Community-based tourism on Ha Long Bay creates fishermen' sustainable livelihood

More than 300 fishing households living in the core area of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay moved ashore for settlement since 2014. However, these fishermen are still actively contributing to community-based tourism on Ha Long Bay with special products that attract a great number of tourists.

Bamboo rowing service at Vung Vieng area

At Vung Vieng area, currently, there are nearly 100 laborers working for Van Chai Ha Long Tourism Service Cooperative with about 60 bamboo boats carrying those who visit fishing village. Each fisherman becomes a tour guide to introduce visitors about the fishing village’s landscape and history as well as indigenous people’s lives.

Tourists visit aquaculture floating farms at Vung Vieng area

Besides, visitors can travel around Vung Vieng fishing village’s community living house and an former classroom where reappear fishermen’s lives and visit natural pearl farms with the standard process transffered by Japanese experts. These pearl oyster farms not only create stable incomes for locals but also become interesting spots for tourists.

Along with Van Chai Ha Long Tourism Service Cooperative at Vung Vien area, Van Chai Fairy Boat Cooperative at Ba Hang area offering tourist boat rowing and kayaking is also impressive tourist attraction.

At Van Chai Cooperatives, laborers are equipped with full knowledge about tourism, rescue skills, uniforms with logo, registration certificates for vehicles and service prices are publicly listed. As a result, the quality of tourist service has been remarkably improved. Each day, the cooperatives receive 200 – 300 tourist arrivals, bringing members’ average monthly income of over 4 mil.VND

Trash collecting bags are available on each bamboo boat, ensuring clean environment

As community-based tourism develops, every fisherman not only knows how to promote tourism, but also raises awareness of protecting the Bay’s environment. Trash collecting bags are available on each boat, creating a good image in tourists’ eyes.

English class for fishermen

At Cua Van area, fishermen also peform dual love song singing, net-knitting, fishing tool reparing etc, satisfying visitors’ demand at Cua Van Floating Culture Center. These above-mentioned tourism models not only create stable jobs for locals but also contribute to developing community-based tourism in the core zone of the heritage.

Translated by Thu Giang