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 … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay declared new world natural wonder
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New Ha Long Bay status sparks preservation concerns
The joy at Vietnam's Ha Long Bay entering the temporary list of the seven new wonders of nature has been tempered by concerns the high profile could see an unmanageable spurt in tourism, damaging the world heritage site. The announcement that it is on the temporary list is based on first counting of global votes on Friday. It sparked celebrations all over the country. Local tourism firms said it would be a boost for the industry as a whole. Hundreds of millions of voters around the world have cast their votes for Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province along with the Amazon Rainforest in South America, Iguazu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina, Jeju volcanic island off South Korea, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines, and South Africa's Table Mountain. A source from the New Open World organization that initiated the popularity poll said the voting calculation will be checked, validated and independently verified before official … [Read more...] about New Ha Long Bay status sparks preservation concerns
Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay officially named New Wonder of Nature
A Switzerland-based foundation, which initiated a four-year global poll to select seven new natural world wonders, has announced that Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay is among the winners that has passed its validation process. According to New7Wonders Foundation’s website, Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh has been officially named a new wonder of nature together with Iguazu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina, Jeju volcanic island off South Korea, and Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines. Recognition of the Komodo National Park in Indonesia, South Africa’s Table Mountain, and the Amazon Rainforest in South America is still provisional as the foundation’s vote validation process is underway, the website said. A Vietnam News Agency report Friday quoted New7Wonders Chairman Bernard Weber as saying that they hoped the victory will help heighten Vietnamese people’s awareness of the need to protect their natural … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay officially named New Wonder of Nature
Ha Long Bay officially named world new 7 wonders
HA NOI – Viet Nam's Ha Long Bay has officially become one of the world's new seven wonders of nature, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. A provisional announcment of the bay's new status was made three months ago, by New Open World Corporation, an associate of the New 7 Wonders Foundation, after global voting ended. The provisional list included the Amazon in South America, Viet Nam's Ha Long Bay, Iguazu Falls of Argentina, Jeju Island of the Republic of Korea, Komodo National Park of Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River of the Philippines, and Table Mountain of South Africa. Voters selected from 400 potential natural wonders in more than 200 countries and territories in a polling session which ended on November 11, 2011. The Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism said it would hold a press conference to announce the official listing tomorrow. Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province has been recognised twice as a UNESCO World Natural … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay officially named world new 7 wonders
Ha Long Bay disaster put down to human error
The cause of the deadly boat sinking in Ha Long Bay on February 17 that killed 12 tourists from 9 nations is preliminarily put down to human negligence. The boat being salvaged Colonel Vu Chi Thuc, director of Quang Ninh police said that initial examination shows that 27-year-old Do Van Thang, a crew member in charge of engine forgot to close the valves that allowed water in to cool the engine on both sides of the boat. >> Vietnam death boat owner 'had bad record' >> Salvage halted in Ha Long tourist boat disaster >> Vietnam hands over dead tourists to embassies The engine was turned off, preventing a pump from running to push the water out. When the main pipe was broken, water flooded into the compartments one by one, inundating and sinking the ship. Thang has been arrested along with his superior – captain Nguyen Van Minh, 22. They are facing criminal charges of “irresponsibility causes serious consequences”. According to investigation … [Read more...] about Ha Long Bay disaster put down to human error