Dragon and lion dance at the opening of the festival

This year’s annual festival is held longer than usual, until May 2. The festival was held coincide with the second phase of the campaign of voting for Ha Long Bay as one of the seven New World Wonders. Ha Long Bay now ranks the third in the G group which is for sea landscape and in next July, the organisers – the New Open World Organisation- will select 21 out of a total of 77 places of interests for the final.

The carnival is named ‘Ha Long Wonder – A Destination’ which aims to help popularising Ha Long Bay recognised twice by the UNESCO. This year’s festival has the participation of many art troupes from China, Thailand, the Republic of Korea and Laos.

The opening ceremony was held with the performance of drums, songs and dances about the history of Ha Long by 2,500 artists.

Other activities included the street parade, food festival, a beauty contest, photo and art exhibition, sports competitions, business fairs and a firework display.

The most anticipated feature of the festivities will come on the closing day with the programme A Heritage Meeting Night.

According to Quang Ninh provincial Deputy Chairwoman of the People’s Committee Nhu Thi Hong Lien, head of the festival’s organising board the successful organisation of the festival has help advertising Vietnam’s tourism to international friends and particularly this year’s festival will contribute to attracting the people’s attention to voting Ha Long bay as one of the New World Wonder.

Some pictures on the festival:

Singer Ho Quynh Huong and dancers

Flower carriage

Folk singing performance

Walking on stilts