Promoting the Values of the World Heritage Site Halong Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago

After three years since UNESCO recognized the extension of the World Heritage Site Halong Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Quang Ninh is gradually completing a unified, modern, and sustainable management model, linking the preservation of heritage values with the development of green tourism and enhancing the effectiveness of the World Heritage Site.

In July 2023, at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Saudi Arabia, UNESCO approved the decision to expand the boundary of the World Heritage Site Halong Bay (Quang Ninh), incorporating Cat Ba Archipelago (Hai Phong) into the natural heritage site of Halong Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago. With outstanding values similar in natural landscape, geology, and geomorphology, this has become the first trans-provincial World Heritage Site in Vietnam, while also requiring the establishment of a unified management mechanism to ensure integrity and sustainably enhance the values of the heritage.

Immediately after the heritage was expanded, Quang Ninh actively collaborated with Hai Phong to implement synchronized management, conservation, and promotion measures for the heritage values. The two localities worked together to build reports on the implementation of recommendations from the World Heritage Center; complete the Protection Regulation, the Heritage Management Plan; and sign a Coordination Regulation for tourism vessel management between Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay to create consistency in management, exploitation, and protection of the heritage.

A significant advancement was recorded in March 2025 when the People's Committees of Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City agreed to establish the Management Board of the World Heritage Site Halong Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago. This is the first inter-provincial management model for a World Heritage Site in Vietnam, laying the foundation for a unified governance mechanism, enhancing coordination effectiveness between the two localities in conserving, managing, and promoting the heritage values according to UNESCO standards, aiming for sustainable development.

From April 2026, the two localities continued to implement a seamless connection for tourism between Halong Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago, attracting nearly 4,600 visitors and generating over 1 billion VND in fees. Not only does this expand the experience space for tourists, but the connection between the two areas also helps reduce concentration pressure on certain attractions, facilitating reasonable visitor distribution and developing tourism sustainably.

From Quang Ninh's perspective, a notable aspect of the heritage management strategy is always placing conservation as the foundation for development, determining to transition the development model from "brown" to "green", gradually reducing dependence on resource extraction, and aiming for economic development based on high-quality tourism and services alongside a green economy. The province particularly focuses on protecting water environments through various solutions aimed at controlling wastewater from vessels operating in the bay, while also researching mechanisms to encourage ship owners to upgrade wastewater collection and treatment systems to higher standards.

Along with perfecting policies, inspection, monitoring, and handling violations have also been strengthened. Since the beginning of the year, the Management Board of the World Heritage Site Halong Bay - Yen Tu has coordinated with authorities to conduct over 710 patrols and inspections; identifying and proposing to handle 111 violations with a total fine of over 260 million VND. Simultaneously, there have been continuous efforts to deal with illegal fishing, salesboats tailing tourist boats, improperly anchored vessels, and unauthorized visitor tours, contributing to maintaining a civilized tourism environment, protecting resources, and enhancing the image of the World Heritage Site.

During a visit to Quang Ninh on World Wonder Day (July 7), Mr. Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of the New7Wonders Organization, praised the province's vision in harmonizing conservation and development. According to him, the strategy of transitioning from "brown" to "green", reducing dependence on resource extraction, and developing high-quality tourism and services is a strategic decision that preserves the values of the heritage while enhancing the quality of growth and attractiveness of Halong Bay to domestic and international tourists.

Not only focusing on domestic solutions, Quang Ninh is also proactively integrating and learning from international experiences in heritage management. From July 18 to 25, the provincial working delegation participated in the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Here, the Quang Ninh delegation engaged in report presentations, explanations, and experience sharing; while also working with the UNESCO World Heritage Center, IUCN, ICOMOS, and international experts to discuss the management and conservation of Halong Bay and Yen Tu World Heritage. Actively participating in international forums not only helps the locality update advanced governance models but also demonstrates its responsibility in fully implementing UNESCO recommendations for the World Heritage Site.

Three years after becoming Vietnam's first trans-provincial World Heritage Site, Halong Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is gradually being managed in a unified, modern, and sustainable way. With Quang Ninh's determination along with close cooperation with Hai Phong, the heritage is not only effectively preserved but also continues to promote its values, becoming an important driving force for green and sustainable development in the region and the country.