he information was released by Tia B. Viering, director in charge of communications for New Open World, at a conference held on September 15 to call for vote for Ha Long Bay.

According to Thanh Nien news online, the Switzerland-based New Open World had earlier called for people worldwide to nominate and vote natural monuments and landscapes as world natural wonders.

The organisers clarify on www.natural7wonders.com that the nominated wonders must be real natural landscapes, and they will select a list of candidates for final voting based on opinions from all over the world gathered on the English-language website.

The final results will be announced on August 8, 2008, or 13 months after New Open World disclosed the world's new seven man-made wonders in Portugal.

The bay, whose name means “Descending Dragon”, has been recognised as a world natural heritage site, covers more than 430 sq. km and is dotted with nearly 800 limestone and islands that rise spectacularly from the ocean, and is renowned for diverse geographical features such as a unique system of caves that were formed by the encroaching sea.

Geographical attractions aside, Ha Long Bay is home to a diverse ecological system that includes mangrove forests, tropical forests and coral reefs that are inhabited by more than 1,000 species of fish and marine animals.

The islands are also home to many species of birds, bantams, antelopes, monkeys and iguanas.