Chairman of the New Open World organisation Bernard Weber has extolled the beauty of Ha Long Bay, describing it as a special landscape and different from other places of the world.

Speaking to reporters in Hanoi on Sept. 28, he said that although this was his first visit to Vietnam , the name of Vietnam was familiar to him. Many years ago, he joined millions of peace lovers to demonstrate against war in the country.

This is the first time he has visited Ha Long Bay, a well-known landscape of Vietnam twice recognised as a UNESCO world natural heritage. It is among 28 candidates in the final round of voting for the honour of being named as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Weber said.

He hailed Vietnam ’s efforts in the campaign, saying that the Vietnamese people actively voted for Ha Long Bay and other landscapes on the world and the Government encouraged the people to join the campaign.

He attributed the high response to the voting to the close link between Government and people.

Weber said he hoped that Ha Long Bay will receive enough votes to become a new wonder of the world.

Jean Paul De la Fuente, Director of the organisation, said the voting result is expected to be released on November 11, 2011.

The two senior officials of the New Open World organisation are on a visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh.

During the visit, Bernard Weber handed over a certificate of Ha Long Bay’s candidacy in the final round of voting to Vietnam .

Minister Anh said the current visit to Vietnam by the two officials has an important significance for Ha Long Bay, helping increase the organisation’s understanding of the bay and contributing to promoting and attracting votes for Ha Long Bay around the world./.