Cao Bang: Connecting heritage with community, creating a sustainable future

Amidst the majestic mountains and rivers, Cao Bang Geopark emerges as a symphony of nature and people, where geological, landscape and cultural values ​​are preserved and passed down through generations. In the sound of flowing streams, mossy roofs and peaceful villages, the heritage story is still told every day through the rhythm of community life. It is this bond that has forged the strength for people to persistently join hands to create a sustainable future for this land rich in tradition.

In the journey of preserving and promoting heritage values, the local community plays a key role, both as the subject of preserving cultural identity and creating new directions, turning heritage values ​​into a driving force for sustainable development. In order to raise awareness of the relationship between heritage conservation and tourism and socio -economic development, the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Management Board has implemented many propaganda and education programs on the value of the Geopark title; at the same time, encouraging people to directly participate in conservation, share benefits and build a harmonious development environment, improving the quality of life.

Since the beginning of the year, the Management Board of the Geopark has organized 11 training and survey sessions attracting a large number of people, officials and representatives of local organizations to participate in the work of preserving geological heritage, preserving culture, protecting the environment; at the same time, equipping knowledge and skills in preventing, combating, mitigating natural disasters, and responding to climate change, especially in vulnerable areas. The training sessions are closely linked to field surveys, creating conditions for people to practice explaining skills about traditional occupations, heritage sites as well as identifying and effectively responding to local emergency natural disaster situations. Focusing on capacity building for the community and Geopark partners (business households, homestay owners, artisans and service units), towards sustainable tourism development. Through training sessions, field trips, and learning experiences in a number of provinces, Geopark partners have access to and learned methods of exploiting the potential of local medicinal resources, developing accommodation services, diversifying traditional culinary products, and building culturally-imprinted experiential tourism. Through this, members of the Geopark Partner Network have the opportunity to strengthen connections, share initiatives, and coordinate the implementation of community-based tourism models. In particular, this activity supports disadvantaged groups to participate in the tourism service chain through skills training, product consumption, destination promotion, and connection with traditional craft villages. Thanks to this, Geopark partners have more foundations to build creative, effective tourism models that are suitable to actual conditions, contributing to promoting local tourism development in a fair, responsible, and sustainable manner.

Tourists visit and learn about traditional crafts at Phja Thap incense village, Quang Uyen commune

With the support of the Geopark Management Board, the government and the people, many community tourism models associated with nature conservation and traditional cultural preservation have been diversified, improved in quality, and increasingly better met the needs of tourists, typically: Dia Tren paper village, Phja Thap incense village (Quang Uyen commune), Khuoi Ky stone village (Dam Thuy commune), Hoai Khao hamlet community tourism village (Thanh Cong commune)... Here, tourism products not only ensure service quality but also improve their designs and packaging to suit modern tastes and trends. The special point that creates attraction is the cultural depth that is "breathed into" each product through folk tales, indigenous beliefs and legends associated with community life. From there, gradually forming unique and distinctive tourism gift lines, contributing to spreading local cultural values ​​while opening up opportunities to increase income and develop sustainable livelihoods for people.

The efforts of the Management Board of the Geopark and the community have received high appreciation from international experts. During the second re-evaluation of the title of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, a team of UNESCO experts directly surveyed the field and recorded many positive results in heritage conservation, community tourism development and cultural identity preservation associated with sustainable livelihoods.

Ms. Chan Yu Nam, Director of the Hong Kong Geopark Management Board (China), a member of the UNESCO re-evaluation expert team, shared: What impressed me was not only the outstanding natural beauty or the rich culture here, but also the way the community preserves, cherishes and turns the heritage into a part of their current life. That spirit is the foundation for Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark to build a sustainable community tourism model, harmonizing conservation and sustainable development.

The Geopark Management Board continues to coordinate with departments, branches and localities to synchronously deploy solutions to connect the community with the work of preserving and promoting heritage values. Prioritize capacity building for tourism staff, especially in remote areas; improve technical infrastructure and services; preserve and promote traditional cultural values ​​through community education activities; connect the younger generation with heritage through schools and experiential activities; and promote promotion on digital platforms to expand the market and attract socialized resources.  

Cao Bang Newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/cao-bang-gan-ket-di-san-voi-cong-dong-kien-tao-tuong-lai-ben-vung-20250828103848773.htm