Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago

• New port is to be developed in the Bay
• License for a large floating hotel at the site

The Committee at its nineteenth session (Berlin, 1995) noted potential threats to the integrity of this Site due to the proposed development of a new port, and the proposal to issue a license for the establishment of a large floating hotel. The Committee was informed of the fact that Japanese aid agencies were considering supporting the projects to an amount of US$ 100 million and called the attention of the Japanese authorities to their obligation under Article 6.3 of the Convention which commits them "not to undertake any deliberate measures which might damage directly or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage......situated on the territory of other States Parties to the Convention".

At its twentieth session (Merida, 1996) the Committee learned that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was planning to draft an environmental management programme for Ha Long Bay and that JICA had completed its project formulation study, conducted in order to clarify the contents and background of the request for aid from Vietnamese authorities.

The ambassador and Permanent delegate of Japan to UNESCO, via letter of 10 April 1997, has informed the Centre that the report of JICA's project formulation study is for 'internal use' only and has expressed his regrets for not being able to make it available to the Centre. At the time of the preparation of this document Vietnam had not yet responded to the Comittee's request for information. The Vietnamese authorities however, have informed the Centre that they have scheduled the training workshop for developing a strategic plan for Ha Long Bay, for the organization of which the Committee approved a sum of US$ 24,250 at its last session, for the first two weeks of June 1997, and have invited both the Centre and the IUCN to participate in the workshop. It is expected that participation of the Centre and/or IUCN in that workshop will provide additional information that could be made available at the time of the meeting of the Bureau.

The Bureau, may request the Japanese authorities to assure the Committee, in writing, that the development projects they intend to finance in the Ha Long Bay area would not adversely impact the integrity of the World Heritage Area. Furthermore, based on additional information expected to be available at the time of its meeting The Bureau may consider recommending other appropriate actions to the consideration of the Vietnamese and Japanese authorities, and of the Committee.


21st extraordinary session of the Bureau in 1997:
The Bureau recalled that the Committee, at its sessions in Berlin (1995) and Merida (1996), had expressed concerns regarding impacts which a port construction project, to be financed by Japan, and the establishment of a large floating hotel, could have on this site. At its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, the Bureau was informed that the Vietnamese authorities have withdrawn plans to issue a license for the establishment of a floating hotel. The Bureau encouraged Vietnamese and Japanese authorities to co-operate in carrying out JICA's environmental study of the coastal and marine environment of Ha Long Bay, and urged the Vietnamese authorities to search for ways and means to direct large ships that are expected to pass through the World Heritage area, after the completion of the Cailan port construction project, along alternative routes. IUCN informed the Bureau that its Office in Hanoi has developed a project concept for the conservation and environmental monitoring of the Ha Long Bay which, if implemented, could assist the Vietnamese authorities to mitigate expected environmental impacts of the Cailan Port construction project.

The Bureau requested the Vietnamese authorities to provide to the Centre, before 1 May 1998, the terms of reference of JICA financed environmental study and encouraged the Centre and IUCN to work together with the State Party to further develop the IUCN proposal for a long term project on the conservation of Ha Long Bay and seek possible donors who could finance the project.

The Bureau may recall that the Committee, at its sessions in Berlin (1995) and Merida (1996), had expressed concerns regarding impacts which a port construction project, to be financed by Japan, and the establishment of a large floating hotel, could have on this site. At its twenty-first ordinary session in June 1997, the Bureau was informed that the Vietnamese authorities have withdrawn plans to issue a license for the establishment of a floating hotel. The Bureau encouraged Vietnamese and Japanese authorities to co-operate in carrying out JICA's environmental study of the coastal and marine environment of Ha Long Bay, and urged the Vietnamese authorities to search for ways and means to direct large ships that are expected to pass through the World Heritage area, after the completion of the Cailan port construction project, along alternative routes. The Centre has requested the Vietnamese authorities to provide, by 15 October 1997, information on the concept and terms of reference of JICA's environmental study which is expected to begin in early 1998; the receipt of a response from the Vietnamese authorities is awaited.

The Bureau may wish to examine information that may be available at the time of its session and take appropriate action thereupon.