Ha Giang receives the title of UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Stone Plateau for the third time

On the evening of October 28, in Dong Van town, Ha Giang province, the ceremony to receive the title of member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network of Dong Van Karst Plateau was held for the 3rd time and the opening ceremony of the 9th Buckwheat Flower Festival in 2023 was held.

Attending the ceremony were comrades Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Dang Quoc Khanh, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Ha Giang province; leaders of central ministries, departments and branches; Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee of Ha Giang province; representatives of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network; Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; international delegations; and travel and tourism companies.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of Ha Giang Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Son said: On October 3, 2010, Dong Van Stone Plateau was officially recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark, becoming the first geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia.

After more than 13 years of development, with the special attention and support of the leaders of the Party, State, Government, ministries, central branches and the UNESCO global geopark network; the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups in Ha Giang province have made efforts and focused on preserving and promoting the values of geological and cultural heritage; developing sustainable tourism in accordance with the policies, planning and orientations of the Party, State and the criteria of the geopark network; creating diverse livelihoods, improving the lives of ethnic people, associated with ensuring national defense and security.

According to comrade Nguyen Van Son, from a difficult and little-known rocky area, Dong Van Stone Plateau has flourished, developed, and become an attractive domestic and international tourist destination. Heritage sites and cultural values have been built into diverse and unique products and tourist attractions, typically: Lung Cu Flagpole, Vuong Dynasty relic, Dong Van Ancient Town, Tu San Alley, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Mong Panpipe Festival, Khau Vai Market; Nam Dam, Pa Vi, Lo Lo Chai ethnic cultural villages; Mong Village - Quan Ba, Papiu - Bac Me Resort... and many other unique and attractive natural and agricultural products and culinary products.

The number of visitors to Ha Giang has increased rapidly from 2,000 in 2010, reaching 2.2 million in 2022 and is expected to reach over 3 million in 2023. Sustainable tourism development has been creating livelihoods, increasing income, reducing poverty, and significantly changing life in the rocky plateau.

Recently, in early September 2023, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network Council at the 10th International Conference held in Morocco highly appreciated and continued to recognize the title of UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Karst Plateau for the third time; at the same time, on September 6, 2023, Ha Giang was honored to receive the award for Asia's Leading Emerging Tourist Destination from the World Tourism Awards. "These are milestones marking the strong, right direction and sustainable development of Ha Giang tourism" - Comrade Nguyen Van Son emphasized.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong said that Vietnam currently has 57 UNESCO titles including world cultural and natural heritages, world biosphere reserves, world documentary heritages, global geoparks... Most of the localities with heritages have been highly appreciated by UNESCO in the management, protection and exploitation of heritage values, so that heritages are truly important assets contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality. Promoting the green, clean and sustainable development model through global geoparks in Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dak Nong... especially in Dong Van Stone Plateau - Ha Giang is a direction in line with the strategic orientation of cultural development and tourism development of the country.

Appreciating the Party Committee, government and ethnic people of Ha Giang province for their efforts, trying and overcoming difficulties to build Ha Giang more and more rich and civilized, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said that Ha Giang used to be one of the most difficult provinces in the country, but with the efforts, the Party Committee, government and ethnic people of Ha Giang have united, turning difficulties into development advantages, opening up new directions, choosing to preserve cultural heritage values and making tourism a spearhead economic sector for sustainable development. Especially since Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010, the appearance of Ha Giang in general, and the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark in particular, has improved, cultural heritages, geological heritages, and biodiversity have been preserved and promoted; it has been and is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

After three re-evaluations by UNESCO, Ha Giang still maintains the title of UNESCO Global Geopark, which affirms the efforts of the Party Committee and local authorities in implementing UNESCO's commitments to preserve and develop the Geopark. In 2023, Ha Giang province was honored to receive many reviews from tourists and media agencies, especially being awarded the "Asia's Leading Emerging Destination" award by the World Tourism Organization. This is an opportunity for Ha Giang to affirm its tourism brand.

In the coming time, to continue promoting the achieved results, Ha Giang province needs to be proactive, positive, and pay more attention to developing tourism economy based on the rich diversity imbued with the cultural identity of Ha Giang's ethnic groups.

In addition, Ha Giang needs to continue to preserve and promote the values of geological heritage, cultural heritage and natural landscapes in the Dong Van Stone Plateau; there needs to be mechanisms and policies to attract reasonable investment, harmoniously combining conservation and promotion, maintaining the title of UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Stone Plateau through re-evaluation periods. Complete the criteria and recommendations of experts and organizations of the Global Geopark Network (GGN).

To continue to promote the province's advantages and potential strengths, Ha Giang needs to improve its proactive, effective and creative management capacity; continue to innovate and strongly improve the investment environment associated with human resource training, vocational training associated with solving local human resources to reduce poverty sustainably and ensure social security. At the same time, fully participating in the activities of the Global Network as well as the activities of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network, the Vietnam Geoparks Subcommittee contributes to honoring the heritage values of Vietnam and the world.

At the ceremony, delegates and visitors enjoyed a special art program, vividly introducing the 500 million-year geological development history, majestic natural landscapes, the pure beauty of buckwheat flowers, and the quintessence of traditional culture; especially expressing the gratitude and hospitality of the ethnic groups in Ha Giang; demonstrating the vision, commitment and responsibility of Ha Giang province in preserving and promoting the values of heritage, history and culture; creating a solid foundation for Ha Giang tourism to develop, becoming a bright spot on the front line of the Fatherland; actively contributing to enhancing the reputation and brand of Vietnamese tourism on the world tourism map.

The ceremony to receive the title of member of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark Network for the third time was held in a series of unique tourism and cultural events, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists. Highlights include the International Marathon Running on the Road of Happiness, the Spirit of Stone Adventure Motorcycle Show held in early and mid-October 2023; most recently, the Ha Giang Provincial Cultural Conference, the Northeast Regional Trade Connection Conference, the Shan - Tuyet Tea Competition; Traditional Ethnic Festivals; especially the 2023 Buckwheat Flower Festival - an annual event bearing the mark and typical beauty of the land and people of Ha Giang./.

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