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Visitors who want to admire and check-in the "Coral Goddess" statue must pay at least 55,000 VND/person (without drinks) or higher from 90,000-170,000 VND/person (with drinks).
For nearly a month now, a strange statue named "Coral Goddess" has appeared on the waters of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay, causing mixed public opinion.
It is worth mentioning that the statue is displayed with the permission of the Department of Culture and Sports of Quang Ninh province and the business unit collects fees from tourists checking in.
The statue "Coral Goddess" of the Sun Hill business household is registered for copyright under document number 5542/2024/QTG issued by the Copyright Office on June 27, 2024.
According to the explanation of the Sun Hill business household, in the items serving the needs of tourists taking check-in photos, the unit placed a reinforced concrete statue, painted with aesthetic colors on the outside, named "Coral Goddess".
On July 9, 2024, the Department of Culture and Sports of Quang Ninh province issued a document approving the business household Doi Mat Troi to organize an exhibition of the statue "Coral Goddess" at the Lighthouse location, Bai Chay Wonder Road (Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City) for non-commercial purposes. The exhibition will last for 6 months, from July 10, 2024 to January 10, 2025.
However, according to Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Quang Ninh Nguyen Manh Ha, the responsibility for placing statues on Ha Long Bay belongs to the Ha Long Bay Management Board. The licensing of statue placement depends on the size of the statue and the area in which it is located.
The leader of the unit specializing in organizing exhibitions in Quang Ninh province shared that there are 3 contents for the competent authority to grant an exhibition license: the exhibition must have exhibition content; exhibition outline and exhibition venue; the exhibition must be agreed and approved by the unit managing the venue.
Head of Ha Long Bay Management Board Vu Kien Cuong affirmed that the Bay Management Board has absolutely no information about the exhibition of the “Coral Goddess” statue in Ha Long Bay. At the same time, the Management Board has no documents approving the organization of the exhibition about the strange statue in Ha Long Bay.
The Head of Ha Long Bay Management Board requested the Department of Culture and Sports to reconsider granting a license to organize an exhibition of a strange statue on the World Natural Heritage site in accordance with the law.
The representative of the enterprise assigned land and water surface in the Bai Chay Lighthouse area also confirmed that the unit did not have any documents approving the organization of the exhibition and display of the statue. The organization of the exhibition and display of the statue "Coral Goddess" was carried out by the partner who rented the premises.
The business side said it was also surprised by the content of the license to display the statue "Coral Goddess" which was quite general, without specifying the location or specific place of display.
According to document No. 268/SVHTT-QLVH&GĐ, dated July 9, 2024 of the Department of Culture and Sports of Quang Ninh province, the exhibition is not for commercial purposes. However, visitors who want to admire and check-in this statue must pay a fee of at least 55,000 VND/person (without drinks) or higher from 90,000-170,000 VND/person (with drinks). The Sun Hill business household sets up a checkpoint, control station, and collects fees right at the only entrance to the lighthouse area. Ticket buyers who check-in will have a red stamp on their hand.
According to a document sent to the Department of Culture and Information of Ha Long City, the Sun Hill business household said that the statue is currently in the process of being installed on a trial basis at different locations in the sandy area and coconut garden at the lighthouse site.
In the coming time, the unit will permanently install the statue of "Coral Goddess" in the brick yard in front of the Lighthouse. This location will not be flooded when the tide rises, making it easy for visitors to take photos and check-in, ensuring compliance with current exhibition regulations. The installation is expected to be completed before August 26.
Vice Chairman of Ha Long City People's Committee Nguyen Ngoc Son said he had directed the Sun Hill business household to move the statue out of the waters of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay.
TH (according to Vietnam+)