Publications
Di sản Vịnh Hạ Long trong tầm nhìn liên giá trị
Ha Long Bay, recognized for its outstanding natural landscape and geological significance since 1994, has expanded its global heritage status to include the Cat Ba Archipelago in 2023. This study proposes a developmental orientation for Ha Long Bay by examining its inter-value relationships within the broader cultural context of Quang Ninh Province. Through an integrated approach, it explores the potential additional values beyond tourism, offering insights into sustainable socio-economic development and heritage conservation. The research employs an inter-value perspective to assess Ha Long Bay's multifaceted contributions to global heritage systems.
Sponge’s biodiversity in the limestone islands in Vietnam sea
A comprehensive survey of sponge biodiversity in Vietnam's limestone islands, including Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago, identified 54 species across 33 genera and 24 families. Ha Long Bay exhibited the highest diversity (53 species), while the Ba Lua archipelago had the least (3 species). Sponges were most abundant in coral reefs (48 species) compared to mud or sand bottoms (4 species). Biomass varied significantly, with 11 sites showing high potential for medicinal drug development. The study, conducted between 2017 and 2020 across 41 sampling points, provides critical insights into the ecological richness of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
An Integrated Approach in Management of ‘Halong Bay – Cat Ba Limestone Island Marine Area’, Vietnam
Halong Bay and its adjacent Cat Ba and Long Chau archipelagos, recognized as a unique cluster of limestone islands with global heritage significance, face challenges due to administrative separation. Despite Halong Bay being designated a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1994, the proposal for Cat Ba-Long Chau's inclusion was only submitted in 2014. The study highlights that while these areas share geological and ecological similarities, their divided governance presents unprecedented institutional hurdles for UNESCO recognition. However, an integrated management approach was adopted in 2015, designating the 'Halong Bay – Catba limestone island marine area' as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Marine Area (EBSA). This decision underscores the potential for sustainable conservation-based economic development, benefiting not only the local regions but also Vietnam and global heritage preservation efforts.
Marine biodiversity in Ha Long bay and Cat Ba archipelago
Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, Vietnam's largest limestone island system, exhibits exceptional marine biodiversity with 4,622 species of plants and animals, including 16 on the Vietnam Red List and 114 on the IUCN List. This diversity spans seven tropical limestone ecosystems—rainforest, cave, mangrove, tidal, coral reef, and soft-bottom—highlighting its global conservation value under UNESCO criteria (ix and x). The study, analyzing both terrestrial and marine species distribution, underscores the site's potential as a World Heritage Site due to its high endemism and rare species presence. Research involved systematic species documentation, emphasizing ecological significance for heritage designation.
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