Recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago became the first inter-provincial and inter-city world heritage site in Vietnam.
The decision was approved at the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the evening of September 16 (Hanoi time). International experts, scientists and member countries of the World Heritage Committee all highly appreciated the heritage value of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago.
According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, because of its beauty from limestone islands covered with vegetation and limestone peaks rising above the sea, along with related karst features such as domes and caves.
Besides, there is a spectacular view of islands covered with vegetation, salt lakes, sharp limestone peaks with vertical cliffs rising above the sea. Especially, the natural beauty is not affected.
"Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is considered a geological museum, containing heritages with outstanding global values, witnessing the characteristic changes in the history of the Earth's development," said the Department of Cultural Heritage.
Vietnam's new World Natural Heritage includes 1,133 limestone islands of various shapes and sizes (775 limestone islands in Ha Long Bay and 358 limestone islands in Cat Ba archipelago). Photo: Anmol Bindra/Unsplash
In 2013, the Hai Phong People's Committee prepared a dossier to nominate Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site based on biodiversity and ecosystem criteria. In 2014, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended that Vietnam consider the possibility of proposing an extension to Ha Long Bay, merging Cat Ba Archipelago.
In fact, Ha Long Bay was twice recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage in 1994 and 2000. The landscape has many similarities with Cat Ba Archipelago.
Receiving recommendations from experts, in 2016, Hai Phong City People's Committee coordinated with Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee to build a dossier to expand Ha Long Bay to Cat Ba Archipelago, and then the dossier of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage with the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and support from the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO.
By 2021, the Government agreed to let the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism sign the nomination dossier for Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago and assign the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to preside over and send the dossier to UNESCO within the prescribed deadline.
The Department of Cultural Heritage assessed that Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago becoming the first inter-provincial and city World Heritage Site in Vietnam recognized by UNESCO is a useful lesson in combining management, protection and promotion of world heritage values in particular, historical - cultural relics, and scenic spots in general in Vietnam in the coming years.
laodong.vn
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