Ha Long Bay welcomes 5,000 tourists on New Year
386 tourist ships carrying 4,900 passengers, including 3,700 foreigners, left Bai Chay tourist wharf in the northern province of Quang Ninh to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage site, on the first day of 2009.
According to the Ha Long Bay’s Management Board, the Bay welcomed more than 2.65 million tourist arrivals in 2008, up by 48.8 percent against 2007. The number of foreign tourists reached 1.71 million, increased by 67.6 percent over 2007.
Quang Ninh is launching a campaign to encourage locals and foreigners to vote for Ha Long Bay to be one of the seven world wonders on www.new7wonders.com website. (VNA)
