Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Vietnam’s top tourist destinations with over four million visitors each year. On March 6-7, USAID’s Ha Long - Cat Ba Alliance organized a two-day workshop in Ha Long City to discuss the development of new tour programmes and environmentally-responsible itineraries to educate visitors on the biological importance of Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago. During this workshop, leading international biologists shared their knowledge and insights with 35 participants from the Ha Long Bay Management Board, Cat Ba National Park, and cruise companies.

So What? As tourism continues to increase in Ha Long Bay, workshops like this equip tour operators with the knowledge and skills to design tourism activities that educate visitors on the importance of preserving the region’s natural beauty.