Ha Long Bay – A world wonder with global value

Over past decades, people around the country and international visitors from several countries and territories have flocked to Quang Ninh province to visit Yen Tu historical site, where King Tran Nhan Tong became a monk and home of the world wonder Ha Long Bay, to enjoy the spring atmosphere.

That has been the common thought of millions of Vietnamese people and all those who are passionate about the beauty of nature which is saving human life from environmental dangers on a worldwide scale. These days, although the COVID-19 pandemic still casts a bleak colour on many roads throughout all continents, Ha Long Bay is still beautiful and radiant under the control of intelligent Vietnamese minds.

The core area of Ha Long Bay was recognised twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000, with global special values of geology. On November 12, 2011, Ha Long Bay, was announced by New Open World Organisation, as one of seven new natural wonders of the world.

Poet Tran Nhuan Minh has attached to this heritage site for 60 years. He could not forget the day Ha Long Bay received the "global crown" for one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, for the third time. On that day, the peaks of the border mountains, which had turned due to wind and dew, and the primeval forests on the remote islands seemed to be bright and airy. The sunset at that time was the most beautiful one on the entire planet.

Many poets and visitors from various continents, with different skin colours and voices, arrived and left a little piece of their soul here. The magical water of Ha Long Bay has been gently rippling with an imaginary colour for hundreds of years.

Therefore, it is no coincidence that Quang Ninh Poetry Day was launched in this land on March 29, 1988. Then 15 years later, Vietnam Poetry Day was formed to honour the beauty of poems and people’s soul. And so, during a Poetry Day, which was held in the world heritage site, over 150 poets who represented the beauty of the souls of many countries and territories around the world, released moving verses.

Poet Tran Nhuan Minh wrote many poems to highlight the beauty of Ha Long Bay, consisting of the limestones with different forms, old small trees clinging to the steep cliffs, and shimmering and fanciful caves that have seemed to be inherent in ancient stories. Each landscape or cave holds a legend that was created by fishermen.

Ha Long Bay has a special global value and its protection is for the benefit of all mankind. Ha Long Bay is a mysterious and sacred beauty with universal significance. It is crucial to protect this treasure at all costs!