Situated on Cat Ba Island, 50km to the east of Hai Phong City, in Northern Viet Nam, Cat Ba National Park now comprises of 15,200ha in total including 9,800ha of mountain area and 5,400ha of marine area.
Many archaeological sites, Ha Long cultural vestiges and the marks of the old Vietnamese were found here. The plant system consists of 620 species including 123 valuable families; the fauna system comprises of 20 species of mammal, 69 species of bird, 20 species of reptile and amphibian, especially Trachypithecus poliocephalus (Vooc dau trang) living in cliffs. Cat Ba Sea contains 300 species of fish, 500 species of mollusc and crustacean, among which a number of species are used to make valuable handicraft products.Cat Ba Island was recognised by UNESCO as World Biosphere Reserve on 19 December 2004. Nowadays, Cat Ba still attracts visitors by its pristine beauty and legends of its history and culture.Bac Ninh: Dong Ho folk paintings thrive through dedication and creativity
Dong Ho village in Bac Ninh province is famous for its traditional folk paintings. Once at risk of fading away, the craft has been preserved and revived thanks to dedicated artisans and local authorities. Artisan Nguyen Dang Che and his Dong Ho paintings. (Photo: vusta.vn) Dong Ho village, once home