Decision No. 142/2002/QD-TTg On approving the Master Plan for the conservation and enhancement of the value of Halong Bay Heritage until 2020.

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the approval of the Master Plan

for the conservation and enhancement of the value of Halong Bay Heritage until 2020.

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Cultural Heritage dated June 29, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province (Circular No. 1438/UBdated November 7, 2000 and Circular No. 125/TT-UB dated January 16, 2001) and the opinions of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Circular No. 1620/BKH-VPTĐ dated March 18, 2002), Approves the Master Plan for the conservation and enhancement of the value of Halong Bay Heritage until 2020, serving as a basis for implementing detailed plans and component projects, with the main contents as follows:

DECISION:

Article 1. a) Determining the legal bases for managing, conserving, and enhancing the value of Halong Bay Heritage according to the Law on Cultural Heritage of Vietnam and international conventions on heritage protection, while combining various specialized planning within the development of the Halong Bay region towards sustainable development in a unified plan.

1. Objectives:

b) Developing investment programs and specific projects aimed at protecting, restoring, and effectively exploiting Halong Bay, where the island clusters are focal points; developing investment plans in phases and prioritizing them in accordance with the capacity to meet needs and mobilize capital, ensuring set goals and schedules.

2. Scope of study:

a) The direct scope of study covers an area of 1553 km², including:

- World Heritage Area: an area of 434 km² located at the center of Halong Bay, comprising 775 islands with scenic and scientific values.

- Buffer Zone: following the buffer zone boundaries delineated by UNESCO, including areas directly affecting the World Heritage Area.

- The area from the buffer zone to the national conservation boundary.

b) Indirect scope of study: including Cat Ba Island and the northern area of Route 18A.

The main subject of the plan is the Natural Heritage of Halong Bay, encompassing islands, caves, beaches, ecosystems of flora and fauna, natural landscapes formed by physical elements, and the combined values of the heritage (biological, aesthetic, historical, cultural, geological, economic...), including cultural heritage and archaeological sites in the Halong Bay region.

3. Objectives:

4. Perspective:

a) The plan must be feasible, modern, ethnic, natural and artificial, educational, and scientific, with inheritance. Culture should serve as the foundation for developing and effectively utilizing specialized plans already implemented and being developed in the region.

b) The conservation and enhancement plan must ensure "environmental protection and sustainable development," closely integrating conservation and enhancement of heritage with environmental protection and economic, cultural, and social development; balancing conservation, exploitation, and national defense security.

5. Content of the conservation and enhancement plan includes:

a) Conservation area planning:

- Area 1: Located at the center of Halong Bay (World Heritage Site), comprising the entire landscape, geological, geomorphological, cultural, and historical conservation area; ecological conservation area, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

- Area 2: Active management area (buffer zone).

- Area 3 (development area) includes: industrial development zone, port development zone, tourism development zone, aquaculture and fishing development zone, urban and infrastructure development zone.

b) Conservation content:

- Determining the limits of protected areas.

- Identifying negative and positive impacts and proposing protective measures.

- Determining the value of the island system, cave systems, components of the heritage such as geology, geomorphology, vegetation cover, animal systems, number of islands and caves in protected areas; cultural, historical archaeological values and related factors such as hydrogeology, climate.

- Identifying specific objects to be conserved such as cave types, beaches, pine trees, bamboo forests, terrestrial and marine flora and fauna.

- Identifying and systematizing intangible cultural values; developing plans for collecting, researching, editing, introducing, disseminating, and promoting intangible cultural values.

c) Enhancement plan:

- Planning functional zones for tourism services.

- Planning technical infrastructure systems (water supply, electricity, wastewater treatment and environmental sanitation, solid waste collection).

d) Environmental protection planning: managing air quality, water resources, natural scenery, biodiversity, and ecosystems of Halong Bay; treating waste, managing the environment for other economic sectors.

6. Implementation solutions:

a) Programs include: surveying and collecting conservation programs; conservation, exploitation, and enhancement programs; awareness-raising programs... all part of the integrated program for socio-economic development in the Halong Bay region.

b) Establishing regulations for tourism activities within the heritage site.

c) Formulating feasible projects identified as priority projects until 2005. Based on this, determine the investment capital requirements for the period up to 2005.

7. Investment phases:

a) Until 2005: Prioritize gradual conservation of islands and caves within the absolute conservation area - World Heritage Site, including Ngoc Vung and Quan Lan Islands. Particularly focusing on cave parks, Ba Ham Lake, Trai Cave, and ecotourism spots.

b) 2005-2010: Continue conservation while investing in exploitation and enhancement of remaining areas within the absolute conservation area - World Heritage Site and some areas within the buffer zone of the World Heritage Site.

c) After 2010: Complete tour routes and functional areas for conservation and tourism services.

The People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province shall take the lead, coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to continue researching, updating, and detailing the plan content, paying particular attention to the following aspects:

Article 2. 1. Clarify the advantages and challenges that need to be addressed regarding natural, economic, social, traditional, historical, and cultural conditions: customs, traditions, lifestyles, beliefs of residents in the Halong Bay area and surrounding regions in the context of economic integration and natural landscape conservation.

1. Clarify the advantages and challenges that must be addressed regarding natural, economic, social, traditional, historical, and cultural conditions: Customs, practices, lifestyle, and beliefs of residents in the Halong Bay area and surrounding regions in the context of economic integration trends and preservation of natural scenery.

2. The contents and solutions aimed at closely linking the preservation, enhancement, and promotion of the values of Halong Bay heritage with economic, cultural, social development, and national defense security.

3. Selecting some key projects to prioritize implementation until 2005 to draw lessons for subsequent project execution, particularly prioritizing the implementation of the Halong Ecological Museum Project, considering it as an overall solution for preserving, promoting, and utilizing the value of the Halong Bay heritage.

4. Studying the construction of mechanisms and policies to mobilize resources, organizational management solutions to effectively leverage domestic and foreign factors and potentials for the preservation, enhancement, and promotion of the Halong Bay heritage.

Article 3. Economic and social development plans and projects of ministries, sectors, and Quang Ninh Province must be concretized throughout Quang Ninh Province generally and specifically in the Halong Bay area, taking into account planning, preservation, and promotion of the Halong Bay heritage values.

During the implementation process, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province is responsible for inspecting, monitoring, promptly recommending, and submitting to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision on adjusting the planning when necessary.

Article 4. THIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SIGNATURE.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province, Ministers of Ministries, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and agencies under the Government, and related localities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.