Ninh Binh issues final warning over Trang An illegal walkway

The authorities in Ninh Binh Province have urged a local firm to quickly remove the huge walkway illegally built inside the UNESCO heritage site of Trang An.

Illegal walkway in Trang An

Trang An Tourism Company promised to completely remove the walkway in May twice but only 50% of the construction had been removed as of May 31. The handrail, the bridge between two mountains and many steps have been removed at a slow pace. However, the construction built inside the banned area of Nui Ha Mountain hasn't been touched.

Vice Chairwoman of Hoa Lu District Nguyen Thi Cuc said the authorities often arrived at the scene to urge to speed up the process but the removal is behind schedule. Ninh Binh provincial authorities said they would extend the deadline to June 15. If Trang An Tourism Company still can't remove the walkway by then, the local authorities will remove it themselves.

"The procedure will be carried out in accordance with the laws about forced demolitions of illegal construction," Cuc said.

After Trang An Scenic Landscape was recognised as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 2014, construction was banned at Cai Ha Mountain. However, Trang An Tourism Company built a 510-metre-long walkway to the top of the mountain with 900 steps last August. The construction was almost completed in six months and was opened to visitors since the Tet Holiday.

Ninh Binh Tourism Department reported and asked Ninh Binh Province People's Committee and Hoa Lu District People's Committee to deal with the violation and remove the walkway. However, the local authorities had been reluctant to deal with the case.

Nguyen Van Son, director of Trang An Tourism Company promised to remove the walkway by April 30 and then asked for the deadline to be extended to May.

The Inspectorate of Ninh Binh Province still hasn't announced the results of the 45-day inspection at Trang An.