The heritage complex currently managed by the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board has a very large spatial scope. Specifically, the Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage site and special national monument in Quang Ninh province covers an area of 1,553 km2, of which 434 km2 is an absolutely protected area, located within the overall area of 656.5 km2 of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site.
Ha Long Bay, located in Quang Ninh province, covers an area of 1,553 square kilometers.
The World Heritage Sites of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, and Kiet Bac are located in three provinces: Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh , and Hai Phong. Within Quang Ninh, the sites are part of the Yen Tu complex (92.95 km²), Yen Tu National Forest (27.05 km²); the Tran Dynasty site and the Bach Dang historical site are located in the An Sinh, Binh Khe, Dong Trieu, Quang Yen, Lien Hoa, and Phong Coc wards. Bai Tu Long National Park covers 157.83 km², including the area of the islands (61.25 km²) and the sea surface area (96.58 km²), and is located within the Van Don Special Economic Zone.
Top destination in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay is the most rapidly developing tourist area and a top destination in Vietnam. The heritage site consistently ranks highly in international tourism rankings and polls by numerous reputable organizations, media outlets, and websites worldwide. Statistics show that from 1996 to the end of September 2025, Ha Long Bay welcomed over 59 million visitors, generating over 9,456 billion VND in entrance fees.
Cruise ships take tourists on sightseeing and relaxation tours in Ha Long Bay.
Over the years, tourism products and services in Ha Long Bay have become increasingly diversified, aiming for sustainable tourism development. Currently, the bay offers 8 sightseeing and tourism itineraries and 5 clusters of overnight accommodations; a pilot program of exploratory cruises with 3 separate routes; a "Night Market on Cruises" product offering culinary experiences combined with enjoying music, fireworks, and sightseeing of the coastal area at night; and the expansion of tourism products based on the preservation and promotion of the historical and cultural values of fishing villages, archaeological sites, and biodiversity in Ha Long Bay.
To meet the demands of the high-spending tourist market, the management unit is currently researching and advising on the development of new beaches and caves in the bay, in areas with beautiful and safe scenery; organizing art performances and light refreshments in the caves and beaches...
In addition, the province has also focused on investing in infrastructure and attracting significant investment to develop heritage tourism in a sustainable, professional, and modern direction. Along with opening a highway running through the province, Quang Ninh has mobilized non-budgetary capital to invest in a series of tourist ports, especially the Tuan Chau International Cruise Port, Ha Long International Cruise Port, and Ao Tien International Cruise Port, meeting the needs of domestic and international tourists for easy access to Ha Long Bay.
Foreign tourists experience kayaking in the Vung Vieng area of Ha Long Bay.
The province also focuses on upgrading, repairing, and enhancing infrastructure at tourist attractions and overnight accommodation points in Ha Long Bay, ensuring safety and aesthetics, and bringing satisfaction to tourists. This includes concentrating on upgrading and improving infrastructure at key attractions such as Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Ti Top Cave, Me Cung Cave, Tien Ong Cave, Ba Hang Cave, Vong Vieng Cave, Cua Van Cave, etc.; regularly maintaining and repairing the system of mooring buoys and navigation markers in the waterways, tourist attractions, and accommodation points, as well as the signaling system connecting tourist attractions and overnight accommodation points with inland waterways. This creates a synchronized infrastructure, providing the best experiences and extending the length of stay for tourists visiting Ha Long Bay.
Spiritual and cultural tourism creates a unique experience.
While not attracting as many visitors as Ha Long Bay, the Yen Tu, Tran Dynasty, and Bach Dang historical sites also draw visitors with their own unique characteristics. These include tourists visiting and offering prayers during the annual spring festival; those seeking to connect with their roots, visiting, learning, and understanding the national history and culture associated with the values of these sites; and those seeking spiritual experiences combined with health care, healing, contemplation, pilgrimage, relaxation, and immersion in nature, or those desiring unique cultural experiences.
Tourists experience meditation practice at Yen Tu. Photo: Provided by the organizers.
Over the years, the aforementioned historical sites have received significant investment in restoration and renovation of their infrastructure, as well as in services for tourists. In particular, the Yen Tu historical and scenic site, in addition to stone-paved pilgrimage paths with steps and railings, also features a cable car system from the foot of the mountain to the Dong Pagoda area. The service system along the pilgrimage route is neatly planned, with a focus on moderation in quantity and aesthetic appeal.
For the past 25 years, Tung Lam Development Joint Stock Company has invested in the large-scale Truc Lam Cultural Center at the foot of the mountain. Designed in the style of the Tran Dynasty, it features dozens of facilities for relaxation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment to cater to the diverse needs of visitors to Yen Tu. Therefore, millions of visitors come to this heritage site annually, not only domestic tourists but also a significant number of foreign visitors from countries such as South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Europe, and America.
Pilgrims pay their respects at the Ancestor's Pagoda during the Spring Festival at Yen Tu in 2025.
Over the years, the Bach Dang and Tran Dynasty historical sites have seen significant investment in restoring many dilapidated and ruined relics, creating a new, more presentable appearance. Roads leading to and connecting the sites have been paved with concrete, widened, and improved. At the Ngoa Van site within the Tran Dynasty complex, a business has invested in a cable car system and accommodation facilities to serve pilgrims. Generally, tourism activities at these sites are concentrated during the spring festival season and other important festivals and events associated with the sites.
Unlike the aforementioned heritage sites, Bai Tu Long National Park has primarily focused on research and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems within its management area over the years. The park possesses rich potential in terms of scenic beauty and ecosystem diversity; however, developing ecotourism activities here is relatively difficult due to numerous legal constraints related to forestry.
Bat Cave is located on Cai Lim Island, within Bai Tu Long National Park.
On July 19, 2024, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 2119/QD-UBND announcing the sightseeing and tourism routes in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, including three routes within Bai Tu Long National Park. These are Route BTL4: Ao Tien Port - Lao Vong Fishing Village - Tra Ngo Lon Island - Thien Nga Island; Route BTL5: Ao Tien Port - Cai De area - Mang Ha overnight anchorage; Route BTL6: Ao Tien Port - Tra Than Bay (Tra Ngo Lon Island) - Cai Lim beach - Mang Ha overnight anchorage - Cai De area. However, the implementation of these three sightseeing and tourism routes has been slow, failing to attract investors in developing infrastructure and ecotourism products within the National Park.
Over the years, the management units of the heritage sites—the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the Bai Tu Long National Park Management Board, and the Management Board of Historical Sites and Scenic Spots—have operated relatively independently. Therefore, the merger to establish the Ha Long Bay - Yen Tu World Heritage Management Board also opens up the expectation of creating inter-regional connections between cultural and natural heritage to create a chain of attractive, rich, and unique tourism products, continuing to attract a large number of domestic and international tourists, contributing to a breakthrough in the development of the heritage economy in the province.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/ket-noi-lien-vung-cho-di-san-kep-vinh-ha-long-yen-tu-3384238.html
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