Preserving Ha Long Bay Heritage for the next generations

Since Ha Long Bay was recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site, Quang Ninh has always made great efforts in managing, preserving and promoting the values of the heritage. In addition, Quang Ninh has focused on shifting from "brown" to "green" economic growth, a variety of solutions have been undertaken to promote the sustainable development of natural resources and the local sources, including spending adequate resources on environmental management, sustainable tourism development and preserving the global outstanding values of the heritage site.

In addition to preserving and promoting the available values of Ha Long Bay, protecting Ha Long Bay’s environment is always one of the key tasks.

Promoting the preservation of the Heritage

According to the statistics, Ha Long Bay has a total of 1,969 islands, including limestone islands and schist islands. The system of islands on the Bay consists of many islets with different unique and impressive shapes. Many famous caves and beaches on Ha Long Bay includes Sung Sot cave, Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, Tam Cung cave ...

In order to improve the effectiveness of management, conservation and promotion of the heritage’s values, a series of legal documents have been promulgated, such as the Regulation on management, protection and promotion of the values of the Ha Long Bay natural heritage. Also, the Bay Management Board had reported to the Provincial People's Committee on the results of the review, adjustment and supplementation of the detailed planning on the management, conservation and promotion of the world natural heritage values of Ha Long Bay until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

One of the most typical services at the Ha Long Bay Heritage Site is the operation of tourist boats.

In addition to preserving and promoting the available values of Ha Long Bay, protecting Ha Long Bay’s environment is always one of the key tasks on which all the departments and sectors at all levels are requested to focus. State management of Ha Long Bay and regular inspection are also intensified in order to supervise the implementation of law provisions on environmental protection by organizations and individuals.

Moreover, Quang Ninh has implemented the Tourism Development Planning and the Plan for Quang Ninh Tourism Development until 2020, with lots of solutions to develop tourism attractions in Ha Long City, Bai Tu Long Bay and tourism attractions in the surrounding localities.

Improving the quality of tourism services

One of the most typical services at the Ha Long Bay Heritage Site is the operation of tourist boats and bed & breakfast boats. Currently, there are 505 tourist boats, including 189 boats, 313 day sightseeing boats and 3 restaurant ships. Not only tourist boats but also other kinds of services namely Kayak sailing; boat sailing, swimming at the Titop beach or visiting Ha Long Bay by seaplane have been developed aiming at offering the tourists with diversified services of the best quality.

The conservation and improvement of the infrastructure at sightseeing spots on Ha Long Bay continues to be paid with much concerns. To date, the construction of revetment and toilet system on the Titov Island in the first phase has been completed meanwhile the second one of the infrastructure system construction, along with the construction of Me Cung and Tien Ong caves, have been also conducted; the buoy system provided to the tourists at sightseeing spots and, accommodation facilities have been maintained.

As a result, in the first 6 months of this year, the number of tourist arrivals to Ha Long Bay reached 2.28 million, of which the number of foreign arrivals was 1.58 million, accounting for 104% compared to the same period in 2018.

Translated by Hue Linh