Accordingly, after UNESCO inscribed Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage site in 2023, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh have gradually built a coordination mechanism to uniformly manage the heritage space.
Quang Ninh and Hai Phong are finalizing plans for managing world heritage sites, regulations for heritage protection, and coordination mechanisms for managing tourist boats, environmental protection, data sharing, scientific research, and controlling capacity at tourist sites. These are also the contents recommended by UNESCO to ensure the integrity and sustainable development of the heritage.
Previously, on April 1, 2026, the regulations for coordinating the management of tourist boats in the World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago were officially implemented. Hai Phong City has oriented its development towards conservation while exploiting the values of the heritage site appropriately. From the end of April, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong officially launched a sea tourism route connecting Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay, linked with four common routes including VHL3, VHL4, VHL5, and VHL6.
The introduction of interconnected tour routes provides tourists with more options, extends their length of stay, and distributes visitor flow more evenly, reducing pressure on crowded areas.
In just the first three months of operation, the interconnected tour routes served over 4,500 visitors. Once fully operational, the "Two Destinations - One Journey" model is expected to welcome approximately 5,000-6,000 visitors daily with more than 50 cruise ships operating regularly, creating a driving force for the development of both Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
In addition, Hai Phong is promoting the application of technology in management through electronic ticketing, ship tracking, marine environmental monitoring, and gradually building a shared database with Quang Ninh province.
Strengthening coordination between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh will not only fulfill commitments to UNESCO but also create a foundation for developing a heritage economy and building high-quality eco-tourism, resort, and island tourism centers.
When the government, businesses, and communities work together to preserve it, the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago World Natural Heritage site will continue to enhance its value, affirming its position as a leading tourist destination in Vietnam and the region.