Ha Long Bay, a priceless natural heritage of Vietnam and the world, is facing severe threats of pollution from waste. The esteemed American travel magazine Fodor’s Travel has included Ha Long Bay in its 2024 “No List,” advising travelers to carefully reconsider their visits in order to help preserve this iconic destination.
The “No List,” released following its counterpart the “Go List,” highlights nine global destinations to avoid in 2024. The selection criteria focus on overtourism, waste generation, water quality, and resource management—critical factors adversely impacting destinations and the livelihoods of local communities. Ha Long Bay was placed in the “waste generation” category.
According to the U.S. publication, Ha Long Bay features approximately 1,600 limestone karst islands and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage natural wonder in 1994. While Ha Long Bay welcomes millions of domestic and international visitors each year, this influx places immense pressure on the environment, particularly regarding waste management. Statistics from Fodor’s Travel indicate that visitor arrivals reached over 7 million in 2022 and were projected to hit approximately 8.5 million in 2023.
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Waste originates from multiple sources, including Ha Long Bay cruise tours, residential areas, and coastal fishing communities. Many travelers have reported encountering debris such as water bottles, plastic bags, foam cups, and discarded fishing gear floating on the water’s surface, alongside diesel slicks from vessel operations. This accumulation not only detracts from the breathtaking beauty of Ha Long Bay but also threatens marine biodiversity and the health of local residents. Numerous marine animals suffer injury or mortality after ingesting plastic waste. Furthermore, debris degrades water quality, contributes to air pollution, and generates unpleasant odors.
A 2020 study revealed that over 28,000 tons of plastic waste are generated annually in Ha Long Bay, with nearly 5,300 tons finding their way into the sea—equivalent to 34 tons of waste produced daily by tourism activities alone. This waste crisis impacts not only the travel experience but also the very ecosystem of the bay. Once home to 234 species of coral reefs, the bay now retains only half that number, according to Fodor’s Travel.
David, a researcher of marine pollution in the bay who has lived in Hanoi for over five years, noted that another compounding factor is the expanding fishing community around the bay. Polystyrene and thermoplastic buoyant floats used in aquaculture disintegrate over time into powdery debris that washes ashore. These microplastics are now being detected in fish species, posing a growing concern for food safety. Ha Long Bay encompasses 20,600 hectares of aquaculture farms. Recently, authorities mandated that fish farms transition from foam buoys to sustainable alternatives, leading to large quantities of discarded foam buoys being dumped directly into the bay. According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, approximately 10,000 cubic meters of debris, including foam floats, were collected starting in March, with cleanup operations underway on a daily basis.
Fodor’s Travel added that restricting tourism may impact livelihoods in the short term; however, failing to protect Ha Long Bay could result in irreversible long-term consequences.
Alongside Ha Long Bay, two other destinations were featured in the waste-related category: the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in the United States and the Atacama Desert in Chile. The remaining six locations on the “No List” include Venice, Italy; Athens, Greece; Koh Samui, Thailand; the Ganges River, India; and Lake Superior in North America.
Travel experts emphasize that the “No List” is not intended to “discredit or criticize,” but rather to express deep concern and a desire to safeguard these renowned destinations. “We love these places, and so do you. Yet our fervent adoration and unquenchable wanderlust are challenging their sustainable future,” the American magazine noted.
