Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site

TravelNewsSaturday, September 16, 2023, 22:48 (GMT+7)
Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee recognized the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago complex as a World Natural Heritage today.

Responding to VnExpress, Mr. Tran Dinh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) confirmed that this decision was made during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the afternoon of September 16 (tonight, Hanoi time).

According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because it contains many areas of natural beauty, including limestone islands covered with vegetation and other islands. sharp limestone peaks rising above the sea with associated karst features such as domes and caves. The breathtaking, untouched scenery of islands covered with vegetation, saltwater lakes, and sharp limestone peaks with steep cliffs rising above the sea is also part of the reason.

A corner of Cat Ba island. Photo: Tran Dat

A corner of Cat Ba island. Photo: Tran Dat

With 1,133 limestone islands of diverse shapes (775 limestone islands in Ha Long Bay and 358 limestone islands in Ca Ba archipelago) covered with rich vegetation on sparkling emerald water, the complex This place appears like a chess board made of precious stones, the water is endless and peaceful, the beaches are smooth and pure white sand.

"Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is considered a geological museum, containing heritage with outstanding global value. This place witnesses typical changes in the Earth's historical development", excerpt comments from the Department of Cultural Heritage.

From the capital Riyadh, Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Khac Nam expressed his joy because this is also "the first inter-regional heritage between two provinces and cities in Vietnam".

Cat Ba archipelago in Hai Phong City has 367 islands, ranked as a special national scenic spot in 2013. Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage site for the second time in 2020 (the first time was in 2000). ). These two areas are adjacent to each other and have similar natural landscapes.

In 2013, Hai Phong City People's Committee prepared a separate nomination file for Cat Ba archipelago as a world natural heritage according to biodiversity criteria. However, UNESCO recommends extending the Cat Ba archipelago with Ha Long Bay into a heritage complex. In 2016, the World Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) issued an official dispatch confirming the need to expand Ha Long Bay with the Cat Ba archipelago to build a world heritage nomination dossier.

In 2021, the Government assigned the Vietnam National Committee for UNESCO to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to carry out the necessary procedures to send the dossier nominating the heritage of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago to UNESCO. .