An art performance programme and a food festival were organised in the northern province of Quang Ninh on October 29 as part of activities to celebrate 20 years of Ha Long Bay being recognised as a world natural heritage by UNESCO (December 17, 1994-2014).

The events helped local people and visitors to get an insight into the heritage’s values, and raise public awareness of protecting and conserving the nation’s heritages, said Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy.

Speaking at a press conference held on the same day, Pham Thi Thuy Duong, head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board, announced that a wide range of cultural activities will be organised in the coming time to mark the event.
The activities, including an arts performance, and a photo and souvenir exhibition, aim to honour and promote the values of Ha Long Bay in particular and other world heritages in Vietnam in general.

A workshop discussing how to sustainably preserve and uphold the Vietnamese heritages’ values and a conference sharing travel firms’ experience in exploiting the bay’s potential for tourism development will be also held.

Besides the celebratory events, two flights over the new natural wonder of the world will be provided for distinguished guests.

A meeting and art performance commemorating the 20th anniversary of Ha Long Bay’s UNESCO recognition will take place on the November 1 evening with the participation of more than 300 artists.

On December 17, 1994, UNESCO designated the bay a World Heritage site of globally outstanding value in terms of natural landscape. The recognition was extended in 2000, and one year later, Ha Long Bay outranked 261 other landscapes around the globe to become one of the seven new natural wonders of the world.

Since becoming the world heritage site, Ha Long Bay has welcomed nearly 25 million visitors, contributing to turning Quang Ninh province into a tourism magnet.-VNA