There have been fishing villages in Halong Bay for generations but they now face a number of threats which puts their future in considerable doubt.

As tourism flourishes so does pollution, with the hundreds of tourist ‘ junks’ that ply the waters of the bay being less than scrupulous with the disposal of their waste. The villages themselves are partly to blame. There is after all no weekly rubbish collection nor are the boats and houses connected to the mains.

Also of concern is the recent increase in both the frequency and intensity of storms which blow through the bay damaging boats, house and fishing nets. There are many who believe that climate change will only make this particular problem worse.

The Government is also concerned about the sustainability of this way of life and although in the short term has encouraged the villagers to embrace the tourist industry is seeking in the long term move the fisherman off the waters of the bay permanently.

We visited Cua Van, the largest of the 4 villages, some 30km from the mainland and home to nearly 700 men women and children who live on board a mixture of boats and floating wooden houses. Some of the villagers act as guides, ferrying tourist groups around the village in traditional flat bottomed wooden sampans. They will also take your photo as you leave your boat and have it printed before you can take off your life jacket.

The Government has already set up an education programme to encourage the fishermen to take up the offer of a free house with an accompanying plot of land. However, if this initiative is not successful many fear that the authorities will step in and start enforcing evictions.

Whatever form the ‘migration’ takes, this gentle and fascinating way of life seems set to disappear within a few generations.