming unique and striking features. Under the hand of nature, the islands seem alive and wondrous, such as the "Trống Mái" (Rooster and Hen) Island, resembling two chickens playing in the waves. Another is "Đỉnh Hương" (Incense Burner), resembling a giant incense burner standing in the middle of the ocean, as if to offer a sacrifice to heaven and earth. Among the 980 islands that have names, many have unique shapes, evoking objects from everyday life.

The beauty of Ha Long lies not only in the shape of the mountains, the color of the waters, or the sky, but also in the wealth of cave systems hidden within the islands. The Thiên Cung Cave, Đầu Gỗ Cave, Sửng Sốt Cave, and countless other beautiful caves are intertwined with folklore, such as Trinh Nữ Cave and Động Tiên Lake... Each cave is a masterpiece of nature's exquisite craftsmanship.

Ha Long Bay is also a hub of high biodiversity, with unique ecosystems of tropical limestone islands, including ecosystems of island vegetation, cave ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems, and regularly flooded coastal wetlands. It is home to more than 2,900 species of plants and animals on land and at sea.

In September 1998, Professor Tony Waltham, a renowned expert in geology and geomorphology from Trent Nottingham University (UK), visited Ha Long Bay to study its geology at 13 coastal points, 47 locations, and 32 caves. In his geological and geomorphological assessment report submitted to the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province, the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the UNESCO Office (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Hanoi, as well as the World Heritage Centre in Paris, he wrote:

“The landscape value of Ha Long Bay is perhaps beyond debate. The stunning mountains rising above the calm waters of the Bay have created a truly magnificent natural scene.”

The World Admires

Thirty years ago, on December 17, 1994, Ha Long Bay was first listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site for its outstanding global aesthetic values. At that time, in order to be recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site for aesthetic values, Ha Long Bay met UNESCO’s criteria, which are: representing natural phenomena or areas with unique or outstanding aesthetic or scenic value; including supernatural or natural areas with unique or exceptional aesthetic or scenic value; and areas with unique or outstanding aesthetic or scenic value due to related geological or biological processes.

As a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site for aesthetic values, Ha Long Bay not only possesses a rich, diverse ecosystem with many rare and endemic species of plants and animals but also bears the marks of the myths, history, and culture of the Vietnamese people.

In the proposal sent to the Prime Minister on December 27, 1994, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO stated: "The recognition of Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage Site at the 18th session of the World Heritage Committee has elevated the value of this heritage, placing it in global relations. This is not just a significant cultural event but also holds long-term political and economic importance for the development of the country."

Recognizing the exceptional global geological and geomorphological value of Ha Long Bay, after its recognition as a World Heritage Site for aesthetic values, Quang Ninh has continually researched and further explored the Bay’s values.

On December 2, 2000, the World Heritage Committee recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage Site for the second time based on criterion (i) of the International Convention on World Heritage Sites. The UNESCO-designated World Heritage site covers an area of 434 km², comprising 775 islands, 411 of which are named, and is bordered by three points: Dao Dau Go (west), Dao Dau Be (south), and Dao Cong Tay (east).

When evaluating Ha Long Bay’s nomination file in 1993, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended: "The surrounding limestone islands near Cat Ba Island should be included in the area, as part of the National Park but located within the Hải Phòng boundary." Expanding the World Natural Heritage Site to include the Cat Ba Archipelago would enhance the inherent value of the heritage, as demonstrated by the harmony in landscapes, geology, geomorphology, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Since then, efforts to conserve, research, and complete the nomination file for the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Heritage Site have continued. Early in 2021, the nomination file was revised and completed following the recommendations and submitted to UNESCO.

On September 16, 2023, at the 45th session, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO approved the nomination and recognized the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage Site. With its captivating natural beauty of outstanding global value, as the final point in the karst evolution process, representing seven adjacent ecosystems, and being the habitat of many rare animal species, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago becomes the first transregional heritage site in Vietnam, with boundaries spanning both Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City.

Proposal for a Third UNESCO Title for Ha Long Bay

In July 2024, during the 46th Session of the World Heritage Committee, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Quảng Ninh Province, and Head of the Working Group, sought the advice of UNESCO experts and advisory bodies regarding the expansion of Ha Long Bay’s World Heritage Site criteria to include Biodiversity (Criterion 10). The proposal aims for UNESCO to recognize Ha Long Bay’s extraordinary biodiversity as a third designation.

Ha Long Bay’s biodiversity is rich and diverse, with nearly 3,000 species of animals and plants, both terrestrial and aquatic, spread across 10 different ecosystems, ranging from marine to forested areas. This incredible diversity of life across both land and sea highlights Ha Long Bay as one of the most biologically diverse regions in Vietnam.

If approved, this third UNESCO recognition would further enhance Ha Long Bay’s status, protecting the site more effectively while raising the profile of Quảng Ninh Province and Vietnam on the global tourism map. Such a distinction would reinforce Ha Long Bay’s position as a natural wonder and a hub for biodiversity, aligning with international efforts to preserve the planet’s most significant natural areas.

Translated by Thuy Ha