The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a gala night in Hanoi Saturday to celebrate Ha Long Bay’s new status as one of the world’s Seven New Natural Wonders after a four-year voting campaign.

Swiss organization New Open World announced that Ha Long Bay had been named one of the new Seven Wonders shortly after 2 am Saturday (Vietnam time).

The celebration gala was organized on the same day in the Vietnamese capital.

Art performance during the Saturday night gala that celebrated Ha Long Bay’s new status as one of the world’s Seven New Natural Wonders (Photo: Minh Dien)

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan said Ha Long Bay has contributed to promoting a positive image of Vietnam to the world.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh as a World Heritage site twice and now it is listed among the new Seven Natural Wonders of the world.

A view of Ha Long Bay (Photo: Thai Bang)

At the Saturday gala, Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, read a congratulation letter from President of the New7wonders, Bernard Weber, to Ha Long Bay’s management.

In the letter, Mr Weber emphasized that Ha Long Bay was officially recognized as a fair and deserving member of the unique historic voting campaign. He affirmed that his organization would continue to promote Ha Long Bay as a global natural wonder. The bay will appear on the map of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World forever, the letter said.

New Open World launched public voting for the Seven Natural Wonders in 2007.