The effort, organised by the Solidarités Jeunesses Vietnam organisation in collaboration with the Halong Bay Management Committee, engages young volunteers aged between 16 and 30 to help raise awareness of the local people and tourists about environmental protection as well as promote the image of the bay.

Activities during the one-week camp include introducing the Patrimonito image – a cartoon that symbolises the voluntary youngsters’ efforts for environmental protection - to local residents and tourists, launching environmental protection campaigns at local schools, cleaning beaches and joining fact-finding trips to coal mines to understand more about ways to protect the environment.

The community-based project aims to raise awareness on Halong Bay - a World Heritage Site - among international and local volunteers as well as local people, especially youth and tourists.

It is also expected to encourage active contributions by young people to search for sustainable solutions to protect the environment and natural resources as well as the cultural heritage.

Halong Bay, which was twice recognised by the UNESCO for its landscapes and geological values, has unexpectedly risen from 12th to 4th position among 28 candidates in the voting for the World’s Seven New Natural Wonders.

The voting campaign is still ongoing, and the winners will be unveiled in 2011.

The rituals related to the ancestors’ anniversary, which falls on the middle of the seventh lunar month, was honoured at Thanh Binh Tu Duong on Chi Lang Street, the country’s biggest worship house dedicated to the ancestors of tuong theatre, according to Truong Tuan Hai, the troupe’s director.

During the morning, artists in traditional royal costumes performed worship proceedings exactly as they had been done hundreds of years ago, including making offerings and reading orations to tunes played on traditional instruments.

The ancestors’ anniversary had been observed every year by generations of artists at the temple, but it was the first time the rituals were restored to their original form after dozens of years of interruption due to wars.

Tuong, which is noted for its symbolism, archaic language and ancient plots praising feudal values, reached its peak under the Nguyen lords in the South and then kings of the Nguyen Dynasty during the 17th, 18th centuries, according to historians.

It was seen as a type of national drama and royal theatre, closely intertwined with the royal court.

The biggest ancestral temple dedicated to it in the country was built in the royal capital of Hue under the Nguyen Dynasty and has been preserved until today.

Diversity is considered as a driving force behind tourism and can allow all nations to share the numerous benefits brought about by building stronger ties with other countries. This type of unity and collaboration is increasingly important as the world comes together to face climate change and ensure sustainable development, particularly in the context of the current economic crisis.

In response to the World Tourism Day this year, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has sent the official document to Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of all provinces and cities and proposed practical activities to disseminate the message of the Secretary-General of UNWTO, contributing to raising awareness of the industries, all levels and communities about the role and position of tourism and measures to develop tourism towards sustainability and environmental protection.

VNAT also has suggested that all Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism work out specific action plan, implement successful these activities and report the results to VNAT before October 30, 2009.

This is part of instructions given by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on a draft regulation on managing foreign tourists’ vehicles in Vietnam.

The regulation will lay a legal foundation for foreign tourists to bring their vehicles to the Southeast Asian country for using during the visits.