A strip of forest on a limestone mountain near Thien Cung Cave has been left dry and barren, with exposed roots after enduring the powerful winds of typhoon Yagi.
Scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources warn that the reduced vegetation coverage on these limestone mountains could negatively affect certain endemic and valuable plant species, while also disrupting the habitats of local wildlife. Additionally, the dry leaves and fallen tree trunks scattered across the islands now pose a significant risk of forest fires as the dry season approaches.
The extent of the damage, including dead trees, broken branches, and fallen leaves, varies based on the level of exposure to the storm's winds.
The Ha Long Bay Management Board has invited experts from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to survey the damage and offer recommendations for conservation and restoration.
Three weeks after the storm, many trees have begun sprouting new leaves, but it will take four to six months for signs of recovery to become noticeable.
In addition to the vegetation damage, the storm's aftermath has resulted in a massive accumulation of waste in Ha Long Bay.
The debris primarily consists of broken aquaculture cages, foam buoys, bamboo rafts, and equipment from destroyed coastal structures, all of which have washed ashore, severely impacting the landscape and environment.
The typhoon left a significant amount of debris across Quang Ninh Province, including broken aquaculture rafts and household waste, requiring a lot of time for cleanup. There were 19,582 damaged houses, 21 shipping vehicles, 23 cruise vessels, and 41 fishing boats either sunk or were adrift. Over 1,000 fish farming cages were lost or swept away, while 17,000 sq.m of aquaculture works, many high-rise buildings, government offices, and schools have been damaged.
The city of Ha Long has mobilized approximately 150 people and 50 watercraft daily to collect and transport waste, working to clean up the bay in the aftermath of the typhoon. The cleanup efforts will first focus on the core areas of Ha Long Bay’s heritage zone, particularly along popular tourist routes, before tackling all floating debris around the islands and beaches.
Typhoon Yagi, the strongest storm to hit Vietnam in three decades, left 299 people dead, 34 missing and caused damages estimated at VND81.5 trillion (US$3.31 billion) across the country's north.
Some aquaculture cages destroyed by typhoon Yagi remain floating near Tuan Chau Island in Ha Long Bay, awaiting removal.
Vu Kien Cuong, head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, stated that the cleanup operation will continue throughout October "until the bay is completely clean."
Currently, efforts are focused on removing debris from the island's shores and sandbanks near Tuan Chau.
A Spanish tour group boards a boat to explore Ha Long Bay on Monday morning.
Although recovery efforts are still ongoing, the bay reopened to tourists on Sept. 13. Within the first 10 days, the bay welcomed approximately 30,000 visitors, nearly 90% of whom were international tourists.
A cruise ship from Hong Kong docked at Ha Long International Passenger Port on Monday, marking the first cruise to visit the bay since typhoon Yagi and officially launching the 2024-2025 cruise season. Visitors were divided into groups to tour the bay and explore other attractions.
From now until the end of the year, Ha Long Bay is expected to welcome 16 large cruise ships, bringing thousands of tourists from Europe, America, and China.
