Dong Pagoda, also known as Thien Truc Tu (天竺寺 - Temple of the Buddha Realm), is a temple located at the highest peak of Yen Tu range (1,068m). This is the largest bronze mountaintop temple in Asia.
Showing posts with label Halong Bay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halong Bay. Show all posts
The legend of Halong Bay
Although the name Halong Bay has made it to the world thanks to its world heritage title and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, not many people know about the mystery beneath that name. In ancient Vietnamese, Halong literally means “descending dragon” and it is originated from a legend of this ancient land.
The legend says that during the old time when the country was newly formed, Vietnamese had to fight against fierce invaders coming from the North through the sea. Feeling sorry for the country, The Jade Emperor sent the Mother Dragon and her children descending on earth to help ancient Vietnamese people defend the country.
While the mighty enemies were attacking the main land, The Mother Dragon and her children suddenly appeared and incinerated the enemies with their divine fire and giant emeralds. The emeralds from the dragon’s mouth were scattered around the battlefield on the sea and formed an invincible defensive wall that left enemy battleship fleet sinking. Thanks to the dragons, the Northern invaders were finally swept away and the peace finally came back the South East Asian country once again. After thousands of years, the wall of emerald turned into island and islets of different sizes and shapes.
After the battle, The Mother Dragon and her children didn’t come back to the heaven, but stayed in the mortal world and turned into human form and help people planting, cropping, raising cattle, reclaiming, and expanding the country.
To remember the help of Mother Dragon and her children, the people live there from generation to generation name the bay where the Mother Dragon descended “Ha Long or Halong” and the bay where her children descended “Bai Tu Long”, which means “Thanks to the Dragon’s children”. This legend is also a part of the general belief that Vietnamese people's has Dragon's origins.
Adventure tourism in Halong
In Vietnam, adventure tourism is not a popular concept. Those who want an exotic adventure should not miss the chance to embark themselves into Vietnamese tropical forests, caves, or other natural areas. Halong bay is an excellent choice with two thousand islands and countless caves.
The most popular activity in Halong City is kayaking and is generally provided by luxurious cruises in the bay. This might not be as mysterious and dangerous as real adventure trips, but you can still have plenty of fun. While some just want to kayak around their cruise, others prefer to explore deep caves in the rock islands.
Talking about rock island, Halong Bay is known for being a perfect place for rock climbing. However, there is no official agency in this bay that possesses the adequate ability and equipment to conduct this activity just yet. Tourists have to prepare their own equipments and do a research about Halong Bay rock climbing or they can contact VietClimb, a Vietnamese rock climbing club.
Community based sustainable tourism in Halong
In Halong Bay, community based sustainable tourism (CBST) seems to be a brand new concept in tourism industry. However, possessing various advantages to cultivate sustainable tourism, local administration and tourism agencies of this charming bay is concentrating in developing this new form of tourism. Halong Bay is one of the most attractive places in Vietnam with a long history of about 18,000 years and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Moreover, it has an eco-friendly traditional fishing community.
The most popular sustainable tourism activity is visiting floating fishing villages. These tours are offered by various tour agencies, including inland agencies or luxurious cruises with identical itineraries and activities. Tourists will get one or a half day to live at these floating villages with local residents to learn about featured elements of the fisher life here, as well as the culture of fisher community in this bay. For some tours, tourists also have an opportunity to participate in fisher’s everyday chores and to have a cozy meal with local residents. Usually, Cua Van and Vung Vieng floating villages are the most visited destination for tours like that.
Tourists can also customize a sustainable tourism trip to explore the bay’s culture in their own way. In this case, hotel where the tourists accommodate or ship supplier might be useful, since they can help the tourists with contacting the villages, transportation, and translating service.
Ecotourism in Halong Bay
Ecotourism has become a new touristic trend all over the world. This form of tourism does not only bring exciting and unique experiences of wonderful beauty of the nature to tourists, but also promotes tourists awareness about environment protection and sustainable development. Ecotourism benefits the local economic growth as well as cultivates respect for different cultures and for human rights. With many delicate, pristine, and fairly undisturbed natural areas, Halong Bay is a perfect place to develop ecotourism. However, Halong Bay ecotourism is still immature and lack of options.
In Halong Bay, ecotourism is offered to tourists by luxurious cruises mostly, via a program from local administration named “The eco tag”. According to this program, whichever cruise is qualified in term of equipment, capability, and experience (which is assessed by tourism administrators), is titled “Green Sails”. This title allows the cruise to conduct ecotourism activities in Halong Bay. However, ecotourism programs by these cruises are quite simple, with only few options such as guiding tourists to rare coral areas, primitive sea region, and exploring mysterious caves under rocky islands in this bay. These activities are often associated with water sports, including kayaking and diving.
Halong Bay is not one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World for nothing. The gorgeous and unspoiled beauty is just one of its suitable features for ecotourism. It is promising to develop ecotourism with Halong Bay magnificent landscape with two thousand rocky islands and emerald color ocean. It is also a crime to visit Halong Bay without a venture to any grottoes or caves. A trip to Halong Bay would remain in any tourist’s memory as a wonderful journey to the state of nature.
Halong - A site for archaeologists
In 1937, the accidental discovery of the first artifact by a glass craftsman in Ngoc Vung Island in Halong is later recognized as one of the cradles of mankind.
During that time, Vietnam was still a French colony; the discovery made archaeological enthusiasts came to Vietnam to exploring the ancient human civilization. From that time, a lot of discoveries has been found, in the Halong coastal area, such as thousands of antiques like stone tools, ceramic receptacles, stone jewelry and human’s bones, all dated back to Neolithic age.
After the liberation of Northern Vietnam in 1945, Vietnamese and Soviet archaeologists started working together. In 1960, an exploration crew found pieces of wherry of the ancient apes, and a lot of copper arrows, which are belong to Hung Kings period (from 2879 to 258 BC). The results from all of searches were clear evidences of an ancient civilization in Halong Bay dated back 3,500-5,000 years ago.
From 1960 until now, archaeologists have expanded their research to 40 sites in Halong and found strong evidences to prove that an even older civilization existed in Halong Bay area, not just 3-5 millenniums ago, but back to 18,000 - 7,000 years BC. Ancient people used to live scattered in the area of Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, Me Cung Cave, Tien Ong Cave, and Thien Long Cave. Collected artifacts such as eatable sea snails and rude working tools proved that people here lived mainly on fishing, collecting sea-snails and oysters, digging roots and bulbs. The most recent discovering was in 2006, when important antiques of Trong Dong Civilizations were found, including cavemen’s bones, stone axe, ceramic pieces, mollusk deposits used to make foods and jewelry.
Archaeological researches have been conducted restlessly in Halong Bay to decipher all the found artifacts from the ancient civilizations existed in Halong Bay. From all the evidences, archaeologists say that Halong Bay is one of many cradles of humankind.
A quick look on Halong cultural heritage
Halong is closely attached to important historical milestones of Vietnam from the establishment stage to the present time.
During the 12th Century, Van Don Port in Halong used to be the busiest port in Northern Vietnam, which soon welcomed foreign traders in the neighbour areas come to trade specialties of the local countries. Van Don Port is especially convenient for business activities that attract a lot of international traders thanks to a system of ground, islands, and rocky islands that separate Halong Bay into smaller lagoons and deep canals, which are all airtight for ships and boats docking safely.
Besides Van Don Port, Halong has the famous Bai Tho Mountain (Mountain of Poem), which preserves the valuable poet of King Le Thanh Tong engraved on its cliff in 1468, on the occasion of his trip to the East Sea; and the hand-writing of Lord Trinh Cuong in 1729.
Bai Chay in the Western side of Halong Bay recorded the victory of Tran Dynasty for burning the battleships of the Mongol invaders, and Dau Go Cave is the historical vestige of Lord Tran Hung Dao triumph on Bach Dang River. Hundreds of vestiges in Halong combine together and the imagination of local people have built up many interesting legends of the bay.
Talking about the traditions and customs of Halong, Hát Giao Duyên (a variable of the local folk singing) could be said the most unique feature, which is belong to fishermen in Cửa Vạn fishing village. This type of traditional folk singing includes Hát Đúm, Hò Biển, and Hát Đám Cưới, in which Hát Đám Cưới (wedding singing) is still remaining and preferred by the local as their pride.
Elders in Cửa Vạn Village say their wedding singing is not less pleasant and attractive compare to the famous Quan Họ Singing in Bac Ninh Provine. Additionally, all the wedding in Cửa Vạn Village are organized in the 15th day of a lunar month when the Moon bright the whole bay with its gentle light that make all the fishes stay deep under the sea.
The geological formation of Halong Bay
Mentioning about Halong, ones would not hesitate to use the most beautiful words to describe the breathtaking natural scenery of the Bay. Besides the unique natural scenery, the bay has a great geological value.
The long-lasting history of geological formation of Halong Bay is known with more than 500 million years of changes between mountain growing, marine degradation, mountain sinking, and encroaching sea. Halong used to be a very deep sea during Odovic – Silua era, shallow sea during Cacbon – Pecmi era, and coastal area during Plaogen – Neogen era. Not only that, contributing on the present natural wonder Halong Bay was the result of a magnificent ancient marine limestone accumulation, which reached above 1,000 meters 340-240 million years ago, and the Karst erosion period of more than 20 million years.
Halong Bay was also an excellent example for Karst period of developing and dominating under the humid tropical weather of Vietnam. The bay went through the Karst evolution in million years, due to the combination of geological and climatic factors like thick limestone in association with tropical climate, and finally the slow tectonic uplift in general.
In addition, the permanent erosion process of rain and tides from the sea resulted into special geological formation of the most unique valleys, Karst lakes and towers in the world, and a complicated system of primitive caves. This system is separated into three main forms: developing vertically, for example the highest and most ancient caves that can be seen now; developing horizontally, which resulted into middle-age caves; and the final form is composed due to the cutting and erosion of water streams, which provides priceless biological, geological and oceanographic values.
Thanks to the early development of geological system, Halong Bay is preferred by the Mother Nature with a stable foundation to develop other values like biology, culture, archeology, and history. Amongst which, biodiversity is the strength, as well as an attractive factor to draw international visitors to come and explore. Halong is a giant conservation zone of floral kind, especially rarest species in the world. The Bay is also a base of a variety of the tropical ecosystem such as mangrove ecosystem, reef ecosystem, and tùng áng ecosystem.
Quick Facts about Halong
OFFICIAL ENGLISH NAME: HALONG BAY
Administrative Division: Halong City, Quang Ninh Province
Area: 1553km2 and 120km coastline; covering over 3000 islets with water body
Population: about 1600 people living in floating fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau & Vong Vieng
Recognition:
- 1962: 'Renowned National Landscape Monument' by Vietnam Tourism Authority.
- 1994: UNESCO World Heritage Site by UNESCO
- 2012: New 7 Wonders by New 7 Wonders Foundation
- Member of Club of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World
Halong bay culture
Halong is closely attached to important historical milestones of Vietnam from the establishment stage to the present time.
During the 12th Century, Van Don Port in Halong used to be the busiest port in Northern Vietnam, which soon welcomed foreign traders in the neighbour areas come to trade specialties of the local countries. Van Don Port is especially convenient for business activities that attract a lot of international traders thanks to a system of ground, islands, and rocky islands that separate Halong Bay into smaller lagoons and deep canals, which are all airtight for ships and boats docking safely.
Besides Van Don Port, Halong has the famous Bai Tho Mountain (Mountain of Poem), which preserves the valuable poet of King Le Thanh Tong engraved on its cliff in 1468, on the occasion of his trip to the East Sea; and the hand-writing of Lord Trinh Cuong in 1729.
Bai Chay in the Western side of Halong Bay recorded the victory of Tran Dynasty for burning the battleships of the Mongol invaders, and Dau Go Cave is the historical vestige of Lord Tran Hung Dao triumph on Bach Dang River. Hundreds of vestiges in Halong combine together and the imagination of local people have built up many interesting legends of the bay.
Talking about the traditions and customs of Halong, Hát Giao Duyên (a variable of the local folk singing) could be said the most unique feature, which is belong to fishermen in Cửa Vạn fishing village. This type of traditional folk singing includes Hát Đúm, Hò Biển, and Hát Đám Cưới, in which Hát Đám Cưới (wedding singing) is still remaining and preferred by the local as their pride.
Elders in Cửa Vạn Village say their wedding singing is not less pleasant and attractive compare to the famous Quan Họ Singing in Bac Ninh Provine. Additionally, all the wedding in Cửa Vạn Village are organized in the 15th day of a lunar month when the Moon bright the whole bay with its gentle light that make all the fishes stay deep under the sea.
Ha Long Bay: Vietnam
Video About Ha Long Bay
Situated in the North-East region of Vietnam, Halong Bay is a bay in the Gulf of Tonkin comprised of regions of Halong City, the township of Cam Pha, and a part of the island district of Van Don. Halong Bay borders Cat Ba Island in the southwest, the East Sea in the east, and the mainland, creating a 120 km coastline.
Halong Bay is made up of 1,969 islands of various sizes, 989 of which have been given names. There are two kinds of islands, limestone and schist, which are concentrated in two main zones: the southeast (belonging to Bai Tu Long Bay), and the southwest (belonging to Halong Bay). This densely concentrated zone of stone islands, world famous for its spectacular scenery of grottoes and caves, forms the central zone of Halong Bay, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bay itself has an area of 43,400 ha, consists of 775 islands, and forms a triangle with the island of Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto) to the west, the lake of Ba Ham (Three Shelter Lake) to the south, and the island of Cong Tay to the east.
Viewed from above, Halong Bay resembles a geographic work of art. While exploring the bay, you feel lost in a legendary world of stone islands. There is Man's Head Island, which resembles a man standing and looking towards the mainland. Dragon Island looks like a dragon hovering above the turquoise water. La Vong Island resembles an old man fishing. There are also the islands of the Sail, the Pair of Roosters, and the Incense Burner, which all astonishingly resemble their namesakes. The forms of the islands change depending on the angle of the light and from where the islands are viewed. At the core of the islands, there are wonderful caves and grottoes, such as Thien Cung (Heavenly Residence Grotto), Dau Go (Driftwood Grotto), Sung Sot (Surprise Grotto), and Tam Cung (Three Palace Grotto).
Halong Bay has many links to the history of Vietnam. For example, there are such famous geographical sites as Van Don (site of an ancient commercial port), Poem Mountain (with engravings of many poems about emperors and other famous historical figures), and Bach Dang River (the location of two fierce naval battles fought against foreign aggressors).
It has been proven by scientists that Halong was one of the first cradles of human existence in the area at such archeological sites as Dong Mang, Xich Tho, Soi Nhu, and Thoi Gieng. It is also a region of highly-concentrated biological diversity with many ecosystems of salt water-flooded forests, coral reefs, and tropical forests featuring thousands of species of animal and plant life.
With all this in mind, the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994), officially recognized Halong Bay as a natural heritage site of worldwide importance.
I. Grottoes
Dau Go (Driftwood) Grotto
Dau Go Grotto is found on Driftwood Island, formerly known as Canh Doc Island. The name Driftwood Grotto comes from the popular story of the resistance war against the Nguyen Mong aggressors. In a decisive battle, Tran Hung Dao was given an order to prepare many ironwood stakes to be planted on the riverbed of the Bach Dang River. The remaining wooden pieces were found in the grotto and, as a result, the grotto was given its present name. The entrance is reached via 90 steps up the island. The grotto is divided into three main parts. In the first chamber, many forms can be seen in the rock, depending on the imagination of the observer. In the middle of the chamber, on the top of the pillar, there appears to be a monk draped in a long, dark cloak, with his right hand clasping a cane. Moving into the second chamber, visitors pass through a narrow "door", naturally formed through erosion. The light here is mysterious, and new images appear in the stone. At the end of the grotto is a well of clear water surrounded by four ancient walls.
In this grotto, there remains an engraved stone stele singing the praises of Halong Bay ordered by Emperor Khai Dinh when he came to visit the grotto in 1917. Dau Go is 40 minutes from Bai Chay. Admission is 15,000 VND per person, 5,000 VND for children under 15, and children under 6 are free.
Trinh Nu (Virgin) Grotto-Trong (Male) Grotto
The Virgin Grotto is situated in the island range of Bo Hon, in the system comprised of the Surprise Grotto, Dong Tien Lake, and Luon Grotto. The grotto is 15 km south of Bai Chay Beach. For some fishermen, the Virgin Grotto is home, while for young lovers it is a popular romantic rendezvous site.
According to legend, there once was a beautiful fisherman's daughter, whose family was so poor that they were in service of the rich administrator of the fishing zone, who forced the family to give him their daughter as a concubine. However, the fisherman’s daughter already had a lover and refused to marry the administrator. The administrator got angry and exiled her to a wild island where she suffered from hunger and exhaustion. One frightful night she turned to stone. On this same night, her lover, knowing of her danger, rowed his boat in search of her. However, a tempest destroyed his boat, and he floated to a nearby island. In a flash of lightening, he saw his lover in the distance, but his calls were driven away by the wind. In his final exhaustion, he also turned to stone (today’s Male Grotto).
When visiting the Virgin Grotto, you can still see the petrified girl with her long hair hanging down and eyes looking towards the mainland. Opposite the Virgin Grotto, the Male Grotto is still home to the lover whose his face is turned towards his mate. At times, his passionate calls and blows against the walls of the grotto can still be heard.
Thien Cung (Heavenly Palace) Grotto
This recently discovered grotto is one of the most beautiful in Halong Bay. Thien Cung is situated on the southwest side of the bay, 4 km from the wharf outside of Halong City. It is located in a small range of islands that resemble a throne embracing two superb grottoes at its core. The way to Thien Cung is perilous, covered on both sides by thick forest. After entering a narrow gate, the magnificent, 130 m long grotto opens up.
According to legend, a beautiful young lady named May (cloud) caught the eye of the Dragon Prince and he fell in love with her. They were betrothed and got married in the very center of the grotto. All of the scenes of their wedding, which lasted for seven days and seven nights, have been seemingly fossilized in the grotto.
In the center, there are four large pillars supporting the "roof of heaven". From the base to the top, many strange images seem to exist in the stone, including birds, fish, flowers and even scenes of human life. On the north wall of the grotto, a group of fairies seems to be singing and dancing in honor of the wedding. Under the immeasurably high roof, stalactites form a natural stone curtain. There is also the sound of a beating drum made by the wind blowing through the stone.
In the last chamber of the grotto, a natural gushing stream of water babbles throughout the year. Here there are three small ponds of clear water. One path meanders out of the grotto.
Quang Hanh Grotto
Located 9 km west of Cam Pha, Quang Hanh Grotto is the longest grotto in Halong Bay. It is 1,300 m long, and stretches throughout the stone mountain of Quang Hanh. The French named it "Le Tunnel," or Tunnel Grotto.
Quang Hanh Grotto is accessible by either boat or car, but the entrance only appears when the tide is out. Ba Co Shrine (shrine of three girls) is in the grotto beside a smooth stone block. Legend tells that three girls, who were once journeying on the sea, came to the grotto to take shelter from the rain. They were so engrossed with the beauty of the grotto, that they did not notice the rising tide. They drowned, only to become water goddesses.
Quang Hanh Grotto is extremely beautiful. A small boat will take you through the stone passageway by flashlight, casting magical colors on the hanging stalactites.
II. Islands
Bai Tho Mountain (Poem Mountain)
Bai Tho Mountain is 106 m high. It runs along the coast, half on land and half in the sea. Sailing in the bay, one or two hundred meters from the mountain, one can see a poem carved on a flat stone cliff.
In 1468, Emperor Le Thanh Tong, who was also a poet, made an inspection tour of the North-East region. He stopped at the foot of the mountain, and inspired by the magnificent beauty of his surroundings, he wrote a poem. Later, he had the poem engraved on the wall of the mountain. It is very interesting to climb the mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of the bay.
Tuan Chau Islet
Situated 3 km west of Dao Go Islet, Tuan Chau Islet has an area of 300 ha. On the islet, there is a very simple bamboo house built by the inhabitants of Quang Ninh for Uncle Ho to rest after visiting Halong Bay. The house is now carefully preserved by the locals.
III. Beaches
Bai Chay is a resort located along the coast of Halong Bay. This is a windward ocean resort which has a year round average temperature of 20oC (68oF).
Bai Chay is a low gently sloping range of hills that runs along the sea for more than 2 km. Blended in among the pine trees are large hotels and small villas with distinguished architectural styles. Traveling down the asphalt road along the coast, visitors see long white stretches of sand and green rows of Casuarina trees, tucked under which are small family-run restaurants. After swimming at the beach, tourists can enjoy cold drinks and cool off in the breeze that sweeps in from the sea.
TOUR HANOI TO HALONG BAY – 2 DAYS/1 NIGHT
Enjoy a stunning boat trip meandering through UNESCO World Heritage listed Halong Bay! Revel in the breathtaking vista as you get closer to the natural beauty of the multitude of limestone karsts. Take pleasure in this awe inspiring location by relaxing for the night on a boat of your choice.
If it’s luxury you’re after then the ‘Golden Lotus’ is the perfect fit. This intimate boat has just 9 rooms consisting of 3 doubles, 3 twins, and 2 suites. Each room contains a fully stocked mini bar, private bathroom with hot water and panoramic views. The suite includes a private balcony.
‘Golden Lotus’ boasts a 5 star restaurant with chefs trained in first class restaurants the world over. The menu offers a sumptuous array of culinary masterpieces and the wine list is extensive. In addition, there is a cocktail bar for your drinking pleasure. Head upstairs to the open air sundeck to relax and take in the wonders of Halong Bay.
For those concerned with their travelling budget, we can offer a trip on ‘Elizabeth’. Built in 2011, this 30m beauty contains 9 rooms consisting of doubles, twins and triples. The second deck has restaurant and bar catering to all appetites! The sundeck is a beautiful open area with tanning lounges; an ideal area to soak up the atmosphere of Halong Bay.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
. © Lionel Lalaité
. © Lionel LalaitéOutstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh Province, in the northeast of Vietnam, is165 km from the capital of Ha Noi. Covering an area of 43,400 ha and including over 1600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabitated and unaffected by humans, it forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and is an ideal model of a mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The property’s exceptional scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.The outstanding value of the property is centered around the drowned limestone karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosional features such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. The repeated regression and transgression of the sea on the limestone karst over geological time has produced a mature landscape of clusters of conical peaks and isolated towers which were modified by sea invasion, adding an extra elemant to the process of lateral undercutting of the limstone towers and islands.
Criterion (vii): Comprised of a multitude of limestone islands and islets rising from the sea, in a variety of sizes and shapes and presenting picturesque, unspoiled nature, Ha Long Bay is a spectacular seascape sculpted by nature. The property retains a high level of naturalness, and despite its long history of human use, is not seriously degraded. Outstanding features of the property include the magnificent towering limestone pillars and associated notches, arches and caves, which are exceptionally well-developed and among the best presented of their type in the world.
Criterion (viii): As the most extensive and best known example of marine-invaded tower karst in the world Ha Long Bay is one of the world’s most important areas of Fengcong (clusters of conical peaks) and Fenglin (isolated tower features) karst. Abundant lakes, occupying drowned dolines, are one of the distinctive features of the Fencong karst, with some appearing to be tidal. Possessing a tremendous diversity of caves and other landforms derived from the unusual geomorphological process of marine invaded tower karst the caves are of three main types: remnants of phreatic caves; old karstic foot caves and marine notch caves. The property also displays the full range of karst formation processes on a very large scale and over a very long period of geological time, possessing the most complete and extensive exzample of its type in the world and providing a unique and extensive reservoir of data for the future understanding of geoclimatic history and the nature of karst processes in a complex environment.
Integrity
All elements necessary to sufficiently protect the outstanding scenic and geological values of the Ha Long Bay property are included within the boundaries of the property and its size and area provide sufficient integrity for the large scale geomorphological processes to operate unhindered. It benefits from being completely surrounded by a large and extensive buffer zone with both the size and area providing sufficient integrity for the large scale geomorphic processes to operate unhindered.
Located within an area of high tourism, marine transport, fisheries and the daily activities of people living and conducting their business on Ha Long Bay, management of the area, instituted since inscription of the property, applies strict regulation and control of activities in an attempt to minimize impacts on the integrity of the property. There is a continuing challenge to improve the integrity and quality of the environment. The natural scenic features, geomorphology, landform values and cultural heritage along with key features such as islands, caves and grottoes remain intact and the property retains a high level of naturalness despite the long history of human use in the area.
Protection and management requirements
Ha Long Bay was established as a historical and cultural relict and classified as a National Landscape Site in 1962. Subsequently designated as a Special National Landscape Site under the Cultural Heritage Law amended in 2009, land tenure is held by the Provincial Government. The property is protected effectively by a number of relevant provincial and national laws as well as governmental decrees including; the Cultural Heritage Law, the Bio-Diversity Law, the Tourism Law, the Environmental Protection Law, the Fishery Law and Marine Transport Law. Under these laws, any proposed action within the property that could have significant impact on the property’s values must have official approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with other relevant ministries.
The Ha Long Bay Management Department was established after the inscription of Ha Long Bay on the World Heritage List, with the main functions of management, conservation and promotion of the property’s values. The Department takes into account the requirements of the World Heritage Convention, recommendations of the World Heritage Committee and other regulations issued by both the Vietnamese Government and the Quang Ninh Province. Day-to-day management involves collaboration with various relevant stakeholders at different levels, especially local communities, to maintain the integrity of the property and monitor socio-economic activities.
Socio-economic activities on Ha Long Bay are well regulated, carefully observed and effectively managed. Management and protection are further strengthened through regulations, master planning, and action plans at the provincial level. These include regulations on operation of tourist boats, mud dredging, land filling, fishermen and floating house management. They also provide for education and promotion, and enhancing community awareness of heritage values and their protection. There are several specific plans dealing with environmental protection, tourism development and management and conservation planning. These include Ha Long Bay to 2020, the master plan on conservation, management and development of the values of World Natural Heritage approved by the Prime Minister in 2001, and the Comprehensive Management Plan for the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site 2010 - 2015 approved by the provincial authority in 2010.
In the long-term, management of the property will focus on: ensuring the integrity of the scenic, geological and geomorphologic values, as well as the property’s environment; strengthening the legislative provisions; carefully monitoring of the socio-economic activities on Ha Long Bay; increasing the use of technology in heritage management; undertaking research to gain better understanding of the property’s values; improving the staff capacity and enhancing community awareness and involvement.
Increasing visitor numbers and associated impacts continue to impact on the management of the property. The sensitivity, aesthetic quality and attention to public safety of infrastructure such as pathways, steps and boardwalks is of a high standard and with steadily increasing visitor numbers the quality of visitor management is also steadily improving. Development pressures associated with growing tourist numbers continue to be an issue for government authorities and an appropriate balance between conservation and development, while difficult to maintain, is important to ensure the protection of the natural values of the property.
Long Description
Ha Long Bay, situated in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1600 islands and islets forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and relatively unaffected by human influence.
The geomorphology of Ha Long Bay is known as a drowned karst landscape due to the exceptional combination of its limestone karst features which have been subject to repeated regression and transgression of the sea over geological time. The limestones of Ha Long Bay have been eroded into a mature landscape of fengcong(clusters of conical peaks) and fenglin (isolated tower features) karst features, modified by sea invasion at a later stage.
The smaller islands are fenglin towers of 50m to 100m high with height. Many have vertical walls on all or most sides and these continue to evolve by rock falls and large slab failures.
Marine invasion of Ha Long Bay has added an extra element to the normal process of lateral undercutting of the limestone towers and islands. The most conspicuous feature being the main notch cut into the entire rocky coastline. Notches are a feature of limestone cliffs worldwide, but those of Ha Long Bay are exceptionally well developed and, at many sites, extend into arches and caves. This process of undercutting and subsequent erosion maintains the steep faces of the fenglin karst towers and thereby perpetuates the spectacular nature of the landscape.
A distinctive feature of Ha Long Bay is the abundance of lakes within the larger limestone islands.
Extensive limestone caves represent another important feature of Ha Long Bay, with three main types able to be identified: old phreatic caves formed below the water table of the time; old karstic foot caves formed by lateral undercutting of cliffs at base level; and marine notch caves formed at sea level where rock structures are powerfully eroded and eventually reduced to a wave cut platform.
In summary, Ha Long Bay possesses a tremendous diversity of caves and other landforms which derive from the unusual geomorphological process of marine invaded tower karst. These areas provide a unique and extensive reservoir of data for the future understanding of geoclimatic history and the nature of karst processes in a complex environment.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHCHistorical Description
28 April 1962. Established as a historical and cultural relict and national scenic spot under Decision No. 313/VH VP, issued by the Minister of Culture.
Source: Advisory Body Evaluation
Ha Long Bay (UNESCO/NHK)
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