Places

Ha Long-Cat Ba: one heritage across connected waters

The 2023 extension frames the limestone and island landscape as a connected geological system.

See the place in layers

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Illustrative overview for Ha Long-Cat Ba: one heritage across connected waters. AI-generated illustration. — 01 / 03AI-generated illustrative overview for this story.

Landscape

A wider boundary

The 2023 extension frames the limestone and island landscape as a connected geological system.

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A wider boundary

UNESCO inscribed Ha Long Bay in 1994 and extended the property to Cat Ba Archipelago in 2023, under the name Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago. The current listing describes a 65,650-hectare property with 1,133 islands and islets across Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng. These are UNESCO’s figures for the property, not every possible measure of the wider bay.

The value is in the landforms

UNESCO identifies the site’s outstanding value in its marine-invaded tower karst, shaped over a long geological history. The islands are more than a backdrop: cliffs, caves, water-filled depressions, and habitats form a distinctive structure. From a boat, watch how the island profiles change with your angle instead of looking only for a famous photo spot.