Preserving Halong Floating Legacy of Cua Van Cultural Center

Amidst the vast expanse of Halong Bay, the Cua Van Floating Cultural Center – a unique aquatic "museum" – is receiving renewed attention following the recent storms, opening up opportunities to continue and spread the distinctive maritime cultural values of the heritage site - Halong bay tour.

Located in Cua Van, one of the most representative fishing villages in the bay, the Center serves as both an exhibition space and a repository of centuries-old memories of the aquatic communities in Halong Bay. According to research on aquatic culture, Cua Van was formed from the settlement of many ancient fishing villages, most notably Giang Vong and Truc Vong.

With the restoration of the Cua Van Floating Cultural Center, visitors will have a unique destination within the heritage site of Halong Bay.

From around the 17th-18th centuries, fishermen from these villages settled in Halong Bay, building floating houses and traveling by small boats, forming a lifestyle closely connected to the sea. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, residents of Giang Vong, Truc Vong, and other nearby water-dwelling groups gradually converged on the Cua Van area – a sheltered location ideal for anchoring boats – creating a large, bustling fishing village that also became the cultural and social center of the Halong Bay fishing community.

In that historical context, the Cua Van Floating Cultural Center was inaugurated in 2006, within the framework of the Halong Ecological Museum Project funded by the Norwegian Government. It became the first floating cultural center in Vietnam for fishermen and a pioneering ecological museum model connecting heritage with the original living space. According to experts on sustainable tourism development from the UNESCO World Heritage Center, this center not only displays artifacts and tells the story of maritime culture in a vivid and profound way, but also contributes to the development of the local community, raises conservation awareness, and spreads indigenous values.

Accordingly, in nearly two decades of operation, the Center has affirmed its special role in introducing the maritime culture of Halong Bay. Six exhibition themes comprehensively reflect the material and spiritual life of the aquatic inhabitants, from the natural environment, livelihoods, folk knowledge to maritime beliefs and traditional love songs and call-and-response songs. The floating space in the bay allows visitors not only to "see" the culture, but also to "feel" it, through direct experience with the landscape, people, and the rhythm of life that once existed on the water. Therefore, the Center is considered a "special museum," adding humanistic depth to the Halong Bay World Natural Heritage site. It is also a learning and research destination for many scientists and students, both domestic and international, when studying aquatic culture, a unique form of habitation.

However, after nearly 20 years of operation in harsh marine conditions, especially Typhoon Yagi in September 2024 with its strong winds and large waves, the Center suffered serious damage, forcing all operations to temporarily cease. This impact not only caused material losses but also posed a risk of disrupting an important space of memory for the fishing community's culture.

Given this situation, the renovation and upgrading project was proposed by the managing agency and received attention from the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry assessed the necessity of the project, affirming that it is a project of outstanding value in preserving and promoting cultural heritage associated with the World Natural Heritage site. The Provincial People's Committee has directed specialized agencies to research and propose a project for the renovation, repair, and upgrading of the Center.

Cua Van is both a vibrant living museum and a place that recreates many beautiful and unique cultural features of the coastal inhabitants.

The project is expected to be implemented in 2026. The center will be relocated ashore for repairs, then returned to its original location in the bay, ensuring structural safety, landscape harmony, and minimizing the impact on the heritage environment. More importantly, after its restoration, the center will not only be upgraded technically but also repositioned to serve as a space showcasing the unique maritime and island culture, while also becoming a highlight for heritage education and sustainable cultural tourism.

From ruins after Typhoon Yagi, the revival of the Cua Van Floating Cultural Center is not just about repairing a structure, but about affirming the commitment to preserving and continuing the aquatic culture of Halong Bay as a vibrant part of today's heritage.

Source: https://halong-tour.com/travelnews/halong-bay-restoring-cua-van-floating-cultural-center.php