Ha Giang exploits the Global Geopark heritage to develop sustainable tourism

The rammed earth houses in Lo Lo Chai village, Lung Cu commune (Dong Van) have been converted into homestays to welcome tourists.

According to the tourism development plan of Ha Giang province approved by the Government, by 2030, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark will become a key national tourism area. Promoting tourism development on the basis of heritage is not only about exploiting existing potential, but also a journey to preserve, spread and awaken cultural, historical and ecological values, a harmonious development between conservation and innovation. The province also promotes communityeducation , innovates communication, promotes images, pays attention to scientific research, actively participates in the Geopark network; builds specific policies for heritage areas, creates livelihoods, increases income and sustainably reduces poverty, restores and develops traditional craft villages, completes infrastructure to serve people, tourism and socio-economic development.

In particular, the province focuses on "breathing life" into indigenous culture, turning culture into a unique spiritual dish to attract tourists. A series of community cultural tourism villages imbued with the ethnic identities of Mong, Tay, Dao, Lo Lo... have been invested and strongly developed. Living in the space of traditional villages, visitors not only admire natural wonders, but also have the opportunity to experience unique activities such as: Growing corn on rocks, making traditional cakes, weaving linen, making Mong panpipes, processing and enjoying indigenous cuisine . In addition, experiential tourism routes, exploring the Stone Plateau are also effectively exploited; many traditional festivals are restored, upgraded into unique tourism products, attracting a large number of tourists, especially international tourists. These include: Buckwheat Flower Festival, Phong Luu Khau Vai Market, Dong Van Cultural Tourism Week, Mong Panpipe Festival, Gau Tao Festival...

International tourists experience taking souvenir photos at the stone plateau

Thereby, the Ha Giang tourism brand has gradually been clearly positioned on the Vietnamese and international tourism map. Most recently, it was a great pride when Ha Giang was voted by the prestigious travel magazine Time Out (UK) into the Top 44 most beautiful places in the world in 2025 and excellently ranked 10th in this list. In 2024, Ha Giang welcomed over 3.2 million visitors, reaching the target two years ahead of the Resolution of the 17th Provincial Party Congress. In the first 5 months of 2025, Ha Giang continued to be in the group of leading tourism destinations in the Northern region. During the recent April 30 and May 1 holidays alone, Ha Giang welcomed over 146,200 visitors, an increase of 2.3% over the same period in 2024, including 9,200 international visitors. Most tourists coming to Ha Giang choose to explore the beauty and culture of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark.

The outstanding results are clear evidence of the province's correct and scientific direction in developing the "smokeless industry". However, developing tourism on the basis of heritage requires caution, avoiding hot development, not destroying the landscape, not trading off the ecological environment. With the consistent principle of developing tourism in parallel with preserving heritage, the province focuses on re-planning the space for tourism development, selecting focused and key investments, promoting human resource training, applying information technology and digital transformation in promoting and managing destinations. In particular, promoting the role of the community as the subject in preserving, protecting and exploiting heritage.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/ha-giang-khai-thac-di-san-cong-vien-dia-chat-toan-cau-phat-trien-du-lich-ben-vung-20250513152733399.htm