The Hanoitimes - Tourists visiting Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh are benefiting from free wifi service as of April 20.

Under a project by the Vietnam Posts & Telecommunications Group (VNPT), 44 wireless internet stations will be installed along National Highway 18A running through Ha Long City.

The wifi connection will be available from Ha Tu ward post office to Ha Long night market in Bai Chay ward, an area heavily visited by both local people and tourists.

Nguyen Minh Hong, Director of the Quang Ninh provincial Department of Information and Communications, said Ha Long aims to become a modern tourist city by 2015.

The province will continue developing information technology infrastructure, with a focus o­n economic and tourist centres such as Uong Bi, Cam Pha, Van Don and Mong Cai, to attract more foreign investors and visitors, Hong said.

With this project, Ha Long is the second tourist destination in Vietnam to offer free wifi service to visitors, after Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam.

Quang Ninh will hold a ceremony late this week to mark the recognition of Ha Long Bay as a new Natural Wonder of the World. Ha Long Bay has been recognized twice as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The province will also launch the 2012 Ha Long Tourism Week late this month.