Dong Van Stone Plateau honored by WTA: The result of the right direction

Dong Van Stone Park has just been awarded the title "Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam - Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination in 2025" by the World Travel Awards (WTA).

This is one of the most prestigious categories of WTA to honor destinations with outstanding achievements in preserving indigenous culture, developing sustainable tourism and preserving natural ecosystems.

On this occasion, VNA reporter had a talk with Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province Nguyen Thi Hoai about the potential and strengths of Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark as well as solutions to preserve and sustainably develop Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark and Tuyen Quang tourism.

-Dong Van Stone Park has just been awarded the title of "UNESCO Global Geopark Dong Van Stone Plateau, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam - Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination in 2025." What does this mean for local tourism, madam?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai: Dong Van Stone Plateau stretches over an area of more than 2,345 km², preserving a geological formation dating back more than 500 million years, with hundreds of unique geological, paleontological, geomorphological and karst landscape heritages.

A series of marine fossil sites, ancient limestone layers, majestic cave systems and traces of tectonic movements of the Earth's crust have created a rare "living geological museum" in the world.

Continuing to be named at the World Travel Awards is a great source of pride, affirming the right direction in the strategy of sustainable tourism development associated with preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the local rocky plateau.

This is not only an international recognition of the locality's efforts but also a driving force for Tuyen Quang to continue expanding connections, improving product quality, and promoting the destination's image to the region and the world.

The above title once again affirms Tuyen Quang's position on the regional and international tourism map, and is a worthy successor to the series of titles that the locality has achieved in recent years.

This is also a vivid demonstration of the province's strategic vision in promoting the value of UNESCO heritage, turning geological and cultural resources into a driving force for green economic development, sustainable tourism and community livelihoods.

-How do you evaluate the position and role of Dong Van Stone Park in tourism development in Tuyen Quang in recent years?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai: In 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark was recognized by UNESCO as the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia.

After nearly 15 years, with three re-evaluations and always maintaining the title of UNESCO Global Geopark, it has become an unmissable destination for scientists as well as domestic and international tourists.

In 2025, Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark will continue to be awarded the title of “Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination in 2025.”

With 59 heritage sites divided into 4 different experience routes, these heritage sites were recognized by UNESCO as Global Geoparks since 2010, affirming their international scientific, educational and aesthetic values, with majestic and magnificent landscapes with sharp limestone (cat ear) terrain, deep canyons, steep cliffs, and a rich limestone cave system.

This place preserves many paleontological fossils and important geological tectonic heritage sites such as: Fault slide surface in Quan Ba commune, showing the history of the formation of the earth lasting more than 500 million years. Thereby, creating conditions for the development of geological tourism combining geological exploration, environment and culture.

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark is home to 17 ethnic minorities such as Mong, Dao, Lo Lo, Tay..., creating a diverse cultural treasure.

In particular, up to now, the ethnic groups have still preserved many unique traditional cultural features such as: Techniques of cultivating soil on rock niches, architecture of rammed earth houses (in Dong Van ancient town); traditional costumes, typical cuisine (thang co, men men, meat hung in the kitchen...); many unique traditional festivals attracting tourists such as: Khau Vai market, Mong flute festival, Buckwheat flower festival... and valuable historical relics such as: Lung Cu flagpole, Northernmost point, Vuong family mansion, Sa Phin commune; French fort relics and Lung Ho citadel wall...

UNESCO's recognition as a Global Geopark and tourism on the Stone Plateau have helped Tuyen Quang tourism develop rapidly, serving as an important lever in poverty reduction and improving the material and spiritual life of local people.

In recent times, Tuyen Quang tourism has developed with impressive growth in the number of visitors and revenue, becoming a key economic sector of the province. In 2024, the number of tourists to Ha Giang (old) will reach over 3 million; of which visitors to Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark will account for over 70%.

Developing community tourism, investing in preserving cultural villages combined with eco-tourism and resorts helps people directly participate and benefit from tourism, contributing to preserving cultural identity.

Tuyen Quang determines to develop tourism in a sustainable direction associated with the preservation of geological heritage values, culture and ecological environment; focusing on geological tourism, cultural - historical tourism, community tourism, and experiential discovery tourism.

Besides, the province constantly improves traffic infrastructure, service system, and trains local tourism human resources to enhance service quality and ensure "safety - attractiveness - friendliness."

- What solutions is Tuyen Quang implementing to preserve and develop sustainable tourism in the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark and the whole province?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai: Implementing the Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee, term 2025 - 2030, with the key goals and tasks of breakthroughs, promoting potentials and advantages to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector associated with the development of heritage economy, cultural industry and border gate economy with high brand and reputation of the province, Tuyen Quang focuses on strictly and effectively managing the investment in developing geoparks in accordance with the plans approved by the Prime Minister.

In addition, the province issued Resolutions, specialized Projects, and Plans on preserving and promoting the value of the Geopark in particular and the whole province in general; strengthened inspection, review, and prevention of illegal acts that harm heritage.

The province develops tourism in association with preserving traditional culture such as renovating rammed earth houses, developing traditional crafts, etc.; at the same time, it promotes propaganda and educates the community about the importance of heritage conservation, linking the rights and responsibilities of the people with heritage protection.

The province organizes community activities such as fairs and festivals for people to participate in, express and preserve traditional local cultural values, cuisine and customs.

The province continues to focus on infrastructure investment, including increasing calls for and attracting investment to build synchronous transport infrastructure and tourism services, preserving local traditional culture; completing construction and upgrading inter-regional transport infrastructure such as Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang expressway, Na Hang - Ba Be road (old Thai Nguyen), Meo Vac - Bao Lam road (old Cao Bang) ..., contributing to facilitating travel and attracting tourists.

In particular, the province has identified the development of key tourism products, including historical-cultural tourism; eco-tourism, resorts; community tourism; green tourism; promoting the application of digital technology in sustainable tourism development...

Thereby, the goal is to develop the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark into a National Tourist Area by 2030 and strive to make Tuyen Quang tourism a key economic sector in a sustainable direction, preserving traditional cultural identity, professionalism, quality, efficiency...

-Thank you very much./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/cao-nguyen-da-dong-van-duoc-wta-vinh-danh-ket-qua-cua-huong-di-dung-dan-post1070276.vnp