The 4-year vote for the new seven natural wonders of the world, held by the New7Wonders, closed at 2am, November 12, 2011, (Việt Nam time). The winners included Việt Nam’s Hạ Long Bay, Amazon forest in South America, Iguazu waterfall in Argentina and Brazil, South Korea’s Jeju Island, the underground river in the Puerto Princesa of the Philippines, Komodo Island of Indonesia and Table Mountain of South Africa.

To mark the recognition, the northern province of Quảng Ninh plans to organize the Carnival Hạ Long and Culture and Tourism Week from April 28-May 3.

The reception ceremony for the New Wonder Certificate will take place at the Carnival’s opening, both to save money and increase the significance of the festival.

This year will be the first time the carnival will be organized with the full participation of local people and artists from Quảng Ninh. For festival-goers, it will offer a chance to experience the everyday life and culture of the province.

Culture, sport and tourism events will spotlight Bãi Cháy and Tuần Châu, in Hạ Long City. There will also be activities organized alongside the festival that will show off the attributes of other areas in the province, including, Móng Cái, Uông Bí, Đông Triều and Vân Đồn.

By Hải Minh