Ha Long Bay

World Heritage 1st recognition: Aesthetic value

On 21st of December 1991, the Government of Vietnam approved the development of a dossier on the Ha Long Bay landscape to submit to the World Heritage Council for consideration of the World Natural Heritage. In 1993, the scientific record of Ha Long Bay was completed and moved to UNESCO for review. During the process of completing the dossier, UNESCO has sent delegations of specialists to Quang Ninh to investigate, survey, guide, study and evaluate the dossiers on the spot. The Halong Bay dossier is accepted for consideration at the of the World Heritage Council’s 18th meeting.

On December 17th 1994, during the 18th session in Phuket - Thailand, the World Heritage Committee recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage site with a world-class value for aesthetics, in accordance with the International Convention for the Protection of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the World.

World Heritage 2nd recognition: Geomorphological & geological values

In early 1998, the Ha Long Bay Management Board proposed that Dr. Tran Duc Thanh at the Institute of Oceanography in Hai Phong (nowadays is the Institute of Marine Environment and Resources of the Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology) conducted research and evaluation of geological values and the ability to submit UNESCO recognizes Halong Bay as a World Heritage Site according to geological criteria. The results of the study show the high feasibility of submitting to UNESCO for recognition of Ha Long Bay Geological Heritage and need to study the details of karst geomorphology.
After a long process of inspection and assessment, on December 2nd 2000, based on the International Convention on the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritages and the results of examination of Halong Bay geological records, at the 24th Conference of the World Heritage Council based in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, the World Heritage Council has recognized Ha Long Bay as the second World Heritage Site of geological value with two globally significant values of geology and geomorphology.
To enjoy Halong Bay’s aesthetic value and geomorphological & geological values, let’s come and experience overnight cruise for a full contemplation of the UNESCO World Heritage.

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