Dong Van Karst Plateau: A Top Cultural Destination in 2025

The Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark was honored as the " World's Leading Cultural Destination 2025" at the World Travel Awards ceremony in Bahrain on the evening of December 6th. This is the first time the karst plateau has been named in the world-class cultural category, recognizing the appeal stemming from efforts to preserve its heritage values.

At the ceremony, Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, stated that the title is not only a source of pride for Tuyen Quang but also a recognition from the world of the efforts to preserve and promote the value of its heritage. According to him, this is an important motivation for Tuyen Quang to continue pursuing the goal of making tourism a key economic sector in the coming years.

An "outdoor geological museum" over 550 million years old.

Recognized by UNESCO in 2010, the Dong Van Karst Plateau preserves over 550 million years of Earth's evolutionary history. The karst system, paleontological sites, caves, fossils, and layers of sediment stacked over hundreds of millions of years create a vibrant academic space right in the heart of nature.

For those who love exploration , the experience here is a journey of directly observing limestone structures, paleontological traces, and sedimentary layers, thereby visualizing geological changes over long geological periods. Every cliff, canyon, and cave entrance hints at a story of natural history.

The multi-layered cultural space of 17 communities

More than just a geological wonder, Dong Van is also a cultural space where 17 ethnic groups live together. Indigenous architecture, rituals, folk knowledge, music, language, and traditional crafts form a rich cultural layer of each community. These elements help visitors gain a deeper understanding of the connection between the rocky landscape and the lives of the local people.

Mùa xuân trên cao nguyên đá Đồng Văn. Ảnh: Chu Việt Bắc — Springtime on the Dong Van Stone Plateau. Photo: Chu Viet Bac

Spring on the rocky plateau

Images of spring on the rocky plateau evoke a sense of vibrant colors and bustling life. This is the perfect time to experience the interplay between the geological landscape and community life, from the architecture of the houses to the rhythm of traditional rituals.

Vietnam was nominated in many categories.

Besides the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Vietnam was also honored as a "World's Leading Heritage Destination". In Phu Quoc, Sunset Town and Kem Beach respectively received awards for "Iconic Tourist Attraction" and "World's Leading Regional Beach". Two other representatives, Moc Chau and Tam Dao, also won in the categories of "World's Leading Regional Nature Destination" and "World's Leading Destination Town".

Ông Phan Huy Ngọc, Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Tuyên Quang, nhận giải thưởng WTA. Ảnh: BTC — Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tuyen Quang province, receives the WTA award. Photo: Organizing Committee.

World Travel Awards – a measure of prestige in the tourism industry.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards (WTA) is one of the most prestigious awards in the global tourism industry. Over more than three decades, the WTA has become a benchmark for the prestige, quality of service, and attractiveness of destinations on the world tourism map.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/cao-nguyen-da-dong-van-diem-den-van-hoa-hang-dau-2025-10314321.html