The northern province of Quang Ninh has taken tough measures against tourist boats cruising Ha Long Bay to keep the World Heritage site from being spoiled by environmental problems. According to Nhu Thi Hong Lien, deputy chairwoman of the Quang Ninh provincial authority, the province has issued a temporary ban on building new boats for cruising the bay and will strictly supervise boats.

Ha Long Bay covers 1,500sq.km with nearly 2,000 islands and islets, but only 10 of them are open for tourists. Last year Quang Ninh received 3.6 million tourists and most of them visited the bay.

Currently hundreds of boats are taking thousands of tourists on sightseeing tours on the bay each day, and some 100 boats are also catering to tourists who want to stay overnight on the bay.

Source: Vietnamnews