Ha Long to become a tourist hub of Vietnam

The magnificence and mystery as well as twinkling legends of Ha Long Bay which have been twice recognised as the world heritage site (1994 and 2000) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation have imprinted in mind of Vietnamese people. The preservation and promotion of this national treasure would help improve Vietnam’s image in the world and turn it into a tourist hub of the country.
The watercolour painting of the Creator
The world herigate site of Ha Long Bay is a complex of 1,969 rock islets lying on the sea as a purposeful arrangement of the Creator. The 1,553km2 Bay is bounded by Cat Ba Islands to the southwest, by the East Sea to the east, by land to the west.
The beauty of Ha Long Bay is the combination of three elements: Rock, Water and Sky. One can be charmed by interesting rock islets in various strange shapes and amazing stalacites as sparkling and splendid monuments… The shapes, patterns and colours of grottos and islets mix with sky and sea forming a superb watercolour painting.
Morever, Ha Long is the shelter of many mysterious folk legends. Each place name attaches to a legend imprinted with humanitarian and spiritual philosophies of the Vietnamese. Such names as Hon Lu Huong (Incense-burner Islet), Hon Con Coc (Toad Islet), Hon Cho Da (Rock Dog Islet), Dong Tam Cung (Three-palace Grotto), Hang Trinh Nu (Virgin Cave), Dong Thien Cung (Heaven Palace Grotto)… evoke the curiousity and eagerness of visitors, encouraging them to explore the myth.
Ha Long Bay has, therefore, inspired many famed poets from great poet Nguyen Trai, King-Poet Le Thanh Tong in feadal time… to Che Lan Vien, Xuan Dieu nowadays. Politicians, national leaders around the world coming to Ha Long could not conceal their admiration of the Bay’s beauty.
Lightening the heritage values
Ha Long is seen as a dragon rising to the ocean, reinforcing its position as a big economic, cultural and tourism hub of the Northeastern region.
Ha Long is blessed with favourable conditions to develop the tourism sector. During the past years, tourist services in the area had been diversified, giving chances to visitors to enjoy various tourist activities as sight-seeing, sea bathing, scientific research and other kinds. It is expected that the tourism sector would develop more attractive tourist products and put more destinations into operation as well.
There are hundreds of tourist accommodations operating in the city of Ha Long, which basically fulfil tourists’ demands. Tourist arrivals to Ha Long have recorded the fastest growth in Vietnam in recent years, increasing significantly from 236,000 in 1996 to 1,306,919 in 2003. According to some specialists, Ha Long would receive 5-6 million tourist arrival by 2010 and become a tourist hub of the country.
In addition, endowed geographical characteristics enable Ha Long to build big sea ports on the base of current ports of Cua Ong, Mui Chua, Van Gia… and particularly Cai Lan port which is located nearby Bai Chay ferry and national highway 18A, convenient for goods transportation.
Quang Ninh sea also contains ecosystems of high biodiversity values, big seafood reserves. Thanks to favourable natural conditions, the province has a great chance to develop seafood cultivation.
Quang Ninh has gained fruitful achievements in exploiting and lightening the values of the world heritage site of Ha Long Bay, attaching to tourism development. That the promotional campaigns for Ha Long to become one of new seven Wonders of Nature have been actively and effectively mounted helps advance Ha Long Bay to the final round of the competition held by NOW (NewOpenWorld). This is a very good news for Vietnam and Ha Long Bay in particular and also positve signal indicating rising status of Ha Long Bay among international commodity. A lot of things should be done to bring Ha Long to the final goal of the competition, being listed among new 7 wonders of nature. And above all, we need to join hands to preseve the pride of Vietnam for our next generations.