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Ha Long Bay, Vietnam's spectacular
seascape of 1,600 limestone islands and caves, has begun its bid to
be chosen as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Local tourism giants are voicing their
support for the campaign, dubbed "Ha Long Bay, Seven New Wonders",
by opening an office to encourage votes for Ha Long Bay. The Truly
Ha Long Center opens tomorrow, 5 September, in Hanoi, and will be
at the heart of the quest to win Vietnam's greatest natural
attraction one of the coveted places on the list.
Getting the word out is the primary goal
of the Truly Ha Long Center, and its sponsors are exerting every
effort to raise awareness of the international competition.
Emeraude Classic Cruises, one of the center's sponsors, is
spreading the word by designing special flyers for distribution to
all its guests, and promoting the campaign on its website.
"We're going all out to bring in the vote
for Ha Long Bay," said Kurt Walter, the Emeraude's General
Manager. "To everyone who's ever been here, it's obvious that
this is an almost supernaturally beautiful spot, completely
unspoiled and indisputably unique. We're hoping our publicity
campaign will make it obvious to the rest of the world."
The Emeraude cruiser, a picture-perfect
reproduction of a 19th-century paddle wheel steamer, offers
overnight tours of the Bay, giving visitors the chance to enjoy the
incredible panorama in an atmosphere of colonial grandeur and
old-fashioned luxury. As one of Ha Long Bay's most established and
feted cruise operators, the company's support for the center was
an essential component in unifying the area's tourism agencies,
travel agents and hoteliers in the movement to make the Bay a
winner.
The Truly Ha Long Center, along with
drumming up popular support for Ha Long Bay's nomination, will be
a showroom for the bay, which has been designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and draws more than one and a half million visitors
each year. Visitors will be able to view video clips and
photographs, learn about available tours and attractions, and will
be given access to websites where they can cast their vote for
Vietnam's entry.
Nominations for the list will be accepted
through 8 August 2008, after which 21 semi-finalists will be
selected by a panel of experts. Voters worldwide will then choose
the final seven.
"We're at the dawn of a new day in
Vietnam," added Walter. "So far, this country hasn't had the
international exposure that so many other tourist destinations
have. If it did, Ha Long Bay's place on the list would be a dead
cert. That's our job: to bring Ha Long Bay the recognition that's
so well-deserved and so long overdue. And we're going to make it
happen."
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