The northern province of Quang Ninh has invested 138 billion VND (6.6million USD) in building an outdoor art laser light stage, which willmake its debut at the coastal area of Ha Long Bay on the night of May 2.

According to the organising board, the light stage and the Ha Longcarnival festival will be the spotlights of the Week of Ha Long Tourism2011, which is expected to attract about 50,000 visitors, about 10percent of visitors to Ha Long during a year.

The Week of Ha LongTourism 2011, which will be held from April 29-May 2, will be thebiggest ever, with a series of festivities in support of the superbbay’s bid for the New7Wonders title this year.

The event will cover a large range of festivities, from culture andarts, including a poetry night, to sports such as an international beachvolleyball final round, culinary arts and an international trade fair.

The Ha Long carnival festival willentertain audiences with artistic performances, a parade and a publicstreet party on the night of May 1 at the Bai Chay tourist site, witheverything on a magnificent scale, said organisers.

The carnival has been designed to revive local cultural traditionssuch as the rituals of the Royal Citadel god procession at the famousTra Co communal house in the northernmost township of Mong Caiand the Creator procession in the Yen Hung district.

The organising board has also invited artistic troupes from China .

2011 is the decisive year for Ha Long in its bid for the New Wonder ofNature, which was launched by the New Open World organisation more than10 years ago through the www.natural7wonders.com website.

HaLong bay has already been recognised as a World Natural Heritage siteby the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)./.