The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is building a plan to promote Ha Long Bay in the online vote for the world’s seven new natural wonders of New7Wonders, as the bay has entered the final round.

The Ministry’s International Cooperation Department chief Nguyen Van Tinh said that if Ha Long Bay is selected as one of the seven new natural wonders of the world, it would be the basis for the bay to become Vietnam’s most outstanding destination.

The Vote for Ha Long Bay Promotion Council will announce specific criteria and procedures for the final round.

Some ideas have been introduced to promote the image of Ha Long Bay, such as launching a trans-Vietnam cycling tour and advertising the bay on taxis in Vietnam.

The New7Wonders on July 21 announced the names of the 28 landscapes that advanced to the final round of the online poll for seven new world natural wonders, including Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.

According to New7Wonders announcement, the poll will last until 2011. On July 7, 2011, the names of seven new world natural wonders will be made public.

The 28 finalists: Amazon rainforest, Bu Tinah Shoals archipelago (United Arab Emirates), Galapagos islands (Ecuador), Iguazu Falls (Brazil – Argentina), Komodo National Park (Indonesia), Milford Sound (New Zealand), Table Mountain (South Africa), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Cliffs of Moher (Ireland), Grand Canyon (USA), Jeita Grotto (Beirut), Maldives Islands, Mud Volcanoes (Azerbaijan), Ayers Rock (Australia), Bay of Fundy, Dead Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Jeju Island (South Korea), Masurian Lake District (Poland), Puerto Princesa Underground River (Philippines), Mount Vesuvius (Italy), Black Forest, El Yunque National Forest (Puerto Rico), Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Matterhorn Mount (Switzerland and Italy), Sundarbans Delta (Bangladesh – India) and Yushan (Taiwan).

VietNamNet/ANTD