The magnificent pearl island of Cat Ba
Despite having returned to Cat Ba many times, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai, Director of Dong Hai International Co., Ltd., remains captivated by its majestic beauty, with the green of the forest blending with the marble color of the rocks, the golden sand, and the white and blue of the sea… Mr. Nguyen Van Hai said: This time, the company collaborated with the Naval Political Department to organize a campaign promoting awareness of the sea and islands and donated 1,000 national flags to the fishermen of the island district. Every time I come to Cat Ba, I really enjoy exploring the pristine and vast Cat Ba National Park and the caves with their fascinating and unique natural landscapes. My friends and I also often go on boat trips to admire the majestic mountain ranges in Lan Ha Bay and visit the floating villages where seafood is farmed…
Ms. Le Ngoc Ha from Tu Liem district, Hanoi, has visited Cat Ba many times with her family and friends, but she is still moved by the charming, romantic small beaches nestled against the cliffs; she enjoys snorkeling to admire the coral reefs, kayaking, and savoring seafood…
International tourists visit Viet Hai village. Photo: Trong Luan
With its cluster of 388 islands of varying sizes and an area of over 300km2, Cat Ba is the only place in Vietnam that boasts national and international titles such as: Special National Monument, Cat Ba National Park, Marine Protected Area, World Biosphere Reserve, and Lan Ha Bay, recognized by the Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW) as one of the most beautiful bays in the world.
Cat Ba is characterized by its diverse ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, caves, coral reefs, and saltwater lakes. It also boasts high biodiversity with over 4,900 species of plants and animals, including 130 species listed in the Red Book of endangered species by Vietnam and the world. In particular, the Cat Ba langur is an endemic and rare species, listed among the most endangered animals. To date, only a single population of nearly 70 individuals remains, distributed exclusively in Cat Ba…
Mr. Pham Tri Tuyen, Head of the Culture-Sports-Tourism Department of Cat Hai District, said: In 2023, Cat Hai island district welcomed over 3 million tourists, achieving 102% of the plan, an increase of 29% compared to the same period last year; bringing the tourism-service sector to account for 75.5% of the district's production value. Recently, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago was honored as a World Natural Heritage site, and it is expected that the number of tourists will increase even more significantly in the coming time. The island district estimates it will welcome approximately 3.6 million tourists in 2024…
The journey to becoming an interregional heritage site.
Ha Long Bay was recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000 thanks to its unique natural landscape values as well as its distinctive geological and geomorphological values.
In 2012, Hai Phong City began preparing a nomination dossier for the Cat Ba Archipelago as an independent World Natural Heritage site based on the criteria of ecosystems and biodiversity. However, UNESCO recommended extending the Cat Ba Archipelago to include Ha Long Bay as a single heritage complex.
In 2016, the Prime Minister issued a document assigning the People's Committee of Hai Phong City to take the lead in coordinating with the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province to prepare a nomination dossier for the expanded Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site based on four criteria: landscape and aesthetics; geology and geomorphology; tropical and subtropical limestone island ecosystems; and biodiversity. The dossier was meticulously prepared and rigorously researched under the supervision and advice of domestic experts, international scientists, and relevant international organizations.
Comrade Bui Tuan Manh, Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the People's Committee of Cat Hai District, said: International agencies have come to conduct on-site assessments and compare the findings with the dossier, and they have requested clarification on some aspects of the dossier. To ensure that international agencies understand the values of the Cat Ba archipelago, the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee has meticulously prepared, including arguments, analyses, explanations, and even commitments to clearly affirm the value of the dossier to member countries of the World Heritage Committee (under UNESCO).
As a result, on September 16, 2023, all 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee unanimously agreed to recognize Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site. Thus, after 10 years of preparation, the majority of the Cat Ba Archipelago was officially recognized as part of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site. The remaining part of the archipelago became a buffer zone for the development and protection of the core area of the heritage site.
The newly added World Natural Heritage site comprises a total of 1,133 uniquely shaped limestone islands. The expansion of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site has further enhanced the inherent value of the heritage. Beyond its aesthetic and geological/geomorphological similarities to Ha Long Bay, the Cat Ba Archipelago offers a valuable, complementary contribution to the heritage: its diverse ecosystems and biodiversity.
Developing Cat Ba to be worthy of its heritage status.
The recognition of Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site presents both great opportunities and challenges for Hai Phong City in preserving and promoting the value of this heritage, aiming for sustainable development.
To capitalize on the advantages offered by nature, Cat Hai district has organized tourist routes following the coastal mountain pass and forest trails to Cat Ba National Park, such as: the Kim Giao forest - Ngu Lam Palace route; Cat Ba National Park Center - Ao Ech - Viet Hai village - Lan Ha Bay route. Four caves on the archipelago, including Da Hoa Cave, Trung Trang Cave, Quan Y Cave, and Thien Long Cave, and the saltwater lake ecosystems such as Ang Vem, Ang Tham, Hang Toi, Hang Sang... have also been developed for tourism. The island district has also planned nine mountain climbing routes to serve adventurous tourists…
Cat Ba Islands viewed from above. Photo: CTV
To preserve the natural value of the heritage site, Hai Phong City has implemented many practical solutions. These include supporting the dismantling of aquaculture facilities in the bays of the Cat Ba archipelago; and decisively addressing illegal construction on the islands… Mr. Trinh Van Tu, Chief of Office and Standing Member of the Management Board of the Cat Ba Archipelago Natural Heritage Site, stated that Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province are coordinating to finalize the Management Plan for the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site and the Regulations for the Protection of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site… During the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Hai Phong City (May 2024), the city plans to hold a ceremony to receive the title of Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site.
The Resolution of the 16th Congress of the Hai Phong City Party Committee identifies tourism and trade as one of the city's three economic pillars. Furthermore, according to the draft planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the city identifies Hai Phong's coastal tourism (including Cat Ba and Do Son) as highly attractive, strongly drawing both domestic and international tourists; linking with provinces in the Red River Delta, especially Quang Ninh and the Northeast Coastal provinces, to become a tourism center connecting with the region and the world.
Based on these guidelines, Hai Phong City is developing and implementing tasks and solutions to develop Cat Ba to a level commensurate with its World Natural Heritage status and contribute to promoting Hai Phong's tourism to a new level.
Thuy Lien
After 10 years of preparation, on September 16, 2023, UNESCO officially recognized the Cat Ba Archipelago, Cat Hai District (Hai Phong City), as part of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage Site. The Cat Ba Archipelago heritage site includes: the entire Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba National Park, Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve, and parts of Gia Luan and Xuan Dam communes. The entire Cat Ba town, Ben Beo area in Hien Hao commune, Phu Long commune, etc., are not included within the recognized World Natural Heritage site boundaries because these areas have already been planned for economic development, residential areas, commercial areas, tourism, and services.
(Comrade Trinh Van Tu, Chief of Office and Standing Member of the Management Board of Cat Ba Archipelago Natural Heritage)
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