Illegal tourism encroaches on Ha Long Bay island

The Dragon's Eye Island has been illegally serving tourists for over five years, but authorities in Ha Long Town have not taken serious measures to end such activities despite being aware of them.

Last weekend, a delegation led by Nguyen Xuan Ky, party chief of Quang Ninh Province, inspected the island to find many tourism services offered on the islet without permits, with some even building facilities to provide accommodation.

Tours to visit the island are advertised openly online, though many are not legally registered.

Ky said such activities had been taking place thanks to the "loose management" of Ha Long Bay Management Board.

He has ordered Ha Long Town to review all tourism projects and activities on the islet and "strictly handle all violating individuals and units."

Dragon's Eye Island seen from above. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Hoa

The island boasts a pristine landscape, spans 30 hectares and is considered the most beautiful islet in Ha Long Bay.

From above, the isle looks like a dragon’s head, with a lake surrounded by limestone mountains in the middle of the island resembling an eye.

Ha Long Town attracted 7.1 million visitors last year, over four times higher than in 2021, including 356,400 foreigners.

In 2019, before the pandemic, it drew 11.9 million tourists, including 4.3 million foreigners.