Illegal walkway at Trang An heritage site removed

Illegal construction on Cai Ha Mountain inside the UNESCO heritage site of Trang An in the northern province of Ninh Binh has been completely removed, local authorities confirmed on July 10.

The local authorities intend to plant more trees on the dismantled areas. (Source: VNA)

The dismantling task did not affect the heritage site much, said Vu Van Huan, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Lu district where the site is located.

Huan added that the committee and concerned inpiduals have admitted their mistakes for not preventing the construction.

Nguyen Duc Loi, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Truong Yen commune, said he himself and leaders of the commune deserved blame.

Trang An Tourism Company last August cut into Cai Ha Mountain and constructed a staircase leading up to Huyen Vu Peak. The staircase runs a length of over 1km with 2,000 steps and handrails on both sides to serve tourists. The company also constructed supporting facilities like public toilets.

The construction was almost completed after six months and has been open to visitors since this year’s Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Ninh Binh province’s Department of Tourism reported and asked the provincial People’s Committee and Hoa Lu district’s People’s Committee to deal with the violations and remove the walkway.

The Truong Yen People’s Committee sent five warnings to the company between August and December requesting them to stop building and return the site intact.

However, the company did not follow the prohibition and continued the building, Phuc said.

The inspectors have also discovered that the company has violated other regulations like hiring tourist guides who have no career permission; using untrained boat drivers and selling an entrance ticket of VND 45,000 (USD 2) per head without permission.

The company has also sold many DVDs at the site and set up instruction signs without permissions.

The company has marked the site “Ancient Trang An” without permission as well.

Considering the above-mentioned violations, the inspection department has asked the Hoa Lu People’s Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ninh Binh province to stop the operation of the Trang An Tourism Joint Stock Company.

Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Trang An Tourism Company, started to direct the dismantling in March, promised to remove the walkway by April 30 and then asked for the deadline to be extended twice to the middle of June.

The Trang An Landscape Complex was listed among World Heritage sites by UNESCO on June 23, 2014.

The complex, a mixed cultural and natural property, covers more than 6,000ha with three areas including the Hoa Lu Ancient Imperial Capital, which was chosen by various kings of the Dinh, early Le and the beginning of Ly reigns between 968-1009; the Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong rivers and karst mountains site and Hoa Lu Primitive Forest stretching over the districts of Hoa Lu, Gia Vien, Nho Quan, Tam Diep and Ninh Binh cities in Ninh Binh province./.

VNF/VNA