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Environmental conflict
in Ha Long Bay by Dr wongsa Laohasiriwong,
Khon Kaen University.
Introduction
Ha Long Bay is located in the northern part of Vietnam’s
East Sea, south of the rapidly growing Ha Long City and
Cum Pha. It is one of Vietnam’s favourite travel
destinations because of its beautiful 3,000 islands rising
from the Gulf of Tonkin with spectacular geological features.
This area was inscribed on the World Heritage List of
UNESCO in 1994. The marine reserve in the bay is flourishing
and offers great opportunity for snorkelling. A wide
variety of birds and animals including wild chickens,
deer, monkeys, and iguanas inhabit the islands. Pearl
and coral are also exploited in some areas.
Ha Long Bay is rich in coal (lignite), a fuel important
for both industrial and household use; the extraction
and production of which can also cause environmental
damage. These environmental problems have resulted in
conflict amongst people living there, lignite users and
the people suffering from the adverse impacts from lignite
extraction. There have been efforts from the central
government, plus provincial and local authorities to
solve the problems. However, the problems still persist.
Transition from the Coalmine Capital towards Capital
of Tourism
Great economic potential of Ha Long City
Ha Long City, the capital of Quang Ninh Province, population
165,000 in the year 2000, (16.5% Quang Ninh province)
is predicted to grow significantly to a total population
of 650,000 by 2010 (partly due to urban agglomeration).
Ha Long City borders Bai Chai Bay, a major shallow estuary.
To the east of Ha Long is Cum Pha, which is dominated
by surface and underground coal mining operations. Quang
Ninh province contains almost all of Vietnam’s
coal reserves and mining has been a driving force of
the provincial economy for decades. As the province’s
largest employer, the state-owned Vietnam Coal Corporation
provides jobs for some 85,000 workers (WB, 1999). The
significance of this coastal region led to its inclusion
in the Northeastern Economic Triangle, which consists
of the area between Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ha Long. Ha
Long City has great economic potential from mineral resources
including coal, limestone and clay. Its coastal location
offers vast resources in developing tourism, seaports
and fisheries.
Investment Policies
The Vietnamese government set ‘Four Pillars for
Comprehensive Development’ emphasising: empowering
Industry and Trade; creating likeable and efficient urban
Areas; promoting sustainable tourism and managing the
environment and conserving nature Master plans for the
region focus on three areas of activities: continued
industrialisation through new investments; additional
transport infrastructure; and tourism development. The
following sections will look at what is being planned
for the area accordance with the four pillars.
Content
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