On October 28, 2025, at the headquarters of Cat Ba National Park, the Park Management Board held a working session and received a film crew from the television production company Längengrad Film Production (Germany). This visit was part of a documentary project aimed at promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, people, and rare animal conservation projects.
Attending the session on behalf of Cat Ba National Park were Mr. Nguyen Van Thiu – Director, Mr. Pham Van Phuc – Deputy Director, and leaders of relevant departments and units. The film crew was represented by Mr. Michael Ralph Gartner, Mr. Michael Kern, Mr. Christoph Dziallas, and Mr. Thomas Ziegler – experts from Germany and Switzerland. Accompanying and supporting the delegation were Ms. Dinh Huyen Tram, an official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Mr. Pham The Cuong, an official from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology).
(Photo: The film crew with the leadership of Cat Ba National Park and heads of its subordinate departments and units)
During the working session, both sides discussed cooperation content and the filming schedule at Cat Ba National Park and Lan Ha Bay. The objective is to showcase the unique natural landscapes, diverse forest-marine ecosystems, and Vietnam’s dedicated efforts in biodiversity conservation.
The film crew expressed particular interest in the collaborative research projects between Cologne Zoo (Germany) and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology). A notable highlight is the project for breeding, rehabilitating, and re-introducing Tiger Geckos (Goniurosaurus) into the wild in Cat Ba—a prime example of international cooperation in conserving endangered species.
At the meeting, Mr. Thomas Ziegler, representing the film crew, expressed his deep impression of the natural potential and conservation management at Cat Ba. He affirmed his commitment to conveying beautiful and authentic images of Cat Ba to international audiences. Furthermore, he presented the Park’s leadership with two volumes of the ‘Vietnam Red Data Book – Volume 1: Animals and Volume 2: Plants and Fungi.’ This gift aims to provide updated scientific information, assisting managers, researchers, and forest rangers with essential data for the conservation, monitoring, and restoration of endangered species. He also emphasized the Park’s role as a ‘living gene bank,’ serving as a sanctuary for the country’s precious biodiversity.
(Photo: Mr. Thomas Ziegler, representative of the film crew, presenting the ‘Vietnam Red Data Book – Volume 1: Animals and Volume 2: Plants and Fungi’ to the Park leadership”)
The working session took place in an open, cordial, and productive atmosphere. Both sides agreed to maintain ongoing communication and information sharing to further promote the image of Cat Ba – Hai Phong in particular, and Vietnam in general, as an attractive destination that harmoniously integrates tourism with nature conservation.
