Dong Van Stone Plateau: World's Leading Cultural Destination 2025

Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark was officially honored as the " World's Leading Cultural Destination 2025" at the World Travel Awards (WTA) held in Bahrain on the evening of December 6. This is the first time this place has received the prestigious award in the world-class cultural category.

Spring on the Dong Van stone plateau. Photo: Chu Viet Bac

Unique geological and cultural heritage

Recognized as a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau is a rare "open-air geological museum", preserving the Earth's evolutionary history of more than 550 million years. It possesses a unique karst system, paleontological sites, caves, fossils and sedimentary layers that have been piled up over hundreds of millions of years.

Besides its geological value, Dong Van is also a unique cultural space, where 17 ethnic minorities live together. Each community contributes to creating a multi-layered cultural value system, expressed through indigenous architecture, traditional rituals, folk knowledge, music , language and traditional crafts.

Recognition and development motivation

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee, said that this title is not only a source of pride but also a recognition from the world for the locality's efforts to preserve and promote heritage values. He emphasized that this is an important driving force for Tuyen Quang to continue pursuing the goal of building tourism into a spearhead economic sector in the future.

Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee, received the WTA award. Photo: Organizing Committee

Vietnam tourism shines at WTA 2025

In addition to the Dong Van Stone Plateau award, Vietnam tourism also achieved many other successes at WTA this year. Vietnam continued to be honored as "World's Leading Heritage Destination". Other destinations were also named in many important categories:

Sunset Town (Phu Quoc): An iconic destination that attracts tourists.
Kem Beach (Phu Quoc): World's leading regional beach.
Moc Chau: World's leading regional natural destination.
Tam Dao: World's top destination town.

Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are considered the "Oscars of the tourism industry". Over the past three decades, the awards have become a prestigious measure, affirming the quality of service and the attractiveness of destinations on the world tourism map.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/cao-nguyen-da-dong-van-diem-den-van-hoa-hang-dau-the-gioi-2025-408913.html