The management board of Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh is seeking names for 23 caves newly discovered in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays.

The 23 caves have been added to the system of local caves following a field survey at Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays in late 2015.

Many of them are highly valued for scientific, archeological and tourism features.

According to Pham Dinh Huynh, Deputy Head of the management board, experts have temporarily named each cave, but the board is still working to find suitable names for the caves based on their outstanding values and characteristics in order to set up scientific profiles for management, exploitation and preservation.

A newly discovered cave in Ha Long Bay. (Photo: The management board of Ha Long Bay)

The board has also been studying possibilities of making newly-discovered caves part of tourism products, said Le Thi Thin, an official of the management board.

The caves, together with 30 saltwater lakes, will be soon opened to tourists.

To date, Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays are home to 59 caves, including 23 new discoveries, of which 19 are greeting tourists.

Ha Long Bay, which spans 1,553 square kilometres and houses 1,969 islands of various sizes, was twice recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000.

Together with the neighbouring Bai Tu Long Bay, they form a tourism complex with thousands of islands, considered among the most valuable biological and geographical assets of the country and the world.

From April 1^st, new sightseeing fees in Ha Long Bay which the northern province of Quang Ninh has set, will be applied, while abolishing the kayak service in the bay.

According to Decision No. 4278/2016/QD-UBND issued by the provincial People’s Committee, the new fees for five sightseeing routes in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays will range between VND 200,000 – 250,000 (USD 9-11) per route.

The fees for boat transport and overnight accommodation services in Ha Long Bay will range between VND 500,000 – 750,000 (USD 22 – 33) per person.

Meanwhile on March 29^th, the Ha Long City issued a document on ending kayak boat services on Ha Long Bay from April 1^st./.

VNF/VNA