Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, Nhu Thi Hong Lien, revealed that the opening ceremony of the Ha Long Tourism Festival is arranged meticulously, with a floating stage on the sea and a procession of ship and barge models.

Major activities will take place at the Bai Chay bridge, Cua Luc bay and support events will be held at the Tra Co tourism centre, Van Don, Ha Long and Uong Bi.

Many shows by domestic and international art troupes will be organised during the festival, including an art - fashion festival of northern provinces, unicorn-dragon dance show, a classical concert on Dau Go cave, a flag hoisting ceremony on Ha Long Bay, Miss Ha Long pageant contest, an international beach volleyball contest, a bicycle procession, an international trade fair and a food festival.

Lien said Quang Ninh invests tens of billions VND in this events and the province is now ready for the festival.

Quang Ninh currently has 13,000 rooms, including 6,000 rooms of three star standard and up and 100 ships totalling 5,000 rooms of three star standards for tourists. The province expects to welcome 15,000 visitors to the Ha Long Tourism Festival 2008.

'All activities are to call for visitors to vote for Ha Long Bay as a world natural wonder. Visitors will be exempted 50% of sightseeing fees to the bay during the festival and up to 100% on the opening day of the festival,' Lien said.

The organizing board will place computers at hotels, tourist sites, wharves, etc. to serve tourists' vote for Ha Long Bay.

The bay is now in the top ten ranking of the selection of seven world natural wonders on website www.new7wonders.com of NewOpenWorld organization. On December 31, the top 21 sites will be chosen for the next round of selection.