Feasibility Study to develop tourism hub in the North Tonkin Gulf Marine Protected Areas

Quan Lan Beach, Bai Tu Long

An important goal of destination development is extending visitor stay to an area.  The North Tonkin Gulf in Vietnam contains Two National Parks, a World Heritage Site and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, all with marine components.


Currently they are all marketed separately, often in a way that ignores one another.

The IUCN funded study conducted a detailed tourism situational analysis of Bai Tu Long Bay National Park, Cat Ba National Park, Ha Long Bay World Heritage Area and Cat Ba Man and Biosphere Reserve.  Potential tourism linkages were identified, and a strategy for inter-agency and inter-province dialogue and communication was developed.

Empty coal barges travel to the mines

The study showed that without the need for significant investment, it would be possible to increase the average stay in the area from 1.4 to 2-3, using the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Area (Vietnam's most visited and financially stable attraction) as a central marketing hub.

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