Ha Long Bay Week to honor the World’s Natural Heritage in Vietnam

A vivid cultural week is underway at Vietnam Pavilion in EXPO 2020 Dubai to promote Vietnam tourism as well as the reputation of Ha Long Bay worldwide.

Various activities are being held until February 19 to honor and celebrate Ha Long Bay, Vietnamese UNESCO's Heritage and one of the New 7 Nature Wonders of the World, in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

Participants to the “Unveiling Ceremony” to honor Ha Long Bay as one among “New 7 Wonders of Nature” held at the Vietnam Pavilion, EXPO 2020 Dubai. Photo: vietnamexpo2020dubai.com

The two highlights of the Ha Long Bay Week are the “Unveiling Ceremony” to honor Ha Long Bay as one among “New 7 Wonders of Nature” held at the Vietnam Pavilion and the art performance program of six countries on the Jubilee stage of EXPO 2020 Dubai.

Originating from an initiative of Vietnam, six countries have agreed to jointly organize a performance to honor and promote their natural and man-made wonders such as Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Komodo Island (Indonesia), Havana City (Cuba), Iguazu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Amazon Rainforest and River in South America (Colombia and 8 Latin American countries) at EXPO 2020 Dubai.

To celebrate the wonders, a number of traditional songs and dance performances are in motion to showcase the culture of the countries whose incredible natural features are on UNESCO's list.

According to Director of New 7 Wonders Jean-Paul de la Fuente, these marvelous natural heritages were selected from an online poll to find the world’s favorite natural spectacles back in 2007.

“The wonders are very important assets for the world, assets for these nations, and we want to take Expo’s global platform as an opportunity to talk to the world about positive and engaging things like this,” he stated.

Vietnam celebrated Ha Long Bay with performances involving traditional bamboo musical instruments, in which bamboo is a symbol of its people’s life and soul, and the instruments a source of national pride.

The Ha Long Bay from a bird’s-eye view. Photo: indochinasails.com

Speaking at the event, the Vietnamese Ambassador in UAE, Nguyen Manh Tuan, emphasized that Ha Long Bay is one of the most important and well-known Vietnamese heritage sites and one of Vietnam's most alluring destinations.

The world’s natural wonder covers an area of 1,553 sq kilometers, with around 2,000 islets, most of which are limestone forged over 500 million years in different conditions and environments. The landmark is home to diverse species of flora and fauna and boasts tropical evergreen, oceanic and sea shore biosystems.

Besides, UNESCO has recognized Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage in 1994.

Visitors to Vietnam Pavilion during Ha Long Bay Week will also have a chance to discover the “Wonder Marker”. The special marker shows the distance from Dubai to the landmarks of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World.

According to the event organizers, the Ha Long Bay Week is not only aiming at helping present this wonder to the world, but also enhances the promotion of Vietnam's art and cuisine, and strengthen the reputation of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay to the international public.

Vietnam Pavilion will be opened to the public in EXPO 2020 Dubai until March 31, 2022.