Editor’s note: Hoang Thi Thu Nga, a 31-year-old woman from Hanoi, pictures the UNESCO-recognized Ha Long Bay, secluded in the northern province of Quang Ninh, as an Asian gem in 2035 in her submission to the “Ky Vong Viet Nam 20 Nam Toi” (“My Expectations for Vietnam in 20 Years”) writing contest.

I first visited Ha Long and fell in love with the city in 2006. Over the past nine years, I’ve always spent time   each year in the gorgeous city and realized its abundant potential to take off in the future.

I aspire that in the next 20 years, Ha Long will grow into a green, dynamic city which is ranked among the world’s most worth-living cities, and an alluring tourist attraction to  domestic and international tourists alike.     

I’d also like to suggest “Ha Long - An emerald of Asia” as the city’s slogan.

A luxury scenic spot

Ha Long Bay is already a unique heritage and an astounding place of interest among local and foreign holidaymakers. In my dream, Ha Long in 2035 would make even more amazing breakthroughs compared to the present and turn itself into a topnotch tourist spot which draws travelers in their own aircraft and yacht.

Ha Long City would then be free from air pollution and wow tourists with its lush greenery, turquoise sea and blue sky. The space dedicated to trees would occupy up to half of the total area. The    on-sea and underground space would make up between one fourth or one fifth of the city’s entire area.

Ha Long tourism would stand out for its specialities, with a system of lavish undersea system and hotels being a key highlight. Apart from current floating houses and cruisers, tourists would feel pampered inside houses boasting two submerged floors and one floating floor. Vacationers would be served delectable seafood, go fishing and diving or engage in thrill-packed adventure games.

Tours would be offered to allow tourists to explore hundreds of untouched islands within Ha Long Bay.  Adventure seekers would row their kayaks on the lakes in the islands, and scale the mountains. They would also be treated to picturesque sunsets over sand strips which stretch as far as the eyes can see.

Some hundred manmade islands would also be built and scattered between Ha Long Bay and the islands of Co To, Quan Lan,and Minh Chau. Apart from culinary and entertainment delights, these islands would also be home to marine museums and commercial port models. Visitors to Ha Long would be indulged with premium, hospitable services and benefit from dedicated, professional tour guide assistance. Rips-off would definitely be a thing of the past.

Orientations for a future green city

In 2002, the Prime Minister issued Decision 142 regarding preserving, zoning and tapping into Ha Long Bay’s values into the year 2020.        However, for Ha Long to soar in 2035, the State needs a new zoning plan, with particular orientation to turn Ha Long into a green city. Leading local and international experts in urban development would be summoned for opinions.

The key to this zoning plan is a switch from the mining and electricity industries to tourism. State and provincial budget allocation would be prioritized for the development of tourism infrastructure. The need to turn the city into a green one will be publicized to every household.

The State should also issue special policies to draw investment for the implementation of mammoth projects in the city. Major global tourism groups would also be wooed to contribute to the city’s growth by building streets and sea-crossing floating house complexes which would be scattered from Hon Gai and Bai Chay to the islands of Co To, Minh Chau and Quan Lan.

The government would keep the construction under strict surveillance to ensure that there are no adverse environmental impacts and good scheduling. The government must also request construction units to pay due respect to the bay’s natural assets and build sustainable ecological tourism. 

It’s also advisable that “tourism complexes” be established, and Ha Long Bay and its core and peripheral areas be “circled” and high fees be charged to visitors to the UNESCO-recognized natural heritage. Teams of foreign reconnaisance and tourism reporters should also be set up to provide counseling on how to design unrivalled tours which are unique only to Ha Long.

Such tours may include luxury programs meant for just one or two persons or a family who would spend their time on a pristine island. There they would be pampered with lavish hotel services, along with once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as diving and coral exploring, beholding Ha Long from above, mountaineering and exploring islands, going angling at lakes, and relishing their drinks inside caverns.

Ha Long Bay’s peripheral areas, sea ports, and coastal residential areas would be zoned into clean agricultural and aquatic product raising supplies of fresh, hygienically ensured food, the tastes of which would linger  in tourists’ minds.

In addition, human resources also require urgent attention. Local youth who wish to join the smokeless industry would be sent to such countries as Thailand, Singapore and Switzerland for training in tourism and hotel and catering management. Catering and tourism services also need to be further computerized. Hotels and travel firms are supposed to have their own websites which offer specific, helpful information. Staff should also be arranged to work around the clock to receive room and tour bookings from guests the world over and be willing to pick up their feedback and provide answers to their queries.

It’s also desirable that the tourism sector organize carnivals on an annual basis to lure more international tourists to the islands. The city is also advised to facilitate the organization of other uniquely alluring tours which allow tourists to explore fishing villages, participate in traditional crafts and relish mouth-watering delicacies.