A view of the illegally constructed stairway in the core zone of the Trang An Landscape Complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh

Authorities in the rural district of Hoa Lu found ways to remove the 900-step structure at Cai Ha Mountain which encroaches on the core zone of the UNESCO-recognized heritage site during a meeting on March 26.

Inspection results of the provincial Tourism Department showed Nguyen Van Son, director of Trang An Tourism JSC, illegally opened a tourist site called

Trang An Co (Ancient Trang An), which is complete fiction in Truong Yen Commune, Hoa Lu District last August. He then drilled Cai Ha Mountain and built the stairway without prior permission.

The provincial tourism department then worked with local authorities to inspect the construction work several times, and asked the company to stop all construction activities there. However, the firm still proceeded with its project and finished it late last year.

Nguyen Si Tri, secretary of Hoa Lu District, said at the meeting that the construction was illegal, so it must be torn down in line with prevailing regulations.

Technically, the stairway has more than 900 steps and a total length of 510 meters, according to local government.

The company was also found to have committed some violations such as selling fares to boat tourists without permission, and using unlicensed tour guides and untrained boat rowers.

The secretary stressed the demolition plan would be strictly executed in accordance with the current rules. The director of the company will be asked to remove the stairway, otherwise, local government will enforce it.

He added the removal of the structure will be conducted by a group of professionals to make sure safety for the world heritage site will be guaranteed.

For the boat rowers at a Cai Ha Mountain area as “Ancient” Trang An, local government will help them find new jobs.

Located within Ninh Binh Province near the southern margin of the Red River Delta, the Trang An Landscape Complex is a mixed cultural and natural site within three protected areas – the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong Scenic Landscape, and the Hoa Lu Special-Use Forest.

The site covers 6,226 hectares within the Trang An limestone massif, and is surrounded by a buffer zone of 6,026 hectares, mostly rural land with rice paddy fields, according to UNESCO.

SGT