Magical beauty of the new world heritage: Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba archipelago
VOV -
(VOVWORLD) - Located in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong city, the newly-UNESCO recognised world natural heritage Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago boasts magical beauty amid sparkling jade-coloured sea surrounding it.
 The Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba archipelago complex was honored as a World Natural Heritage site at the recent 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September, 2023.
|
 The outstanding values of the complex, Vietnam’s first inter-provincial UNESCO-listed world heritage site, fully meet the stringent criteria set by the World Heritage Committee.
|
 The Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba archipelago complex possesses 1,133 limestone islands which come in various shapes and sizes. These rocky islands are covered full of lush vegetation.
|
 The breathtaking scenic site is adorned with numberless majestic limestone towers, characterized by arches and caves. Hidden within the limestone towers are saltwater lakes.
|
 The archipelago houses Vietnam’s largest maritime forest with an area stretching for more than 17,000 hectares.
|
 The archipelago is home to 4,910 species of rare plants and animals. Among them, 198 species are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, including 51 endemic species. In particular, the Cat Ba Langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus) is a rare species which features on the list of animals at highest risk of extinction.
|
 Ha Long Bay was recognised twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994 and 2000 while the Cat Ba archipelago with Cat Ba National Park was also listed by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve in 2004.
|
 Both Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba archipelago are currently the leading attractive destinations in the northern region and throughout Vietnam, attracting millions of visitors each year.
|
 Popular destinations in Ha Long Bay include Trong Mai, Dinh Huong, Ti Top, Soi Sim, and Bo Hon islands. The most unique features of the bay are more than 60 stunning caves, such as Sung Sot, Thien Cung, Dau Go, Bo Nau, and Trinh Nu.
|
 Cat Ba archipelago is characterised by nearly 140 beaches, including Ang Vem, Cat Dua, Cat Co, Ben Beo, Co Tien, and Van Boi. Most notably, international tourists are very keen to experience trekking through Cat Ba National Park and explore the unique terrain, flora, and fauna found here.
|
 In addition to natural beauty, the Ha Long-Cat Ba archipelago is also attractive due to the unique features brought by local fishing villages.
|
 Apart from going to Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh or Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong for separate tours, visitors can experience "traveling through" the heritage area by ferry, connecting Tuan Chau island (Ha Long) and Gia Luan harbor (Cat Ba).
|
VOV