Quang Ninh (VNS/VNA) - Authorities at theUNESCO-recognised heritage Ha Long Bay have been conducting solutions topreserve the natural wonder of thousands limestone islands and islets, formingthe spectacular seascape of the property.

However, after millions of years of formation, a multitude of limestoneislands and towering limestone pillars rising from the sea now are at the riskof collapse and landslides.

According to Vice Chairman of Van Chai Ha Long Tourism Service Cooperative, VuVan Hung, the landslides on the bay often occur in the rain and storm seasons.With years of experience, he and other peers in the cooperative can recognisesome signs of landslide.

“Whenever we pass by an island or islet, if we noticed any unusualsigns, we will report to the bay’s management board and the board will haveprompt handling,” he said.

Pham Quoc Tuan, head of the Vung Vieng Area Management Team,Conservation Centre No. 3 under the Ha Long Bay Management Board said that hisunit regularly inspects all the areas where landslides occurred and othersplaces at risk.

His unit also inform boats operating in the area, through documents and speakersystem, to avoid those areas.

They also report to the Bay Management Board to put warning signs to ensuresafety for any boats travelling near the the at risk places.

Currently, all the limestone islands and islets in the bay have been managedand preserved according to the Law on Cultural Heritage, the Law onEnvironmental Protection, the Convention on the Protection of World Culturaland Natural Heritage, and the Regulations on Management, Protection and Promotionof Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage’s Values.

Every year, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has implemented synchronouslyseveral solutions to preserve the geological and geomorphological resources onthe bay and the limestone islands and islets.

According to head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board Vu Kien Cuong, the unithas coordinated with research institutes and scientists to carry out scientificresearches to clarify the geological and geomorphological values of Ha LongBay, including the islands and islets.

“Thereby we will establish a database and management records, then to proposeand implement proper conservation solutions,” he said.

To ensure the safety of tourists and other organisations and individuals whoconduct socio-economic activities on the bay, the Management Board has notifiedwidely about areas that are at risk. At the same time, the board also hastighten their supervision of socio-economic activities on the bay, promptlypreventing acts of harming the heritage, including the islands and caves in thearea.

Regarding the conservation of Trong Mai (Rooster and Hen) Islet, where hasan existential risk of collapse, the board, together with the Quang NinhProvincial People’s Committee, has given technical and scientific solutions.

Meanwhile, the Management Board, in collaboration with other relevantdepartments are calling on tourists, tour guides, and travel boat associationsto work together to protect the iconic islet.

All the water vehicles operating in the area of Trong Mai Islet must maintaintheir speed under 10km/h and keep a minimum distance of 70m from the islet.

The formation of Ha Long Bay dates over 500 million years and the limestonethat is found in the bay began forming around 340 million years ago. Overtime, the bay has gone through countless changes resulting in its today’smagnificent natural landscape. 

The core area, where has been recognised by the UNESCO as a World NaturalHeritage, is 434sq.km and comprises of 775 limestone islands and islets./.