Ha Long Bay is being revived…

For nearly a month, forces have been working tirelessly to collect floating debris both along the shore and on the water's surface, at the base of the rocky islands of Ha Long Bay. This is just one of the severe impacts that Typhoon No. 3 has left on the natural landscape, environment, and biodiversity of the Ha Long Bay heritage site.

Unforeseen damage

The enormous amount of waste generated in Ha Long Bay after Typhoon Yagi included various types, such as: Styrofoam buoys, broken aquaculture cages, and especially a large amount of bulky solid waste consisting of construction materials and equipment from coastal projects destroyed by the storm, which drifted ashore and became entangled at the base of the rocky islands in the heritage area. The storm also washed away silt and bottom material, causing the previously clear blue waters of the bay to become murky for an extended period…

Typhoon No. 3 generated a massive amount of debris in Ha Long Bay. *Photo:* Pham Le Minh (Contributor)

Preliminary surveys conducted by the Ha Long Bay Management Board after the storm revealed that the lush green vegetation on the islands in many areas was uprooted, broken, and crushed, reducing the vegetation cover on the limestone mountains and negatively impacting several endemic and valuable plant species of Ha Long Bay, such as the Ha Long Cycad, Ha Long Palm, Spotted Slipper Orchid, and Cottonwood. Simultaneously, it negatively affected the habitat of wild animals, directly impacting the habitats of several bird and reptile species, as well as the regular food source for the Macaca Mulatta monkey troop living on the islands within the heritage area. In particular, the vegetation on the islands, with its abundance of dry leaves, branches, and trunks, poses a high risk of forest fires.

The impacts of Typhoon No. 3 not only severely affected the landscape and environment of Ha Long Bay, but at some tourist spots, such as Ba Hang area, Ti Top Island, Co Cave, etc., rockfalls occurred, posing a potential risk of geological hazards such as landslides and rockfalls from the islands and caves in the area.

Aquaculture cages and rafts have broken apart and drifted ashore in Ha Long Bay. *Photo:* Pham Le Minh (Contributor)

In addition, the infrastructure and technical facilities serving tourism at tourist attractions in the bay suffered severe damage, with an estimated total loss of approximately 40 billion VND. Specifically, 13 management and operation buildings at tourist reception points in the bay were damaged (3 buildings were completely destroyed). Assets and equipment used for welcoming tourists and for the daily lives of staff were damaged (loudspeakers, sunshades, stone benches, garden lighting systems, solar panels, daily necessities, etc.). 95% of the trees and landscaping at tourist attractions in the bay were broken or uprooted. 100% of the signs and nameplates of caves, entrance regulations, and directions were completely destroyed. One composite boat sank. The generator systems at some tourist attractions were damaged.

Notably, 33 floating houses in the fishing villages of Cua Van, Vung Vieng, and Ba Hang were completely submerged in the storm. The Cua Van floating cultural center suffered severe damage, with part of it sinking into the sea. The stone railings from the pier leading to several caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go, Ti Top, Sung Sot) were broken; the pathways inside the caves and at some tourist spots were damaged and broken. The infrastructure of people and businesses involved in rowing and kayaking services in Ha Long Bay at the service points of Ba Hang, Cong Do, Cua Van, Hang Luon, and Vung Vieng suffered heavy damage…

The lush green vegetation on the islands of Ha Long Bay was depleted after Typhoon Yagi. Photo: Pham Le Minh (Contributor)

Rapid recovery after the storm.

Immediately after Typhoon No. 3 ended, the Ha Long Bay Management Board established a task force to conduct on-site inspections and decisively directed efforts to mitigate the consequences. Investigations revealed that the unit mobilized all available staff, workers, boats, and equipment to carry out a comprehensive environmental cleanup; and reviewed and renovated facilities at tourist attractions throughout the bay.

Thanks to this, the main attractions in Ha Long Bay were quickly cleaned up, fallen trees were cut down; landscaping, greenery, and railings were replanted and repaired; lighting systems in caves were inspected to ensure safety; materials from demolished structures were urgently removed; and many garbage collection points in tourist areas in Ha Long Bay were basically cleaned up, ensuring maximum safety and aesthetic conditions at tourist attractions…

Thus, just a few days after the storm, the unit was able to resume operations, welcoming and serving tourists on some sightseeing and overnight routes. To date, all sightseeing routes in the bay have returned to normal. In September alone, Ha Long Bay welcomed over 139,000 visitors, equivalent to 79.8% compared to the same period last year; of which over 88,000 were foreign tourists, accounting for nearly 70.5% of the total and 103.2% compared to the same period last year.

Foreign tourists visit the Sung Sot Cave area in Ha Long Bay. Photo: Pham Le Minh (Contributor)

Although Ha Long Bay has resumed normal tourist activities, the cleanup and remediation of other damage caused by the storm are still ongoing. Following a three-day intensive cleanup campaign starting on September 14th, local authorities mobilized forces to collect waste in the coastal area on a large scale. By the end of September, Ha Long City had mobilized nearly 30,000 people and deployed over 230 vehicles to collect over 2,000 cubic meters of damaged rafts, branches, leaves, and styrofoam buoys that had drifted ashore. In addition, the city also collected waste along more than 10 kilometers of coastline and approximately 600 hectares of water surface, totaling over 33 tons of debris.

To conduct in-depth assessments of how vegetation and rocky islands are affected by storms, in mid-September, the Ha Long Bay Management Board proactively invited the Institute of Geological Sciences and Minerals and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) to send experts to support the survey and prepare a report assessing the current state of geological and geomorphological values, biodiversity values of Ha Long Bay, and to advise on solutions for the sustainable conservation and promotion of the heritage values…

Tour routes in Ha Long Bay have now resumed normal operations. *Photo:* Pham Le Minh (Contributor)

According to the unit's plan, in the coming period, to continue overcoming the consequences of the storm and quickly ensure the best conditions for safety and aesthetics at tourist destinations, the Ha Long Bay Management Board will focus all its efforts on continuing to repair facilities and infrastructure at tourist spots and overnight mooring points in the bay to restore them to their normal state as before.

Continue mobilizing manpower, equipment, and vehicles to collect waste and clean up the environment of Ha Long Bay, especially in the waters, foothills, and sandy beaches, to restore the landscape and environment of the heritage site. Urge organizations, individuals, and businesses operating tourism services in the bay to strengthen cleaning and upgrading of facilities to ensure they meet safety and aesthetic requirements in welcoming and serving tourists visiting Ha Long Bay…

At the same time, we will continue to coordinate with experts to survey the current state of Ha Long Bay's values after typhoon No. 3, assess the risks to safety, and develop specific solutions, focusing on identifying areas with potential risks of landslides, rockfalls, tree falls, and forest fires to provide timely warnings. We will also develop and strictly implement a special forest fire prevention plan for the bay, ensuring adequate response to natural disasters and fires during the upcoming dry season.

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