Culture and Tourism Week scheduled next month in Quang Binh

A series of cultural and sporting events will greet tourists during Culture and Tourism Week 2011 beginning on June 5 in the central province of Quang Binh.
The week aims at promoting the province's many tourist attractions, including its numerous outstanding caves, as well as attracting investment to the province, Le Hung Phi, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, told Viet Nam News.
It will include the Cau Ngu (Fish Worshipping) Festival to pray for a good fishing season and safe seafaring, a volleyball tournament from May 26 to June 4, and the dedication of Bao Ninh – The Sea Square.
The main events will be held from May 27 in the city of Dong Hoi, as well as at the UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang, which includes the Phong Nha and Thien Duong caves.
A programme entitled Discovering the Magnificent Beauty of the Caves, to be held at Thien Duong (Paradise) Cave on June 11, would be broadcast live on VTV2 and reveal the mysterious and irresistible beauty of the local cave system, Phi said.
"Audiences will enjoy performances not on a stage but in the cave," said Phi. "We will also present documentaries about Paradise Cave and other grottos to promote tourism. The programme will be organised like a documentary, with researchers who have surveyed the cave system talking about the beauty and geological characterisitcs of the cavern."
Paradise Cave was discovered in 2005 by the British Cave Research Association.
The 300-400 million-year-old, 31km-long cave system – believed to be the nation's most extensive – was created by underground streams and is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
The park, in Bo Trach and Minh Hoa districts, is well-known for its system of 300 caves and grottos, only 20 of which have been surveyed by Vietnamese and British scientists. The park was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
During the week, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will also launch tours to Chay River and Hang Toi (Dark Cave). Chay River tour will take tourists by boat into primeval forests, with waterfalls and whirlpools. Displays of the province's traditional cuisine and folk music performances will introduce tourists to the customs and unique culture of the local people.
Quang Binh People's Committee chairman Nguyen Huu Hoai has ordered the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to co-operate with other local authorities to guarantee the safety of tourists and the quality of services during the week.
Last year, nearly 730,000 visitors came to Quang Binh Province, according to the department.