Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago
Factors affecting the property in 1996*
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
- Marine transport infrastructure
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- New port is to be developed in the Bay
- License for a large floating hotel at the site
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1996
Total amount approved : 24,250 USD
| 1996 | Management Planning for Sustainable Tourism at Ha Long ... (Approved) | 24,250 USD |
Missions to the property until 1996**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The Committee at its nineteenth session noted the potential threats to the site including the development of a new port and a license for a large floating hotel. No response has been received to the letter sent by the World Heritage Centre on this matter.
Action Required
The Bureau reiterated the request issued by the World Heritage Committee for information on the potential threats and the measures being taken to ensure that they are minimized.
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1996
The Committee, at its nineteenth session noted the 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 at the site. Furthermore, the Committee learnt that Japanese aid agencies were considering supporting the project up to an amount of US$ 100 million. The Committee, while noting that Japan was still studying the project, and intended to undertake an evaluation of its ecological impacts, recalled Article 6.3 of the Convention which commits States Parties to the Convention "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."
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), by their fax of 27 September 1996, informed the Centre that on the basis of a request submitted by Vietnam, JICA is planning to draft an environmental management programme for Ha Long Bay and a study team is expected to be sent to Vietnam, between 16 October and 15 November 1996.
The Centre, in cooperation with IUCN's field office in Hanoi, will contact JICA to learn the findings of its study, expected to be concluded by 15 November 1996, and present up-to-date information on the state of conservation of Ha Long Bay at the time of the Committee session, in Merida, Mexico.
The Bureau is invited to make recommendations for the conservation of Ha Long Bay for implementation in 1997, on the basis of new information expected to be submitted by the Centre and IUCN at the time of its session, in Merida, Mexico.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1996
20 BUR IV.7
Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The Bureau reiterated the request issued by the World Heritage Committee for information on the potential threats and the measures being taken to ensure that they are minimized.
20 EXT.BUR V.A.2.2
20 EXT.BUR V.C.1.1
20 COM VII.D.41
SOC noted by Committee: Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
VII.41 Ha Long Bay (Vietnam)
The Bureau at its twentieth extraordinary session recalled that the Committee, at its nineteenth session, noted the 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 at the site. Furthermore, the Committee at its nineteenth session learnt that Japanese aid agencies were considering supporting the project up to an amount of US$ 100 million and noted that Japan was still studying the pro] ect. The Committee recalled Article 6.3 of the Convention which commits States Parties to the Convention "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."
The Bureau took note that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is planning to draft an environmental management programme for Ha Long Bay. In addition, the Delegation of Japan informed the Bureau that JICA has completed its "project formulation study", which was conducted in order to clarify the contents and background of the request by the Vietnamese Government to gather some other relevant information.
The Bureau requested the Centre to contact both the Japanese and the Vietnamese authorities to obtain further information on environmental impacts on the site.
Viet NamExports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
