Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago received the title of World Heritage Site

On the evening of May 11, in Hai Phong, the 2024 Red Phoenix Flower Festival program took place with the theme "Hai Phong - Brightening up the heritage region" associated with the 69th anniversary of Hai Phong's Liberation Day and receiving the World Natural Heritage title for Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago from the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO).

In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, many leaders of the Central Government, Ministries, branches, localities, representatives of agencies and units at local and abroad with more than tens of thousands of people attended, creating unexpected success for the event.

This is the first time Hai Phong City has organized this program at the Political-Administrative Center square in the North of Cam River to affirm its vision and determination in expanding urban space and new development space, in order to turn Hai Phong into a developed urban area, a leader in the cause of industrialization and modernization, and a driving force for the development of the Northern region and the whole country.

With a spacious, modern new space, convenient transportation, and a professionally organized, majestic and solemn program, the 2024 Red Phoenix Flower Festival stage with a capacity of 18,000 people was completely covered. 

In the speech, Mr. Nguyen Van Tung - the Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee said that the 2024 Red Phoenix Flower Festival has a special mark, because Hai Phong and Quang Ninh will together receive the UNESCO Decision to recognize World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago, the first inter-provincial heritage of Vietnam.

Since 1992, Quang Ninh province has compiled a dossier and in 1994 Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage, then in 2000 it was registered for the second time.

Taking advantage of its beautiful nature and unique culture, Quang Ninh province has focused on tourism development and achieved many spectacular achievements with 9 consecutive years of GRDP reaching over 10%/year. 

To enhance the value of Ha Long Bay, since 2011 Quang Ninh and Hai Phong have agreed and parallelly prepared a dossier to submit to UNESCO so that Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago will be recognized as a World Natural Heritage on September 16, 2023. Mr. Nguyen Van Tung affirmed that Hai Phong and Quang Ninh will develop a program to preserve and maximize the value of the heritage of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago.

“In the cause of building and developing the city, Hai Phong attaches great importance to the cultural values and spiritual life of the people, seeing this as the driving force and source of development. With the historical - cultural - people of Hai Phong, along with the honored cultural heritages, it will be a premise and an important driving force for the city to strive to develop and lead the country in the cause of industrialization and modernization and truly become the driving force for development of the whole country", Mr. Nguyen Van Tung affirmed.

Congratulations to Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh province, Mr. Jonathan Baker - the Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam said that the registration of the World Heritage complex of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago is the result of extraordinary efforts of the local people and those who have worked very hard to preserve and protect this precious and unique natural asset, placing this heritage at the highest level of protection.

The long-term vision of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh with common development through such combination is very respectable, UNESCO highly appreciates this close association.

Over the past years, UNESCO has accompanied Vietnam in preserving and protecting the amazing natural landscape and special geological values of the Cat Ba archipelago in the context of the rapid economic development of the Northeast region. 

Cat Ba was registered as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2004 and relevant  agencies in the region have worked together to promote sustainable development activities as well as to conserve this great natural heritage.

Being listed on the World Heritage list, Cat Ba has received the highest recognition from UNESCO, becoming a heritage site of outstanding global value for humanity. The World Heritage title will help enhance its position as well as bring many great opportunities for Hai Phong because of the special attention of the public, partners, and investors.

Mr. Jonathan Baker noted that after being registered, Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh province will have much work to do ahead to achieve the long-term goal of sustainable development, including actions that need to be taken immediately to ensure the preservation of this World Heritage complex in accordance with the requirements of the World Heritage Convention.

The implementation of those commitments is especially important when Vietnam begins its term as one of 21 member countries of UNESCO from 2024.

In addition, development orientations such as tourism growth go hand in hand with strict management plans, enhanced enforcement of regulations, and better coordination between agencies to ensure adequate resource allocation. Besides, increasing research will also contribute to ensuring a balance between conservation and development of heritage sites.

“I request that Hai Phong City, relevant central and local agencies of Vietnam continue to commit to implementing the 5 recommendations of the World Heritage Committee in the Decision to register World Heritage sites expanding from Ha Long Bay to Cat Ba archipelago. The UNESCO representative office in Vietnam and I personally will be ready to accompany the locality and relevant partners on this journey," Mr. Jonathan Baker suggested.

The Red Phoenix Flower Festival is a political, cultural, social, and pride event of Hai Phong people that takes place annually in May, associated with the anniversary of Hai Phong Liberation Day (May 13, 1955). The festival contributes to promoting and introducing historical traditions, culture, and the city's image; building a brand, enhancing the position and reputation of Hai Phong with domestic people and international friends...

Compared to past years, the 2024 Red Phoenix Flower Festival program possesses many new features related to the venue, modern technology, and creative art staging methods with the participation of nearly 1,000 artists and performer.

The total cost for the series of events of the Red Phoenix Flower Festival is estimated at VND 45-50 billion from the budget and socialization. In particular, the budget for the art program "Hai Phong - Brightening up the heritage region" alone is about VND 25 billion.