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
