Ha Long City was treated to a stunning parade last night as part of Carnival Ha Long 2012, held to mark Ha Long Bay's recognition as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Khanh   Spiritual investment: A float carrying a statue of King Tran Nhan Tong, who founded the Truc Lam Zen School on Yen Tu Mountain in Quang Ninh Province, leads a group of Buddhists in the parade. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyet

HA LONG CITY — The rich culture of ethnic communities in northern coastal Quang Ninh Province and northeastern regions was highlighted at the spectacular Carnival Ha Long 2012 held last night.

An event to mark the province's Ha Long Bay being listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, the carnival was the biggest ever since first held five years ago.

Thousands of people, including many foreign tourists, enjoyed special performances featuring the hospitality and beauty of Quang Ninh's people and land.

Several famous artists, including the People's Artist Quang Tho as well as songstresses Ho Quynh Huong and Ngoc Anh, took part the event.

In addition, performances by art troupes from South Korea, China, Laos and the Philippines created extra cultural diversity at the event.

A vivid parade gathering thousands of ethnic people living in the province took place on the city's main street alongside the beach.

Unlike other previous carnivals, where most of the performers were professional artists, this year's event gathered more than 3,000 ethnic performers drawn from the San Chay, San Diu, Tay and Dao. "Only the ordinary people are able to expose their culture truly and vividly," said the carnival's general director, People's Artist Le Tien Tho.

The tourists also had a chance to learn about the unique cultural of different ethnic groups when several traditional festivals and customs were presented.

They wallowed in the festive atmosphere of a traditional wrestling competition of Quang Yen District, or a rice-planting kick off ritual from women of the Ha Nam Island in Yen Hung District.

While the San Diu group living in Van Don replicated a traditional wedding, the Dao, Hoang Bo and San Chay groups presented folk dances.

The carnival became more beautiful with a spectacular fireworks performance presented by French artists.

The parade was also joined by a group of 300 local Buddhists, aiming to promote the spiritual culture of the province, considered as a cradle of Vietnamese Buddhism. The 1,068m above sea level Yen Tu Mountain in the province is the place where King Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century founded the Truc Lam Zen School. The site attracts thousands of pilgrims every year, contributing significantly to the province's socio-economic development.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hoang Tuan Anh, President of the New7Wonders Foundation Bernard Weber and representatives of other New Seven Wonders of Nature participated in the event. — VNS