According to the committee, the plan aims to better manage, protect, and develop the site's values while realising the government's sustainable fish farming target.

"The project, which will employ both traditional farming practices and modern, environmentally-friendly technologies, will help create stable jobs for local people and bring a new, better tourism product for visitors," the committee said. "We'll pay more attention to sustainable development by using environmentally-friendly materials and high technologies and focusing on raising high-valued fish that can meet the demand of both domestic and foreign markets."

The committee proposed that the project be carried out on 260 hectares in the buffer zone of Ha Long Bay.

Investors will provide capital for the project, which is expected to be implemented if approved between 2025 and 2030.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr Dang Huy Huynh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, warned that careful studies needed to be done before approving this project as it may threaten the environment in the bay's core area.

"While it's ok to develop tourism in the bay's buffer zone, fish farming and production may be unsuitable as these activities will cause environmental pollution," he said.

UNESCO named Ha Long Bay a World Heritage site in 1994 and 2000.