Speaking to reporters in Hanoi on September 28, he said this is his first visit to Vietnam but the name of Vietnam sounds familiar to him. Many years ago, he had joined millions of peace lovers to demonstrate against the war in the country.

This is the first time he has visited Ha Long Bay, a well-known landscape of Vietnam which has twice recognized 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 hopes 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 is of great significance to Ha Long Bay, helping to increase the organisation’s understanding of the bay and attract votes for Ha Long Bay around the world.