Tourism and stewardship unite to preserve Lan Ha Bay

In the Ha Long - Lan Ha Bay complex, alongside support from the local government, those who are directly benefiting from this natural beauty have taken the lead in taking action through the movement to collect garbage and protect the environment - Lan Ha Bay cruises

Since 2023, several foreign news sites and magazines have conducted online surveys and included the Ha Long - Lan Ha Bay complex in the "No list" due to warnings about indiscriminate littering causing environmental pollution in the bay.

This has somewhat reduced the number of foreign tourists visiting Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. Meanwhile, Typhoon Yagi in 2024 caused quite serious environmental consequences in these two bays.

Despite this, both localities, from the government apparatus, businesses and people... have made great efforts in collecting and processing waste to restore the landscape and tourism environment.

In recent days, what makes Lan Ha Bay special and unique is the strong environmental awareness of local tourism businesses.

An owner of a cruise ship business in Lan Ha Bay, said: "We understand that Lan Ha Bay is our livelihood. If we don't protect it ourselves, no one else can. Initially, it was just small-scale activities by individual boats and businesses, but gradually, it has become a general movement".

The voluntary garbage collection movement by businesses takes place regularly, usually in the early morning or late afternoon. Businesses, from large travel companies to individual business owners, all encourage their employees to participate.

They use small boats or kayaks to access difficult-to-reach areas, secluded beaches, rocky crevices within the heritage site, and even dive to the seabed to collect waste, especially plastic waste. After collection, the waste is consolidated and transferred to specialized garbage trucks of the Bay Management Board.

Mr. Nguyen Cong, an employee of a cruise on Lan Ha Bay, said: "Many tourists are surprised to see us doing this. They often express admiration and some even volunteer to join us. This shows that our work not only cleans the bay but also spreads the message of environmental protection to tourists".

Thanks to this movement, the amount of waste in Lan Ha Bay has decreased significantly, especially plastic waste, making it cleaner and more beautiful, attracting more environmentally conscious tourists. This not only enhances Lan Ha Bay's tourism image but also contributes to the preservation of its precious marine ecosystem.

"We not only collect trash but also actively educate tourists about not littering," shared Mr. Le Van Thao, a representative of a local tourism association. "Right on the tourist boats, we organize a professional waste sorting process that clearly distinguishes between organic and inorganic waste. In addition, we install air conditioning and disinfection systems that meet standards to prevent environmental damage before transferring the trash to the mainland for processing".

Thao believes that, "with the joint efforts of the business community and support from the government, Lan Ha Bay will forever retain its pristine beauty".

It can be said that the voluntary garbage collection movement in Lan Ha Bay is a prime example of the proactive and responsible approach of the business community and local people in protecting tourism resources.

This is not only an act of environmental cleanup but also a testament to a philosophy of sustainable development, where natural beauty and human consciousness blend together, creating a Lan Ha Bay that is not only beautiful but also leaves a lasting impression on foreign tourists.

Source: Community efforts restore beauty of Lan Ha Bay