More than 10,000 tourists and locals gathered on Lang Co Beach in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on July 9 for the opening of the Lang Co Festival 2011.

The two-day event, which aims to feature the natural and cultural beauty of Lang Co – Canh Duong and introduce its potential for tourism, is just one of the activities planned to prepare for the National Year 2012 which will be hosted by Thua Thien-Hue.

Highlights of the event included beach football and volleyball, surfing, boat and coracle races and exhibits of miniature models of ships and aircraft.

The event also aimed to review the contributions Lang Co had made to promoting tourism development in the province two years after it was recognised by Worldbays Club as one of the World's Most Beautiful Bays.

Lang Co Bay became the 30th member of the World's Most Beautiful Bays club (Worldbays Club) at a ceremony held at the club's fifth conference in Setubal , Portugal , from May 15-17.

According to the club's General Secretary Bruno Borda, Lang Co was selected because it still maintained its natural beauty and was almost intact.

Lang Co is Vietnam 's third bay, after Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Nha Trang Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa , to join the Worldbays Club.

Lying between the cities of Da Nang and Hue and in proximity to Hai Van pass, the Bach Ma Natural Reserve and an ancient fishing village in Thua Thien-Hue, Lang Co Bay presents a wonderful view of people living in harmony with nature.

The bay is lined by a 13km long white sand beach and is filled with blue water. One of it's most beautiful features is the Lap An Lagoon, a brackish water lagoon covering 1,500ha which is rich in natural resources.

Located on the Central Heritage Road, Lang Co is very close to several famous world heritage sites including the royal citadel of Hue, Hoi An Ancient Town and the My Son Cham Tower complex in Quang Nam province, and Phong Nha Cave in Quang Binh province./.