(VAN) In the vast expanse of the Gulf of Tonkin, Bach Long Vi Island stands like a solid frontier fortress, holding a particularly important strategic position on Vietnam's maritime map. This island, known as the "raw gem," is gradually being polished to become a highlight in the nation’s development, balancing sustainable marine economic growth with biodiversity conservation.
The importance of Bach Long Vi has been affirmed in Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, which clearly identifies the importance of frontier islands. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has also introduced many important policies, showing strong commitment to developing agriculture and fisheries in conjunction with marine conservation in these areas, serving the goals of restructuring agriculture, building new rural areas, and improving community livelihoods.
Dao Minh Dong, Chairman of Bach Long Vi Special Zone People’s Committee, shared: “With its location in the middle of the Gulf of Tonkin and as one of the eight major fishing grounds, Bach Long Vi is considered to have high biodiversity, with many endemic, rare, and economically valuable species, many of which are under protection. The establishment of the marine protected area…”
Beyond its economic and ecological significance, Bach Long Vi also holds a special strategic role in national defense and security. As a frontier island in the open sea, it is likened to a "green fortress" safeguarding the sacred seas and skies of the nation. The presence of the military, border guards, and fishermen on the island not only sustains enduring vitality but also affirms Vietnam's indisputable sovereignty over the Gulf of Tonkin. Many experts believe that sustainable development in Bach Long Vi must be tied to the all-people national defense posture, closely combining economy, ecology, and maritime security. This is also why the Government, Hai Phong City, and central ministries and agencies have always given special attention, considering it a focal point in the country’s marine and island development strategy. From this foundation, Bach Long Vi is not only an "ecological treasure" but also a "living milestone" affirming the strength and will to protect the nation’s maritime sovereignty.
Beneath the pristine, clear waters surrounding Bach Long Vi lies a rich and nearly untouched marine ecosystem. The Bach Long Vi marine protected area is home to many important marine ecosystems, including vibrant coral reefs, expansive seaweed–seagrass ecosystems, and majestic submerged rocky reefs. These are ideal habitats, forming natural "nurseries" for hundreds of rare and valuable marine species such as fish, shrimp, squid, sea snails, sea cucumbers, as well as sea turtles and migratory seabirds.
The biodiversity resources at Bach Long Vi are abundant and diverse, with the island’s flora and fauna and surrounding waters recorded at nearly 1,500 species. Among these, the coral reef system in the Bach Long Vi marine protected area is quite rich and diverse with 118 coral species; the seaweed–seagrass ecosystems have identified a total of 65 seaweed species and one seagrass species.
At sunrise, the first rays of light pierce through the clear waters, illuminating the entire underwater ecosystem. The shimmering coral reefs attract schools of juvenile fish darting playfully, while flocks of seabirds swoop down to hunt. This pristine, vibrant natural scene, rare in today’s modern rhythm of life, thrives in Bach Long Vi.
In recent years, scientific research and technology application in the Bach Long Vi marine protected area have been strengthened to sustainably protect and exploit valuable marine resources. Many advanced technologies have been applied, opening up modern approaches in marine and island management and conservation.
Vietnamese scientists have been applying geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technology to monitor and evaluate changes in coral reef and seaweed–seagrass ecosystems. Automatic monitoring devices and satellite positioning systems are used to collect data on seawater temperature, salinity, pollution, as well as track the migration behavior of some marine species and seabirds.
This data provides a solid scientific basis for timely management and conservation decisions. In particular, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has emphasized transferring these technologies to local staff and communities, enhancing local management capacity and promoting sustainable marine and island development.
Alongside technology application, scientific research activities have also been actively carried out by the Bach Long Vi marine protected area Management Board. From 2017-2019, the Board was assigned by Hai Phong City People’s Committee to implement the project “Research on establishing artificial breeding processes for the top shell (Trochus maculatus Linnaeus, 1758) at the Bach Long Vi marine protected area.” This is an endemic, rare, and valuable species with high economic and ecological value, facing the risk of decline in the wild.
Subsequently, from 2019-2021, the Management Board continued implementing a city-level project, “Research on developing coral propagation processes in tanks and testing coral transplantation for reef restoration and rehabilitation at the Bach Long Vi marine protected area,” with results that established processes and successfully transplanted and restored a total of 1,302 coral fragments across 5,100 m² in the protected area.
These efforts not only provide scientific value but also contribute practically to biodiversity conservation and sustainable marine economic development in Bach Long Vi. The Management Board also regularly cooperates with research institutes and scientific organizations nationwide to carry out research, monitoring, and ecological restoration programs, including: cooperating with the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries in field surveys and monitoring ecological dynamics of settlement habitats of rare marine species; cooperating with the Environmental Monitoring Center – Research Institute for Marine Fisheries in monitoring and analyzing the marine environment in the East–Southwest Sea, Con Son Sea, and concentrated marine aquaculture areas; cooperating with the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center in studying species composition, distribution, and genetic relationships of gastropods in the northern Gulf of Tonkin.
They also cooperate with the Environmental Monitoring Center – Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Hai Phong City (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) in monitoring coastal seawater quality. They collaborate with the Institute of Marine Environment and Resources to release and restore black sea urchin populations. They also cooperate with the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries and UNDP Vietnam to transplant and restore coral reef ecosystems in Bach Long Vi.
In 2019, scientists led by Dr. Nguyen Van Hieu (Research Institute for Marine Fisheries) carried out the project "Research on developing coral propagation processes in tanks and testing coral transplantation for reef restoration and rehabilitation at the Bach Long Vi marine protected area." The goal was to assess the survival and growth rates of transplanted hard corals. The project focused on five coral species from two important genera, Acropora (branching corals) and Montipora (encrusting corals), collected from areas with healthy, well-developed coral reefs in the northwest of Bach Long Vi Island.
After monitoring, Dr. Nguyen Van Hieu’s research brought very promising results. The average survival rate of transplanted coral colonies reached 80%. This impressive figure demonstrates the great potential of this method for restoring degraded coral reefs. Notably, Acropora branching corals showed superior recovery compared to Montipora encrusting corals.
Dr. Hoang Dinh Chieu added: “Bach Long Vi has propagated five coral species in artificial environments, producing over 2,000 small coral colonies. After one year of transplantation with artificial stock, the survival rate exceeded 80%, with an average growth rate of 4.7 mm/month.” The Research Institute for Marine Fisheries is continuing coral restoration programs in Bach Long Vi in 2025.
Conservation and sustainable management in Bach Long Vi have also been reinforced through strict policies and legal regulations from the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Public awareness campaigns, especially targeting fishermen, have been promoted through leaflets and guidance materials on marine conservation. Daily, staff of the marine protected area Management Board, along with Fisheries Surveillance and Border Guard forces, patrol and monitor at sea, protecting resources, preventing illegal exploitation, and guiding fishermen in sustainable practices and combating IUU fishing (illegal, unreported, and unregulated).
On this issue, Dao Minh Dong – Chairman of Bach Long Vi Special Zone People’s Committee – further noted: “Since implementing marine conservation, biodiversity at Bach Long Vi has been assessed as improving, with fishery resources showing signs of quick recovery, particularly coral reefs, which are recovering rapidly and hold very high biological value.”
Despite many efforts, conservation in Bach Long Vi still faces numerous challenges. As an offshore island, investment in infrastructure and equipment for conservation work remains limited. The local fishing community is still heavily dependent on natural resources, while policies for alternative sustainable livelihoods have not received sufficient attention. The Bach Long Vi marine protected area is also affected by climate change (sea level rise, ocean acidification impacting coral reefs) and pressures from marine pollution caused by shipping activities and illegal resource exploitation.
Luong Huu Toan, Director of the Bach Long Vi marine protected area Management Board, expressed concern: “Conservation work in Bach Long Vi always faces many unique difficulties due to its remote location. Investment resources are still limited, and raising awareness and creating sustainable livelihoods for fishermen remain major challenges. We are committed to making every effort, applying all scientific and technical achievements to conserve and develop ecosystems, biodiversity, and rare endemic aquatic resources at the Bach Long Vi marine protected area, but the cooperation of the entire local community is essential to overcome these obstacles, particularly in supporting new technology transfer and building sustainable livelihood models aligned with new rural development and agricultural restructuring policies.”
However, Bach Long Vi also holds great potential for developing a marine economy linked to conservation. Responsible ecotourism, such as coral reef diving, recreational fishing, and exploring fishermen’s culture, will create unique, high-quality tourism products, bringing added value and being environmentally friendly.
Bach Long Vi can also focus on developing specialty, high-quality, value-added seafood products through deep processing, building brands that meet standards such as VietGAP, GlobalGAP, or becoming OCOP products.
From 2025-2030, Bach Long Vi will transform into the Bach Long Vi Special Zone under Hai Phong City, opening new development opportunities. Hai Phong City has a strategic vision to make Bach Long Vi a center for fishing logistics and search and rescue in the northern region; to complete specific new rural criteria; to strengthen resource management, environmental protection, and fishery resource conservation; to apply high technology in aquaculture; to develop marine tourism; to improve the material and spiritual lives of the people; to ensure political security and social order; to build Bach Long Vi into a solid defense zone; and to reinforce great national unity, contributing to comprehensive and sustainable development of the Special Zone. To realize this vision, attracting investment and technology transfer is a key factor.
To promote sustainable aquaculture models and develop alternative livelihoods for fishermen, Dr. Hoang Dinh Chieu suggested: “It is necessary to expand coral restoration models in Bach Long Vi, Cat Ba, and Long Chau; to implement artificial breeding and release programs to restore the endemic nine-hole abalone in Bach Long Vi waters; as well as to develop seaweed–seagrass farming models in marine protected areas. At the same time, it is important to promote some ecotourism models in the Bach Long Vi marine protected area with community participation, which both play a role in conserving biodiversity and fishery resources and contribute to creating sustainable livelihoods for local people.”
The Bach Long Vi marine protected area is not only a valuable biodiversity asset but also a vivid symbol of Vietnam’s determination for sustainable development and national sovereignty protection. With the tireless efforts of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the local community, together with cooperation and support from the international community, Bach Long Vi will surely continue to rise, becoming a sparkling gem in the open sea and a powerful testament to the harmony between humans and nature, between development and conservation. This is a golden opportunity for businesses and investors, both domestic and international, to join Vietnam in building a green and prosperous future for this frontier island.