The New7Wonders Foundation has officially recognised Ha Long Bay in Vietnam as a new world natural wonder, said a senior official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The information was released at a press conference held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province and the New7Wonders Foundation on March 30 in Hanoi.
Speaking at the conference, Bernard Weber, Chairman of the New7Wonders Foundation, stressed that over the past four years, individuals, organisations and units actively participated in voting for Ha Long Bay. The stele honouring Ha Long Bay should now be placed in a public area for all Vietnamese to see and be proud of their new world natural wonder.
The announcement ceremony in Hanoi is scheduled to take place in My Dinh Stadium on April 27 and in Quang Ninh Province on May 1. The ceremonies will be attended by hundreds of Vietnamese people and international friends, including representatives from six countries who already have recognised sites as world natural wonders.
On this occasion, Mr. Weber will present two bronze steles to Vietnam, one in Hanoi on April 27 and the other in Quang Ninh Province on May 1.
Vietnamese people collectively sent 24.09 million text messages to vote for Ha Long Bay, spending over VND15 billion ($700,000).
Other seven world natural wonders include: the Amazon in South America; Iguazu Falls in Argentina; Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea; Komodo National Park in Indonesia; Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines; and Table Mountain in South Africa.
