Decision 45 COM 7B.89

Ha Long Bay (Viet Nam) (N 672bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.98 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Commends the State Party for the continued progress in addressing the 2018 IUCN Advisory mission recommendations and the Committee requests, including a new Management Plan for the property, waste management, carrying capacity study, and initiating a sustainable tourism strategy;
4. Notes with appreciation progress to address sustainable tourism management including completion of a carrying capacity study and initiation of the Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy, and requests the State Party to ensure that tourism development is based on carrying capacity and to finalise the strategy with the support of sustainable tourism experts as needed, for review by the World Heritage Centre and IUCN;
5. Also notes with appreciation various waste management measures including regulating wastewater treatment in cruise ships, closure of the largest open-pit coal mine in the Ha Long area, promotion of a “green” economic transition, and that water quality is within allowable national limits, however notes with concern that pollution remains an issue in the property and urges the State Party to continue and further strengthen measures, as necessary, including to implement the planned upgrade of wastewater treatment of attractions in Ha Long Bay and closure of industrial activities including coal mining and cement activities in the Ha Long area;
6. Welcomes the completion of a new 2021-2025 Management Plan for the property (vision to 2040), and also requests the State Party to:
   1. Provide clarification on how the planned “Master Plan for 2021-2030 (vision to 2050) to preserve and promote the value of Ha Long Bay’s World Heritage site” relates to the Management Plan,
   2. Ensure any processes to revise national, regional and site-level plans and regulations related to the management of the property are appropriately aligned and integrated and coordinated between the site management authorities and the Provincial and City People’s Committees;
7. Reiterates its request for the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by IUCN, a map with a clear indication of the current boundaries of the property and its buffer zone, including details on the use and management regime within the buffer zone, in line with Paragraph 164 of the Operational Guidelines;
8. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session.