Scene at the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve (Photo: sodulich.ninhbinh.gov.vn)
Ninh Binh (VNA) – The Van LongWetland Nature Reserve in the northern province of Ninh Binh has beenrecognised as Vietnam’s ninth Ramsar site.
After receiving its certificate ofrecognition at a ceremony on May 22, the reserve is now the 2,360th Ramsar site in the world. The recognition will help Vietnam call forinternational support to research, conserve and sustain the wetland eco-systemamid challenges from climate change.
Located on the northernmost tip of the PuLuong-Cuc Phuong limestone mountain range, the area is one of the few intactlowland inland wetland areas remaining in the Red River Delta. It is centred ona block of limestone karst outcrops that rise from the flat coastal plain ofnorthern Vietnam.
The freshwater lake, marshes and swamps thatsurround the karst, together with subterranean hydrological systems, form awetland complex that is very rare in the region.
The limestone hills provide a habitat forthe critically endangered Delacour’s langur, one of the world’s 25 mostendangered primates. The reserve is home to more than half of the animal’s globalpopulation and the only place where the species can be observed in the wild.
It is also an important refuge and breedingground for several aquatic species, and home to waterbirds.
The wetland offers important ecosystemservices for the surrounding communities, including its aquatic andagricultural resources and its scenic beauty for recreation and ecotourism.
Ramsar, or the Convention of Wetlands, is anintergovernmental treaty that provides a framework for conservation and wiseuse of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted in the Iranian city ofRamsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.-VNA
Along with the Trang An Scenic Landscape complex and Tam Coc-Bich Dong National Park, the untouched and pristine beauty of Van Long Lagoon has attracted many travellers to the northern province of Ninh Binh.
The Red River Delta province of Ninh Binh welcomed over 7.3 million visitors in 2018, grossing 3.2 trillion VND (138 million USD) from tourism services, a year-on-year increase of 19.2 percent.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas (IUCN Green List) was introduced at a workshop held in the northern province of Ninh Binh on March 27.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
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Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
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This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
Scene at the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve (Photo: sodulich.ninhbinh.gov.vn) 
