English.news.cn 2012-05-08 13:52:08
by Nguyen Thi Thuy Anh, Zhang Jianhua
HA LONG, Vietnam, May 7 (Xinhua) -- "I am so surprised at the new face of Ha Long Bay," Nguyen Vu Minh Hang, a young Vietnamese tourist who returned to the bay after four year, told reporter recently in Ha Long Bay, one of Vietnam's most famous tourist destinations.
"I am surprised a lot at its rapid change, since tourist boats are now in new white uniform," Hang added.
As a World Heritage Site and one of the world's New Seven Natural Wonders, Ha Long Bay is truly a legendary world and the most magnificent scenic spot in Vietnam.
Quang Ninh province, which is home to Ha Long Bay some 120 km east of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, has been striving to renew its image to lure more visitors.
According to provincial leaders, since Ha Long Bay has elected one of the world's New Seven Natural Wonders in 2011, the number of visitors to the bay has increased dramatically.
In 2011, despite global economic crisis, Ha Long Bay hosted 6.6 million visitors, including 2.5 million foreigners.
In the first quarter of this year, the bay received 2.4 million visitors including 240,000 foreigners, up 20 percent over the same period of last year, Vu Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of Quang Ninh provincial people's committee told Xinhua.
Since the beginning of this year, the authorities have required all tourist boats on Ha Long Bay to be painted in white color, and to date, 502 out of 517 cruisers in the bay have their white appearance.
"I have been in Ha Long Bay for several times. The bay has quite a different face this time," Huang Zhenzhuang, a Chinese tourist told Xinhua.
"During this trip, I enjoy Ha Long Bay's beauty from a totally new outlook. All boats are in white dress. In the past, the tourist boats were brown junks with red sails wandering peacefully in the bay. It was Ha Long Bay's unique look. But white is also beautiful with them," Huang added.
The sharp increase in the number of visitors to Ha Long Bay results from the recognition of Ha Long Bay as a new global natural wonder. Thanks to the poll, the image of this beauty spot has been highlighted all over the world, and more visitors flocked to Vietnam to enjoy the bay.
During the Ha Long Tourism Week and Ha Long Carnival 2012, which lasted from April 24 to May 1, Ha Long City welcomed more than 500,000 tourists, an increase of 25 percent year-on-year, according to the events' organizer.
However, many wondered if the bay's economic and social value matched with its status as the World's New Wonder of Nature.
"This is my first trip to Ha Long Bay. It is very beautiful, but transport is a big problem with me," Yu Qixiang, a Chinese tourist told reporter.
"We drove our car from Vietnam's Mong Cai border crossing to get here. We see it is not so convenient for tourists to get here, either from Hanoi or from China. It will take you three to four hours to get here by bus from Hanoi," Yu said.
"A highway should be built for visitors' convenience, and local infrastructure should also be upgraded. In addition, accommodation services fail to meet the tourists' demands. All hotels are often booked out during the high season," Yu suggested.
"Tourist events are also limited, monotonous and not attractive. Visitors spend haft a day on boat to cruise the bay, and the rest of the day touring the city. What should they do for the following days?" Yu said.
Actually, the local authorities have built some entertainment facilities, including the Royal International Park and Tuan Chau Water Music Park. But they attract only domestic visitors.
"More recreation services should be available to make tourists stay longer," Yu said, adding that the potential of the bay has not yet been fully exploited.
Currently, a travel to Ha Long Bay mainly includes a boat cruise for sight-seeing, visiting caves, or swimming. While other activities such as an open sea tour, diving tour, islands eco-tour and traditional cultural tour are ignored.
"Many foreign tourists like me do not care much about the parks or modern buildings, which are available in our country, but about the local residents' traditional culture and their daily life," Michael Goldmann, a German tourist said.
Ha Long Bay comprises 1,600 islands and islets forming a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by human. The site's outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.
To tap its full potential is still a big challenge to the local authorities.
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