20 years of Ha Long Bay’s UNESCO recognition celebrated

A performance at the event (Source: qtv.vn)

An arts performance was held in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province on November 1 to mark two decades of Ha Long Bay’s recognition as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO (1994 – 2014).

The event gathered over 300 artists, singers, actors and actresses, who brought to the stage songs and dances honouring the natural beauty of the bay, its biological diversity and outstanding cultural and historical value.

Speaking at the event, Politburo member and President of Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan praised Quang Ninh provincial Party Committee, authorities and people for their efforts to preserve and uphold outstanding value of the site.

He asked local authorities to encourage community’s participation in safeguarding and promoting the heritage’s value, thus improving their lives and making the heritage an important resource for sustainable socio-economic development.
As Quang Ninh province is also the cradle of Buddhism in Vietnam and home to artefacts of Bach Dang victory over Mongol invaders, the VFF President asked the provincial authorities to finalise its planning for tourism and culture development in a bid to make Quang Ninh a tourism magnet for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Ha Long Bay was officially listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO on December 17, 1994, making it the first natural heritage in Vietnam to be honoured with the title. The bay was additionally recognised by the UNESCO for its special value on geography-geomorphology in 2000. In 2012, it was voted as one among seven new natural wonders of the world.

NDO