Assessment in vascular plants diversity on islands in Halong Bay to propose a measure of conservation and sustainable utilization.
Bio-active screening of some characteristics and potential vascular plant species, select a species which have good bio-activities to chemical composition analysis.

Scientific results:
- The flora of islands in Halong Bay comprised 508 vascular plant species, 362 genera, 113 families, belonging to 5 phyla. The life-form spectra of the flora of islands in Halong Bay included as: therophytes comprised 19 species, cryptophytes 31 species, hemicryptophytes 70 species, chamaephytes 70 species and phanerophytes 318 species. The flora of islands in Halong Bay were included 18 geographic elements. In which, Tropical Asia element is the greatest, followed by Indochina element, South China element, India element and Vietnam endermic element. Especially, the endemic element in the flora of islands in Halong Bay was very high, with 29 species distributed in Halong were endemic of Tonkin. Of which, 16 species were endemic to the Halong-Cat Ba region. Threatened species in the flora of islands in Halong Bay, there were 10 species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book (2007); 7 species listed in The Government No 32/2006/ND-CP Decree on Management of endangered, precious and rare forest plants and animals; 27 species listed in the Red list of Threatened Plants; 7 species listed in Appendix According to Circular No. 40/2013/TT-BNN.
- 01 new species (Munronia petiolata N. T. Cuong, D. T. Hoan & Mabb.) and 01 new record of distribution for the flora of Vietnam (Olea neriifolia H. L. Li) were found in Halong Bay.
- The vegetation on islands in Halong Bay included community of Rhizophora stylosa Griff - Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. - Kandelia candel (L.) Druce, community of Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh - Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco, community of Hibiscus tiliaceus L. – Thespesia spp. - Pandanus odoratissimus L., mixed of shrub lands and small trees on the slope of the cliff; shrub lands on the top of island, evergreen forests in the valleys and vegetation in ponds. Based on the coverage of vegetation and abundance of plant momunities, the vegetation on the islands in Halong Bay was divided into 7 areas followed: Hang Trai area, Dau Be area, Cong Do area, Van Gio area, Co Ngua area, Hon Veu (Dau Go) area and May Den area.
- 3 of 7 plant samples collected in Halong manifest antioxidant's activity of DPPH system; and 3 of 7 plant samples collected in Halong manifest against E. coli activity.
- Isolation and structure determination of 07 compounds from good biological activity sample (Kandelia candel). 01 new substance was discovered and named Kandelside

- For the first time, offering the most updated data on plants diversity on the islands in Halong Bay
- 01 new species and 01 new record of distribution for the flora of Vietnam were found in Halong Bay
- For the first time, exploring the bioactive species on the flora of Halong Bay and isolation and structure determination of 07 compounds from good biological activity sample. 01 new substance was discovered.
- Indication the causes that threaten plant diversity in Halong Bay. Proposed 3 solution groups and immediate actions to protect, reasonable use and development of plant diversity in Halong Bay.

- The checklist of vascular plant species on the islands in Halong Bay.
- The collections of 211 collected numbers, ca. 650 specimens of vascular plant in Halong Bay. The specimens were processed, some have been fixed. And they are being kept at the Hanoi Herbarium, Institute of Ecology and Biological resources (HN).
- The reports on plant conservative solution on the islands in Halong Bay. Distribution map 18 endemic, threaten and endangered plant species on island in Halong Bay.
- The reports on biologically active substances of 07 plant species in Halong Bay.
- The report on chemical structures of 07compounds isolated from 01 Kandela candel.
- Publishcation: In total, 04 scientific papers were published as the results of project, including 02 papers published in SCI-E journal list, 1 papers in National Journals with ISSN, 1 paper in National Conference.
• N. T. Cuong, D. T. Hoan, D. J. Mabberley (2014). Munronia petiolata (Meliaceae), a new species from Vietnam. Blumea 59: 139 –141. (bài báo ở tạp chí khoa học quốc tế thuộc danh mục SCI-E).
• Le Duc Dat, Nguyen Phuong Thao, Bui Huu Tai, Bui Thi Thuy Luyen, Sohyun Kim, Jung Eun Koo, Young Sang Koh, Nguyen The Cuong, Nguyen Van Thanh, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Nguyen Hoai Nam, Phan Van Kiem, Chau Van Minh, Young Ho Kim (2015). Chemical constituents from Kandelia candel with their inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines production in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. Volume 25, Issue 7, 1 April 2015, Pages 1412-1416. (bài báo ở tạp chí khoa học quốc tế thuộc danh mục SCI-E).
• Nguyen The Cuong, Nguyen Tien Dung, Do Huu Thu, Duong Thi Hoan, Pham Le Minh, Do Minh Hien (2015). Diversity of plants in Halong Bay, Quang Ninh province. Proceeding of the 6nd National Scientific Conference on Ecology and Biological resources. Agriculture Publishing House, Hanoi. Papers. 488-492.
• Bui Hong Quang, Nguyen The Cuong (2015). Olea neriifolia H. L. Li, a new recordspecies of the family Oleaceae for the flora of Vietnam. TẠP CHÍ SINH HỌC (Journal of Biology) 37(2): 151-155.
- Training: Contributed to train 01 master students.
Thesis of master student (Nguyen Tien Dung): "Study on vegetation on some islands in Halong Bay – Quang Ninh province". Defended on November, 28th, 2016. Institution: Institute of Ecology and Biological resources. Advisor: Dr. Nguyen The Cuong.

Halong Bay Management Department, Quang Ninh province.

Continuing to investigate of plant diversity on all of the islands in Quang Ninh province, includes Baitulong Bay; Caibau, Vanhai, Vandon, Coto, Caichien  and VinhThuc islands.