Ha Long bay

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) held a workshop on technology and management solutions for treatment of waste water from tour boats and tourism activities in Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago. The workshop was part of the Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Alliance Initiative, funded by the US Agency for International Cooperation. Participants discussed technology and management solutions and shared information about modern waste water treatment technologies, which meet national technical standards and regulations on environmental protection for Quang Ninh and Hai Phong.

Vu Tien Anh, Director of TA Water Treatment Technology Company, said: “Our technology is suitable for islets in Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba archipelago, which lack electricity. Diesel engines, which cannot work constantly, will interrupt the operation of the waste water system and raise the risk of direct discharge to the sea.”

Other technological solutions introduced at the workshop were EVAC Cleantech of China to treat water for recycling and Fuji Clean of Japan to treat water at the source. The Institute for Ship Research and Development of Nha Trang University brought the workshop a water treatment device with a capacity of processing 300 to 360 liters per day, suitable for a tour ship of about 50 passengers.

Jake Brunner, IUCN Chief Representative in Vietnam, said that in addition to technological and financial solutions, stronger sanctions are needed to stop violations. At the request of Quang Ninh province’s People’s Committee, the Union sent an advisory mission to Ha Long Bay last July to support sustainable tourism management and environmental protection at Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba archipelago. Quang Ninh province has asked all ports and wharves to offer waste water treatment and collection service for tour ships.