Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago are World Heritage Sites

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee, becoming the first inter-provincial and inter-city World Heritage in Vietnam.

At 5:40 p.m. on September 16, 2023 local time (ie 9:40 p.m. on September 16, Vietnam time) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially recognized Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage.

The Chairman of the World Heritage Committee, 45th Session, gavel to approve the dossier of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago

In the working program at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee, from September 10, the delegation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism together with the Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO in France and two localities, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, worked with specialized agencies of UNESCO, Director of the World Heritage Center, Director General of ICOMOS, Director of the World Heritage Program (IUCN), Head of the Nomination Department of the World Heritage Center, 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee, to provide information, explain, clarify, express Vietnam's views and commitments in managing, protecting and promoting the value of heritage after being listed as World Heritage. Thereby, international experts, scientists and member countries of the World Heritage Committee all highly appreciated the value of the heritage, thereby supporting Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago to become a World Natural Heritage, and at the same time wished to visit the heritage in the near future.

Vietnamese delegation at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee. Photo: Department of Cultural Heritage

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, because it contains areas of natural beauty including limestone islands covered with vegetation and limestone pinnacles rising above the sea level along with related karst features such as domes and caves. The spectacular untouched landscape of the islands covered with vegetation, saltwater lakes, limestone pinnacles with vertical cliffs rising above the sea. Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago is considered a geological museum, containing heritages of outstanding global value, witnessing the characteristic changes in the history of the development of the Earth. This is also the habitat of many rare species of animals and plants. Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/vinh-ha-long-va-quan-dao-cat-ba-la-di-san-the-gioi-post343272.html