Vietnam's oldest tourist spot 'kissing rocks' are in jeopardy. Will they disappear soon?

Vietnam's Ha Long Bay is home to scenic views, lush greenery, and crystal-blue waters. It is also home to the "Kissing Rocks," a popular duo of rocks that attract scores of tourists. However, experts have now warned that a great threat faces the old tourist spot. 

The "Kissing Rocks" are a set of rocks that appear to be giving each other a peck due to their formation and proximity. While the Vietnamese called them Hon Trong Mai or “Rooster and Hen” and “Fighting Cocks”, Western tourists named them the Kissing Rocks in the 1990s after deciding that the stones displayed a pash.

What led to erosion of the rocks?

Now geologists fear that at 14 metres above the water, the rocks are experiencing erosion from the core. A recent study has found that the structures contain several cracks and fractures, The New Zealand Herald reported. Vietnam’s Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources says that the rocks are also more prone to experiencing damage due rising sea levels and seismic events.

Tour boats can also aggravate the existing issue, according to the institute's head Ho Tien Chung. “Tourists can see the rocks that are precarious at low tide. The water level then is low, exposing the supporting foot of the rocks which are gradually being eroded, causing a risk of collapse if no measures are taken to protect and reinforce them soon,” he told the Asia News Network in Vietnam.

The erosion of the rocks has also been caused by a surge in tourism and illegal fishing. Experts have urged local authorities to take actionable steps to strengthen the stones that took 20 million years to form. The Kissing Rocks are one of the 2000 rock islands that belong to Vietnam. 

The country's Quang Ninh province draws up to 4 million tourists a year who come to watch the sea rocks in all their glory. However, the unique structures have gone through wear and tear in recent years. In 2016, the head of the Thien Nga “Swan Neck” fell apart and dipped into the sea. Amid the erosion, tourists have been urged to not climb or be close to the rocks.