Talking to the press this morning, March 30, Mr. Bernard Weber, President of the New7Wonders organization said the world's natural wonder icon will be awarded to Ha Long Bay on April 27 in Ha noi and May 1 in Ha Long bay. The icons will be kept in a solemn place where the people can gaze with veneration and take photos.

The nation with a global wonder gains more than what they spent, said Mr. Bernard. This organization had independent researches on benefit increase after a place becomes a wonder. It is estimated that each place will gain more than $1 billion each year from tourism. “Becoming a world's natural wonder is the most efficient way of investment”, Mr Bernard added.

Chairman of the New7Wonders organization also confirmed that information that requires the payment of annual fee is incorrect. In fact, New7Wonders only required the nations registering geographical places to pay $199 at the starting time four years ago.

In 2011, the number of tourists visiting Ha Long bay reached 6.6 million turns, in which 2.5 million are foreign people. In the first quarter this year, the number reached 2.4 million turns, increasing up to 20% compared to the previous year, in which 240,000 visitors are from abroad. Ms Vu Thi Thu Thuy, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh province said.

Ms Thuy revealed the sharp increase in the tourists visiting Ha Long bay results from the recognition of Ha Long Bay as a global natural wonder. Thanks to the poll, the image of this beauty spot has been promoted all over the world, and alluring tourists to Vietnam.

Talking bout the Government's expense for voting Ha Long Bay, Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, Head of the International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Spots and Tourism) stated that in 2011, the Ministry of Culture, Spots and Tourism was sponsored 50 billion dongs ($2,500,000) for tourism promotion. Five big tourism promotion proposals conducted at home and abroad were incorporated with voting Ha Long Bay. Therefore, the cost for voting Ha Long Bay cannot be counted.

Previously, Mr Tinh said Vietnamese people sent 24,090,000 messages to vote Ha Long bay, costly 15billion dongs ($700,000).

Mong Cai Town lies by the bank of the beautiful Ka Long river. It harbors the international Bac Luan Border Gate which connects Mong Cai with Guang Xi in China. Mong Cai Border Gate Market is where economic and trade activities and cultural exchanges between Quang Ninh Province and Guang Xi Provinceand Vietnam and China take place. It is also the bridge spanning tourist centres of Vietnam and China.

Transportation:

By road:

Mong Cai is 135 km from Halong, 360km from Hanoi. There are regular buses to/from Hanoi, many buses connect Mong Cai to Hon Gai every day. There are also regular buses from Mong Cai to many provinces such as Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, etc. Tourists can transfer to Mong Cai by buses and by hydrofoils.

From Bac Luan International Border Gate (Mong Cai), go along the road No. 4B through Hai Ha, Dam Ha, and Tien Yen; then continue to road No. 18A through Cua Ong, Cam Pha, Halong.

By boat:

There are daily high-speed hydrofoils which depart from Dan Tien pier and Mui Ngoc (Mong Cai) to Bai Chay and Hon Gai pier. Besides, you can also travel by ship which departs from Dan Tien pier to Hon Gai pier.

Mong Cai is not only favored with many beauty spots and historical relics, but also rich in culture. It is included in the eco-tourism complex of Halong – Cat ba – Tra Co. 

Tra Co area 

Tra Co is a well-known beach, which have recently attracted a large number of tourists. . It has a cool and fresh climate and a tranquil and spacious atmosphere. Thousands of tourists in Vietnam travel come to Tra Co every year to bath. Not far from the beach are located 3-4 metres high sand dunes, peaceful fishermen’ villages, verdant pine trees, and a rich mangrove ecosystem.  

The famous cultural historical sites are mainly located in Tra Co area such as Tra Co communal house, Tra Co church, Linh Khanh pagoda, Xuan Lan pagoda. Tra Co beach with 17 km long is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. Tra Co Communal House Festival takes place from the 30th of the fifth lunar month to the 6th of the sixth lunar month attracting a crowd of pilgrims from home and abroad.
 

Mong Cai Border Market

The market is comprised of three zones; all situated in Hoa Lac Ward, 1 km from the Bac Luan border crossing. There are thousands of households here, almost all of which are bilingual in Chinese and Vietnamese.

Lying on Luoi Hai Mountain, about 80 km from Hanoi, Choi Waterfall is the diamond of Cu Dong Commune, Thanh Son District, Phu Tho Province. From the center of Cu Dong Commune, the route to the waterfall is not a smooth ride in the slightest but it is worth the trek as you take in some lovely scenery from the evergreen cornfields of the Choi villagers.

Passing over the three-kilometre pathway, tourists in Vietnam tourism will reach the fall and must then start to conquer it. Choi Waterfall is a system of large and small falls located close together. From a height of 50 metres, the white fall looks like a silver carpet striking under the glistening sun rays. The stream runs through large green-mossed rocks as the sponges and water streams overwhelm the area making it completely white. The fall is covered by dense green trees and on the rock walls are interlacing root sets of ancient trees.

Climbing a sloping, short section to get to the second fall, tourists will take in the panoramic view of Choi Waterfall’s downstream area. Amidst the immense forest is a sinuous long streak of the stream. In the distance, the scenery is studded with house roofs blanked in rice and corn fields. Standing there, travelers can sense both the magnificence and romance of Thanh Son.

To get to the next level of the fall, tourists need to trek up a rather tricky slope with stiff rock walls. The terrain is rather tough and rocks are slippery so trekkers are required to be very careful. However, the beauty of the fall is a challenge for the adventurer in us all who like to challenge nature.

The journey is not over until tourists reach the third level which has a very poetic and pure stream like a sleeping beauty in a primitive forest. The stream sneaks through rock slots and sometimes pours down rock cliffs. On the two banks are giant trees scattered with colorful butterflies.

At the end of the stream is two small falls running to a small valley where tourists can swim freely after getting tired of trekking. However, the water is rather deep so travelers need to wear life-jackets just to be sure.

According to locals, the peak of the waterfall is on the top of the high mountain and the only way to see it is upstreaming the fall. If you are really brave and have no fear, don’t hesitate but pack a bag and be very careful.

Temple of Kings Hung was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, 175 meters by sea level, Phong Chau District, Phu Tho Province.

Ha Temple:

225 brick steps lie between Dai Mon Gate and Ha Temple, which was built in the 15th century. According to the legend, in this place, Au Co gave birth to a pouch containing 100 eggs, which later hatched to become 100 children. Her husband, Lac Long Quan, led 50 children down to the coastal region to populate the land and propagate the race. Au Co brought 49 children up to the mountainous area. The eldest child, Hung Vuong, was left to become King; he founded the capital in Phong Chau and named the country Van Lang. 

In front of the Ha Temple, there is a 700-year-old tree. It is in this temple where late President Ho Chi Minh had a talk with the soldiers on their way to Hanoi in 1954. He told them "The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the country. You and I must stick together to safeguard it.

Trung Temple:

Over 168 brick steps must then be climbed to get to Trung Temple. According to legends, the Kings Hung built the house as a place to rest and hold political meetings. It is also where Prince Lang Lieu presented sticky rice cakes (Banh chung and banh day) to his father the King on the occasion of Tet Holiday.

Thuong Temple:

Over 102 brick steps from Trung Temple to get to Thuong Temple, where exclusively used for the kings to have offerings to the Sun God, the Earth God, the Rice God, and Saint Dong, a legendary hero, defeated the An invaders of the ancient Chinese Dynasty. This is also the place where King Hung, the 18th, abdicated in favor of Thuc Phan, who erected a stone pillar and swore to take care of the temple and of the Hung family's inheritance.

At the foot of the mountain is the Gieng Temple, where worshipped Ngoc Hoa and Tien Dung, the 18th Hung King's daughters. It is said that the two princesses used to comb their hair and look at themselves in the water of this well.

King Hung Tomb:

It was the tomb of the 6th King Hung. Legend has it that, after defeating the An invaders, the 6th King Hung took off his clothes and left it on the branch of the kim giao tree and died on the spot.

Hung King Temple is a historical as well as cultural attraction of Phu Tho province. Coming to Phu Tho in March of lunar year, tourists in Vietnam travel will have chance to enjoy Kings Hung Temple Festival, which can be considered one of the most important and meaningful one that connects Vietnamese people from all over the country together.

Heaven Pond – Fairy Spring is located on Na Mountain, the highest one in Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province. Tourists in Vietnam travel need to drive only 80km away from Viet Tri City and 15km away from Ao Chau to reach it.

The road to the Heaven Pond - Fairy Spring lies between hundreds of mountains peaks which have the average height of 500-600m above the sea level. However, the 1200m high peak of Na Mountain surpasses them all and stands spectacularly against the blue sky.

Fairy Spring originates from Na Mountain. Running through the giant blocks of stones, it becomes a strip of white silk hanging on the mountains’ slope, standing out from the green color of the forest and blending in with the blue color of the sky to make a spectacular yet mysterious scene. With a length of 10km, the spring is full of rocks and yellow sand which filter the water. At the origin of the spring, we can find the Fairy Well.

From the bottom of this well, water rushes up to form Fairy Spring which then creates as many as 14 beautiful waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls are 20m high; they look like

some immaculately white curtains covering the gates of many hidden caves. The powerful flow of water has worn off the giant stones on the foot of the waterfalls, creating ponds of various sizes which have the stones as their bottom. Local tales describe this place as where the fairies used to come frequently.

The king of heaven has raised the level of water so that it overflowed the well and poured down the mountain and formed the waterfalls that we see today. Whoever has the luck to bathe in Heaven Pond-Fairy Spring in 3 years will have a skin as bright as pearl, a face as beautiful as full moon, and a soul as elegant as that of a fairy. Perhaps because of these tales, Fairy Spring has been magically attractive. Especially during the hot summer day, there are hundreds of people who come there to relax and admire the scenery.

This tourist site still preserved its original beauty with great tourism potential. Traveling to this place, tourists in Vietnam travel will join interesting tourism activities like mountain climbing and camping.

Ao Chau Pond, as its name goes, looks like a blue sparkling orient pearl. The Pond lies within the area of three communes Am Thuong, Am Ha, Y Son, in Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province.

Ao Chau Pond comprises 300 hectares of water surface, covering by hundreds of islands of different sizes. The water level always remains at 3 meters deep, so the water there is fresh and is home to several marine species such as tortoise and turtle. Especially, local people have made this site more attractive by growing many fruit trees such as jackfruit, pomelo, longan, litchi, etc.

In 2001, Phu Tho province has approved the detail planning for Ao Chau Pond tourist site with the total area of 1.500 hectares. A feasible project has also been set up to make Ao Chau pond an eco-tourist site with such activities as: resort, rowing, fishing, mountain climbing, etc.

In near future, Au Chau tourist site will become an attractive destination, promoting the development of the region in terms of economy, culture, and society. Besides, Au Chau also promotes the development of handicraft villages, the production and consumption of goods, especially souvenirs as well as development of various forms of service.

Coming to Ao Chau Pond, tourists in Vietnam travel will take chance to enjoy the fresh atmosphere; enjoy the tasty fruits, and delicious dishes.

Lang Cave, which belongs to Xuan Son commune, Thanh Son district, Phu Tho province, lies very deeply into the mountain. The mouth of the cave is right in front of Muong Lang field. This is the largest and longest stalactite cave in Xuan Son.

At some points, the roof of the cave is even 15 or 20 meters in height, and its width nearly has the same size. The cave extends along the limestone mountain. There is a large stream flowing along the bottom of the cave. At the points where the cave expands, its foundation is covered with a layer of rocks, yellow sand and clay.  On the roof of the cave, there are stalactites letting down. Through millions of years, they have created beautiful multiforms.

Go deeper into the cave, there would be many pillars, which are created and adorned all by nature. These pillars prop up from the cave’s bottom to its roof, just like from hell to heaven. The scene really gives tourists in Vietnam travel an impressive feeling.

These slabs of stalactite make the cave mysteriously beautiful. The stalactites here do not tarnish and turn into grey as in some other caves of some limestone mountains. Most of them are bright and white, some even gleam with purple and pink color. The scene is so beautiful and unique.

Lang Cave is big enough for thousands of people to come to visit at the same time. Distant from its mouth for a few hours of walking, the cave’s bottom turns into a stream with the depth of 2 meters. From there, the journey still can be continued. However, since it is quite dark, tourists in Vietnam travel will have to use torch in order to discover the hidden beauty of this cave.

With its natural and mysterious beauty, Lang Cave is really an attractive destination for every tourist in Vietnam travel. Coming to the Lang Cave, tourists surely will feel particularly interesting.

The Temple of Au Co Mother was established in Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district, Phu Tho province, where possesses heaps of mountains, a large reservoir and a range of flat plain along the river.

According to the legend, Vietnamese people are descendants of  Father Lac Long Quan and  Mother Au Co. After a 3-year-and-10-month pregnancy, Mother Au Co gave birth to 100 eggs which hatched out 100 sons. Father Lac Long Quan took 50 sons to the sea. And Mother Au Co, after leaving her first son on the Nghia Linh Mountain, took other 49 sons to Hien Luong commune for living. She and her sons broke fresh ground and founded villages.

One day, Mother Au Co flied to the sky and left a pink blouse at the foot of a banyan tree. Hien Luong’s peoples built a temple at the foot of the tree to memorize the mother’s merit called the Temple of Mother Au Co. On the left side of the temple is locating Loan well and on the right side is Phuong well. Opposite the temple is lovely Giac Mountain and behind is winding Hong River. Luxuriant trees are growing surrounding the temple. The Mother Au Co Temple consists of 5 large sacrifice rooms and 3 harem rooms. Inside the temples has a system of ancient relics of high arts like Au Co Statue, Duc Ong Statue, etc., which are embossed carefully. Au Co Statue is 85 centimeters high and put in a 3-side glass cage, which is put on an altar located at the height of 2.2 meters in the last room of the temple.

Today, the Mother Au Co Temple is a favorite place of tourists in Vietnam travel and an important worshiping relic amongst historical relics in the land of Kings Hung- Phu Tho province. Annually, the temple receives the visits of a large number of pilgrims.