Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago seeks UNESCO recognition

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has tasked Hai Phong city and Quang Ninh province to study the recommendations of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to review and update a nomination dossier for seeking UNESCO’s recognition of “Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago” as a world heritage site.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is in charge of working with the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO to instruct the local authorities to finalize the explanatory reports, and complete the nomination dossier in line with regulations, and promptly submit to the IUNC for the World Heritage Committee’s assessment.

 The ministry is responsible for coordinating with ministries and relevant agencies to provide guidance to the localities on proposing, making and evaluating projects within the heritage areas in the coming time.

The ministry and other related agencies were also urged to carefully assess tourism and urban development on the archipelago to ensure its protection.

Cat Ba archipelago in Hai Phong city is the largest limestone archipelago of Viet Nam. It includes over 360 islands, including Cat Ba island in the south of Ha Long Bay. The archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve.

Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province was recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site twice for its aesthetic values, geology and caves. 

Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago property also the most prominent illustration on marine invaded karst towers and bears the global importance on tower karst (fengling) and peak – cluster depression (fengcong).

SOURCE: baochinhphu.vn