Vietnam archipelago seeks world heritage status

Vietnam's spectacular Cat Ba archipelago could be in line for Unesco status as the country bids to have it recognised as a world heritage site.

Situated in the south of Ha Long Bay, the archipelago is made up of 367 different islands of which Cat Ba is the biggest. The islands are home to unique biodiversity, with hundreds of species of flowers and plants and unspoilt, tropical forests. Rare animals include the Cat Ba Langur monkey, which is thought to be one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.

In addition to the beaches, caves, waterfalls and lakes on the islands, Unesco also praised the variety of cultural life on Cat Ba, which includes monuments, cultural festivals and traditions and neolithic archaeological site, Cai Beo.

The Unesco application has been made amid preparations for the 2013 National Tourism Year, which focuses on the Red River Delta, Vietnam's distinctive red-brown river, which is coloured by silt water.