The "Treasure" of Ha Long Bay and the Footprints of Special Visitors
Nature has generously bestowed upon Quang Ninh, located at the northeastern tip of Vietnam, Ha Long Bay – a "wonder of the earth rising between the vast sky." This wonder was first recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site on December 17, 1994, and has been cherished and preserved for the past 30 years.
Ha Long Bay is a masterpiece of nature, a "wonder of the earth rising between the vast sky."
Ha Long Bay is also one of humanity's natural history museums. From the relics and artifacts discovered, scientists have concluded that Ha Long Bay was once home to ancient Vietnamese people, with dates ranging from 18,000 to 3,500 years ago.
This place also bears the marks and heroic achievements of the people of Quang Ninh through various historical periods, preserving the unique cultural values of the fishing communities on the Ha Long Bay islands.
With such exceptional values, Ha Long Bay was classified as a National Scenic Monument by the state in 1962.
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Ha Long Bay was first recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994 for its aesthetic value. Photo: QMG
In 1994 and 2000, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage Site for its scenic and geological values. In 2009, the Vietnamese government classified Ha Long Bay as a Special National Monument. Then, in 2011, Ha Long Bay was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, further reaffirming its global significance.
Most recently, in 2024, the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago heritage site (in 2023, the World Heritage Committee approved the expansion of Ha Long Bay's World Heritage boundaries to include the Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong city) was awarded the title of International Geological Heritage by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), further recognizing Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba as a valuable geological heritage site.
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UNESCO awarded the certificate recognizing the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage Site, marking it as the first inter-provincial heritage site in Vietnam. Photo: Đàm Thanh.
In recent years, Ha Long Bay has consistently appeared in rankings and polls about top tourist destinations, as selected by many international organizations, media outlets, and reputable websites worldwide. Ha Long Bay has been recognized as one of the 10 most impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, one of the 10 ideal tourist attractions in Southeast Asia, one of the 25 most unbelievable landmarks in the world, and one of the 24 must-visit destinations in 2024.
A Treasure of the Tourism Industry
Ha Long Bay has long been a must-visit destination on the world’s tourism map. According to Business Insider, Ha Long Bay impresses visitors with its rare natural beauty and diverse terrain. These landscape advantages have helped Ha Long Bay become one of Vietnam's top tourist destinations.
Mrs. Pilar (standing next to the Vietnamese chef on the cruise ship) and her Spanish friends returned to visit Ha Long Bay, and the chef left a strong impression on them. Photo: Paradise Group provided.
“I hope you like this tour around the world with the best chefs on our globe - you are one of them! Many thanks for your great professionalism and your delicious meals! A pleasure to be with you again today, best.” These were the words written by Pilar Latorre - a world-renowned chef and creator of "World Cuisine" - during her return visit to Ha Long Bay in November 2022 with her Spanish friends.
Earlier, in the summer of 2019, Quang Ninh also welcomed a special guest, billionaire Joe Lewis – owner of the Tottenham Hotspur football club – and his beautiful granddaughter, who arrived on the super yacht Aviva at the Ha Long International Passenger Port. Mr. Joe Lewis expressed his admiration for the unique beauty of Ha Long Bay.
"Along the way from the sea to the port, I was astonished by the unparalleled beauty of Ha Long Bay. I have never seen any place with such scenery. The landscape of Ha Long Bay is stunning; this is a priceless asset that you are lucky to have," said Mr. Joe Lewis.
Indian tourists excited about their journey to visit Ha Long Bay – a World Natural Heritage Site. Photo: Thu Lê
Ha Long Bay has gradually become a destination for the world’s billionaires. After billionaire Joe Lewis, one of the top 5 richest billionaires in India, who owns Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, chose Ha Long Bay as the place to bring over 4,500 workers and their families to visit.
From 1996 to the end of November 2024, Ha Long Bay welcomed over 57 million visitors, including more than 26.1 million Vietnamese visitors and over 30.8 million international tourists. The total revenue from entrance fees to Ha Long Bay from 1996 until now exceeds 8,608 billion VND.
Next year, during the "Art for Climate – Ha Long Bay 2025" festival, alongside politicians, artists, environmental activists, investors, and students, more than 200 billionaires from around the world will attend the event.
According to Ha Long Bay Management Department, after Ha Long Bay was recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 9, 1995, Quang Ninh province established the Ha Long Bay Management Department to ensure order in conservation and promote the values of Ha Long Bay. Since 1996, this agency has been selling tickets for visitors to Ha Long Bay.
Vung Viêng fishing village, with its pristine and peaceful beauty, is one of the top destinations that attract international visitors to Ha Long Bay. Photo: Ngọc Anh
Not only directly contributing to the province’s budget, Ha Long Bay, with its immense appeal to both domestic and international tourists, has become a driving force for the development of many other economic sectors in Quang Ninh. For many people in Ha Long, tourism is often likened to a "golden egg-laying hen."
Sustainable Tourism Development to Avoid “Exhausting” the Heritage
Tourism is recognized by Quang Ninh as one of the province's key economic sectors. However, for a region with rapid growth (achieving double-digit growth for nine consecutive years from 2015 to 2023), the massive volume of infrastructure, urban, and service projects has put significant pressure on the heritage sites.
This situation has posed numerous challenges in heritage preservation efforts. In light of this, developing sustainable tourism with a focus on green growth is seen as the necessary path to ensure the preservation of the heritage while enhancing the local area's competitiveness in the integration process.
The collection of floating waste on Ha Long Bay is regularly carried out by Ha Long Bay Management Department. Photo: Bùi My
To protect this "treasure," many strong measures have been implemented by Quang Ninh province. In an interview with Dân Việt reporters, Mr. Vũ Kiên Cường, Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department, stated that in order to prevent, control, and address environmental pollution and protect the heritage, Quang Ninh province has proactively sought and attracted numerous projects focused on environmental protection for Ha Long Bay, such as the Green Growth Project and the Ha Long Bay Environmental Protection Project funded by JICA.
To preserve Ha Long Bay, since 2014, Quang Ninh has relocated the fishing households on the Bay to live on land. Photo: Ngọc Anh
"Many pioneering and breakthrough solutions have been implemented to demonstrate the determination to prioritize the preservation of the heritage's integrity and protect biodiversity. These include: relocating the fishing households on the Bay to live on land since 2014 to ensure social security and welfare for the people; banning fishing in the area of absolute heritage protection since 2018; developing aquaculture zoning outside the absolute heritage protection zone; integrating the limestone mountain forest ecosystem of Ha Long Bay, covering an area of over 5,032 hectares, into the special-use forest system, establishing a nature reserve to strictly protect the ecosystems of Ha Long Bay..." said Mr. Cường.
- The wastewater collection and treatment rate in the concentrated urban area along the bay shore reaches 48%.
- The rate of tourist boats operating on the bay with oil-water separation equipment installed is 100%.
- The rate of single-use plastic waste being collected at tourist spots on the bay has decreased by 90%.
- The rate of replacing foam floats on floating structures on the bay has reached 94%.
Alongside environmental protection for Ha Long Bay, developing tourism in a green and sustainable direction is also one of the crucial solutions.
Ms. Nguyễn Huyền Anh, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, stated that the overall tourism development plan for Quang Ninh to 2020, with a vision to 2030, has been built to ensure that tourism development goes hand in hand with protecting and maximizing natural advantages, preserving and promoting cultural identity, and safeguarding the environment and landscapes.
Ms. Nguyễn Huyền Anh, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism
Based on that, the tourism industry in Quang Ninh has maximized its existing potential and created unique tourism products. Many destinations have developed eco-tourism products and exploration tourism in line with the green tourism direction, promoting green tourism models that benefit both the environment and human health.
In addition to creating new and distinctive tourism products, enhancing the quality of the tourist boats operating on the bay is also essential.
Mr. Hoàng Quang Hải, Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Transport, stated that from now until 2025, Ha Long Bay will maintain 508 tourist boats, accommodating 25,000 visitors per day. Some exploration cruises will be piloted in separate areas or designated routes. For Bai Tu Long Bay, there will be encouragement for steel-hull tourist boats currently operating in Ha Long Bay to register and transfer their operations to Bai Tu Long Bay. By 2025, an additional 100 tourist boats are expected to be added. The goal is for 100% of tourist boats to be newly built or replaced with steel hulls (or equivalent materials) by 2030.
The Grand Pioneers Cruise was honored as the "Best Green Cruise Line in the World 2024" at the World Cruise Awards 2024.
In the journey to enhance the quality of its tourism fleet, a luxury cruise brand from Quang Ninh surpassed famous brands such as Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line, with Grand Pioneers Cruise being named the "Best Green Cruise Line in the World 2024."
This distinction belongs to two cruises in the Grand Pioneers Cruise fleet, operated by Viet Thuan Transport Company. These two cruises are currently the only 6-star cruises on Ha Long Bay.
Mr. Lương Thế Tuyên, Deputy Director of Viet Thuan Company, shared: “According to the regulations for building new tourist boats in Quang Ninh, to participate in the tourism boat market, the company has invested in and is operating two Grand Pioneers twin cruises, each with more than 100 luxury rooms on Ha Long Bay. One cruise was put into operation in November 2023, while the other will begin operations on May 29, 2024."
The Grand Pioneers Cruise was honored as the "Best Green Cruise Line in the World 2024" at the World Cruise Awards 2024.
In the journey to enhance the quality of its tourism fleet, a luxury cruise brand from Quang Ninh surpassed famous brands such as Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line, with Grand Pioneers Cruise being named the "Best Green Cruise Line in the World 2024."
This distinction belongs to two cruises in the Grand Pioneers Cruise fleet, operated by Viet Thuan Transport Company. These two cruises are currently the only 6-star cruises on Ha Long Bay.
Mr. Lương Thế Tuyên, Deputy Director of Viet Thuan Company, shared: “According to the regulations for building new tourist boats in Quang Ninh, to participate in the tourism boat market, the company has invested in and is operating two Grand Pioneers twin cruises, each with more than 100 luxury rooms on Ha Long Bay. One cruise was put into operation in November 2023, while the other will begin operations on May 29, 2024."
The Grand Pioneers Cruise by Viet Thuận Transport Company offers a 6-star experience, the only one of its kind on Ha Long Bay.
All guest amenities on board are free from single-use plastics. The heat from the kitchen and ship engines is harnessed to warm the pool water. Organic waste is recycled for multiple purposes, while inorganic and other waste are collected and sent to the shore for proper disposal.
The Grand Pioneers Cruise is part of a project involving the construction of two of the largest and most expensive cruise ships in Vietnam, with a total investment of around 35 million USD. The twin ships each measure 109.9 meters long and 18.68 meters wide, with a total of 6 floors and a basement, providing more than 2,000m² per deck. Each ship has 55 luxury rooms and can accommodate 160 overnight guests and 320 day visitors.
These ships are Viet Thuận's first venture into the cruise tourism industry, and the company aims to make a positive impact on the environment and contribute to the protection of Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The company hopes to offer a unique, sustainable experience that honors the natural and cultural heritage of the bay.
On this special journey, guests will pass through four heritage regions, including hard-to-reach sites like the Stone Park (a 320-million-year-old geological museum), as well as locations like Đầu Gỗ Island, Xương Rồng Island, and the Vung Viêng fishing village. This initiative represents a model for green, sustainable tourism that highlights the value of Ha Long Bay's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
The Tuần Châu International Marina has been renovated and upgraded to provide the best service experience for visitors to Ha Long Bay. In the photo, you can see the VIETYACHT company’s luxury yacht pier, featuring a fleet of high-end personal yachts imported directly from France and Italy.
Another company pioneering in providing luxury cruise experiences in Ha Long Bay is VIETYACHT. This company is currently the exclusive distributor of over 120 yacht models from 7 world-renowned brands, including JEANNEAU, PRESTIGE, FOUNTAINE PAJOT, FERRETTI YACHTS, PERSHING, RIVA, and ALFASTREET.
In addition to distribution, VIETYACHT also operates these yachts for rent on Ha Long Bay, offering a new travel product that caters to a wide range of tourists' needs. "These yachts are all imported brand new from France and Italy, and adhere strictly to safety and environmental protection standards. Therefore, we are confident that we are contributing to the common goal of developing green tourism in Quang Ninh province," said Mrs. Salem Hương, Vice President of VIETYACHT.
UNESCO has recommended that sustainable tourism activities should be the top priority for Ha Long Bay in order to protect and enhance this unique World Natural Heritage site.
The focus should be on quality rather than quantity, offering visitors unique and enriching experiences.
This aligns with the joint efforts of Quang Ninh province and local businesses in the service and tourism sectors. By working together, they aim to ensure that tourism activities contribute positively to the preservation of the Bay while also providing unforgettable experiences for tourists. This recommendation is key in maintaining Ha Long Bay's cultural and ecological integrity for future generations.