Quang Ninh (VNA) – Quang Ninh hassigned a cooperation agreement with Clipper Ventures on the participation ofthe northeastern province in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2019-2020and hosting of the 2021-2022 edition.

The signing ceremony took place in Ha Long cityon August 5 with the attendance of leaders from the provincial People’sCommittee and relevant departments, as well as Chief Executive Officier (CEO)of Clipper Ventures William Ward and representatives from VinGroup andSunGroup.

According to the agreement, from the 2019-2020edition, Quang Ninh will officially become a team partner of the race.

Quang Ninh is the only representative localityof Vietnam to have a team named “Ha Long Bay – Viet Nam” taking part in the globalsailing race.

The province will equip its sailors withclothing associated with the logo of Ha Long Bay - recognised as a worldnatural heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000.

The bay spans 1,553 square kilometres andincludes 1,969 islands of various sizes. It features thousands of limestonekarsts and islets in various shapes and sizes. The limestone in the bay hasgone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions andenvironments. The geo-diversity of the environment has created biodiversity,including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea biosystem. Ha LongBay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.

This year, Ha Long Bay hasbeen listed among the world’s most beautiful sunrise spots by the MicrosoftNetwork (MSN), one of the most mentioned global cruise destinations onInstagram by British magazine Woman and Home, the 25 most beautiful placesaround the world by the US’s Cable News Network (CNN), and the most popularattractions in Asia according to the Hong Kong – based South China Morning Post(SCMP).

Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’sCommittee Vu Thi Thu Thuy said the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race will createa new opportunity for the tourism sector in Quang Ninh in particular andVietnam in general to introduce Ha Long Bay to domestic and foreign tourists,as well as attract more service and tourism investment projects.

Pham Ngoc Thuy, Director of the Quang NinhTourism Department, said it is an honour for Quang Ninh to be a team partnerfor the 2019-20 edition and then both team and host port partner for 2021-22 editionof the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

“This is a special opportunity for Quang NinhProvince to promote, on a global stage, our destination of Ha Long Bay – theWorld Natural Heritage and Wonder with hundreds of beautiful landscapes,cultural and historical relics as well as friendly people,” she said.

The official added that QuangNinh is making all-out efforts to prepare for the event and expects to achievegreat success and encouragement from friends all over the world.

Meanwhile, CEO of ClipperVentures William Ward said Quang Ninh is an interesting and specialdestination, particularly Ha Long Bay.
He believed that sailorswill have nice experience during their stay in Ha Long Bay, adding that hiscompany will enhance the promotion of Ha Long Bay on the global stage.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has beenheld for more than 20 years and become an annual event with the participationof about 70 clippers.

The 40,000 nautical mile adventure will takeplace within 11 months.

The Clipper Race 2019-2020 is scheduled to kick off on September 1 with 8 legs starting from St Katharine Docks in London(the UK), going through 10 countries – Portugal, Uruguay, South Africa,Australia, China, the Philippines, the US, Panama, Bermuda, and Ireland, andfinishing in August 2020.-VNA