Discover Vung Vieng fishing village on Ha Long Bay.

Photo caption — Tourists visit the entrance gate of Vung Vieng fishing village.

According to statistics from the Ha Long Bay Management Board, in the first seven months of the year, Vung Vieng fishing village welcomed 39,049 visitors, of which 37,144 were international tourists, accounting for over 95%. Vung Vieng is also known for being selected by many international travel magazines as one of the most beautiful fishing villages in the world .

Vung Vieng Fishing Village is directly managed by the Ha Long Bay Management Board and the Van Chai Ha Long Tourism Service Cooperative is the unit that invests in infrastructure to organize service activities for tourists. Coming to Vung Vieng fishing village, tourists can go from Tuan Chau tourist port, about 20 km away.

After a boat ride of about 30 minutes, a small, peaceful fishing village nestled among limestone mountains comes into view. As soon as visitors disembark at the Ha Long Bay Management Board's control station, they are given a brief introduction to Vung Vieng fishing village by fishermen and guides.

Accordingly, before 2014, this floating village was home to 30 households and over 300 fishermen across generations. Since ancient times, local fishermen chose this area to establish a fishing village because it is sheltered from the wind and surrounded by high limestone mountains, thus avoiding storms. Previously, in addition to buying food from the mainland, the fishermen also caught seafood around the village to meet their livelihood needs.

Since 2014, in order to help fishermen have a more stable life, the local government has asked people to move to the mainland to live. Fishermen are provided with houses and jobs to help their lives become better and more stable.

Currently, in Vung Vieng fishing village there are about 30 floating houses but no fishermen live there. However, during the day, they still come here to fish and do small-scale aquaculture to both make a living and perform for tourists.

Mr. Vu Van Hung, Deputy Director of Van Chai Ha Long Tourism Service Cooperative, shared that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visitors to the fishing village decreased, mainly consisting of foreign tourists. On average, they welcome more than 100 visitors per day. To attract and retain more tourists, it is necessary to diversify services, open more sightseeing spots, beaches, and experiences for visitors.

Vung Vieng area is considered a place of pristine and peaceful beauty. Here, visitors can kayak or take a small boat rowed by fishermen along the clear blue waters, flanked by stunning rocky mountains and lush greenery. Particularly noteworthy are the floating rafts and huts of the local people, creating a romantic and tranquil scene. Visitors can also visit the locals' seafood farms to take photos, learn about the local fish and shellfish farming industry, or experience fishing and catching seafood with the fishermen; and enjoy the seafood they catch.

A unique scene in Vung Vieng fishing village is a giant stone arch created by nature, with a gap in the middle of a mountain, where small boats can pass through. The image of a giant stone arch shaped like a village gate in the middle of the ocean is placed right at the entrance as if to welcome visitors.

Mr. Praveen Reddy, a tourist from India, shared that this was his second visit to Ha Long Bay, and the environment and atmosphere have improved significantly. This time, his family visited Vung Vieng fishing village. It was wonderful to explore the location and the lives of the fishermen in this fishing village within Ha Long Bay. According to him, heritage sites are not just about beautiful scenery; the culture and lives of the fishermen in the heritage area are also contributing factors that create its unique character. Ha Long Bay is truly amazing, and he and his family will continue to explore more places here.

Lennon, a tourist from Brazil, was impressed by the beauty of Vung Vieng fishing village. He said: "I saw many positive reviews online about Vung Vieng fishing village. Indeed, when I came here, I found it to have a truly surprising beauty that I had never seen before. Thanks to Vung Vieng, I want to explore more interesting places in Ha Long Bay and take many beautiful photos to show my friends."

Mr. Vu Van Khuyen, a fisherman in Vung Vieng fishing village, shared that his family has been attached to the fishing village since the early days, witnessing the ups and downs of the fishing village. Every day, many visitors come to visit the fishing village, mainly foreigners. They like to kayak or go by bamboo boat to explore the fishing village. They also like to go to the aquaculture rafts to see the process of raising and feeding fish.

According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, a pilot project on sustainable aquaculture linked to responsible tourism in Vung Vieng has been implemented since April 2016. This is an environmentally friendly aquaculture model linked to responsible tourism within the framework of the "Ha Long - Cat Ba Alliance Initiative" project. Aquaculture must be linked to the protection of the Ha Long Bay heritage environment, using environmentally friendly methods, employing industrial feed instead of live feed, using aquatic species with clear origins, and selecting species suitable for the ecosystem. Instead of aiming for maximum production, this pilot aquaculture model is developed into a tourism product. Visitors to the Vung Vieng area will be able to paddle small boats to visit the aquaculture farms, participate in fish farming with local fishermen, and enjoy seafood in a peaceful setting.

After visiting Vung Vieng, tourists can continue to explore the nearby Tung Sau area. This is a sheltered sea area with beautiful scenery, calm waves, and the characteristic ecosystems of Ha Long Bay. Tourists can explore a pearl farming facility. Here, visitors can witness firsthand the process of creating a precious pearl, from cultivation to harvesting and crafting. Tourists can also purchase pearl products as souvenirs.

TH (According to Tin Tuc newspaper)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/kham-pha-lang-chai-vung-vieng-tren-vinh-ha-long-390303.html