A ceremony for Ha Long Bay to receive the title of ‘World Natural Wonder’ will take place at the My Dinh stadium in Hanoi with the participation of international and Vietnamese visitors.

The Swiss organisation New Open World announced that Ha Long Bay had been named one of the New Seven Wonders in the world last November.

On April 24th, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with Quang Ninh provincial People’s Committee to hold a press brief on the ceremony to announce that Ha Long Bay had been named one of the New Seven Wonders in the world last November.

Individuals and organisations had participated in voting for Ha Long Bay as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Many promotional campaigns had been launched in cities and provinces throughout the country, along with activities that highlighted the spectacular beauty of Ha Long Bay.

Earlier, in Ha Long city, representative leaders of the Quang Ninh’s Provincial Standing Committee, Provincial People’s Committee, and Provincial People’s Council had a meeting to discuss the issues regarding advertisement and sponsorship for the organization of the ceremony to receive the certificate of World Natural Wonders as well as 2012 Carnival Ha Long.

At the meeting, the provincial leaders also expressed the province’s gratitude to the organizations and individuals inside and outside Vietnam who have enthusiastically supported the campaign and voted for Ha Long Bay.

Sapa opens ‘Festival in the Clouds 2012

The "Festival in the Clouds 2012" will open the Sapa Culture-Tourism Week 2012 from April 27 - May 4 with many new features since the previous year.

This event, under the travel program "On the origin 2012", is held by the 3 provinces of Lao Cai, Phu Tho and Yen Bai.

As planned, the opening ceremony will be held on the evening of 28 April in the centre of Sapa town, with a brief rite of celebration, followed by a performing arts program.

According to Mr Nguyen Manh Hao, Manager of Sapa Culture, Sport and Tourism Department, a variety of traditional cultural and sporting events from the mountainous region will be performed during the festival, including a photography exhibition on Sapa and its people, offerings of traditional cuisine from the highland region, folklore festival, H'Mong festival at Cat Cat Village and the jubilant atmosphere of the Sapa night "Love market".

The event also has an exciting activity of "One-day farmers in Sapa". Guests will be directly engaged in production with local residents, like seeking forest medicinal plants, learning how to brocade, embroidered flowers on fabric, practicing traditional cooking of local ethnic groups and discovering the traditional customs of the Red Dao ethnic group.

This year's Festival in the Clouds of Sapa falls on the Liberation Day (April 30) and May Day National holidays, so it expects to attract around 12,000 visitors from home and abroad. As of now, rooms in the town's hotels have been fully booked.

(Source: CPV)