Brian Jeffrey
Officials from Vietnam’s Department of Cultural Heritage have dismissed recent social media speculation that Halong Bay may be removed from UNESCO’s World Heritage list.
This rumor raised alarms regarding the preservation of one of Vietnam’s famous natural wonders. However, the Department clarified in a statement to VTC News that these claims are inaccurate.
The department highlighted that removing a site from UNESCO’s list requires following a formal procedure.
UNESCO usually sends official alerts to member nations if a site is facing threats such as overdevelopment, high tourist numbers, or environmental issues, including water and air quality problems.
Without the necessary corrective actions, a site may be listed as World Heritage in Danger, and only if the issues remain unresolved will UNESCO consider delisting.
A department representative noted that a team of UNESCO experts is expected to visit Halong Bay in January 2025 to evaluate its conservation status.
During the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session held in July in New Delhi, India, over 130 conservation reports were evaluated, including one concerning Halong Bay. Following this meeting, UNESCO recommended eight measures to promote the protection of Halong Bay and the recently designated Cat Ba Archipelago.
These measures include implementing strict regulations on developments in the protected area and ensuring compliance with the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention’s guidelines regarding the impact on a site’s Outstanding Universal Value.
UNESCO commended Quang Ninh Province for its initiatives to mitigate waste and pollution, which have contributed to maintaining acceptable air and water quality levels. Nonetheless, it emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring of water pollution.
A crucial recommendation involves providing UNESCO’s World Heritage Center with a comprehensive zoning map of the expanded Halong Bay-Cat Ba area. Furthermore, a monitoring mission has been recommended to assess conservation efforts and governance of the site.
Vietnam has officially invited UNESCO experts to visit the Halong Bay-Cat Ba area to discuss the implementation of these recommendations, focusing on a coherent management strategy for the site to ensure sustainable development and preservation.
VTC News
