Lang Son accelerates adventure tourism development: Launching cave map, announcing Ultra Trail 2025 tournament

Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark has just made a breakthrough, officially announcing the Map of two important caves after international cooperation with American experts, and confirming the organization of the large-scale Lang Son Geopark Ultra Trail 2025. This is a strong signal affirming that Lang Son is becoming a new "hot spot" for adventure tourism and sports in Vietnam.

On November 14th, in Hanoi, the Program for Promoting Cooperation in the Construction and Development of the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark was successfully held, achieving many outstanding results and attracting the attention of international experts and the tourism community.

One of the most outstanding results of the program was the official announcement of the maps of Khuon Bong Cave (Vu Le commune) and Nguom Mooc Cave (Binh Gia commune).

At the event, the official maps of Khuon Bong Cave (Vu Le commune) and Nguom Mooc Cave (Binh Gia commune) were announced.

This announcement is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Lang Son Provincial Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, the National Cave Association of the United States, and Vietnam Expeditions Joint Stock Company (VNE). These organizations conducted three in-depth expeditions, measuring and mapping the two caves in detail, creating a crucial database for conservation efforts and the development of exploratory tourism routes.

This event is significant, marking the standardization of scientific data and the first step in building professional adventure tourism routes according to international standards. This detailed map will not only serve conservation and management purposes but also provide a foundation for scientists and tourism experts to evaluate and design future paid adventure tourism products.

• Lang Son: Stepping up efforts to preserve and promote cultural values ​​and natural landscapes, creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities to escape poverty.

Alongside geological exploration, Lang Son has collaborated to introduce and officially announce the Lang Son Geopark VTV8 Ultra Trail - Huu Lien 2025 race. This extreme sports event, organized in conjunction with VTV8, promises to bring thousands of athletes to conquer the challenging and unique terrain of the Geopark. This is one of the key tourism products aimed at promoting the value of the heritage site.

The Lang Son Geopark VTV8 Ultra Trail - Huu Lien 2025 race brings thousands of athletes to conquer the challenging and unique terrain of the Geopark.

According to representatives from Viet Nam Expeditions Joint Stock Company, the race is expected to attract between 600 and 2,000 domestic and international athletes, with over 300 already registered. The race will be held on December 27-28 with four challenging distances: 5km, 15km, 30km, and 60km. The race is envisioned as a leading adventure sports tourism brand, directly promoting the unique landscape and geological values ​​of Lang Son.

To further diversify experiential tourism products, the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark Management Office has signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement in the field of diving with the Hanoi Diving Club. This cooperation aims to promote the exploitation of groundwater areas and submerged karst systems within the Geopark, opening up a unique adventure tourism product that attracts a specific target group of tourists.

During the discussion on key tasks for the 2025-2030 period, Dr. Guy Martini, Senior International Expert on Geoparks, shared key strategic directions. Accordingly, the development goals of Lang Son Geopark must strictly adhere to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

Adhering to the 17 SDGs is not only a common development goal but also a core criterion for UNESCO Global Geoparks to maintain their status, especially during UNESCO's periodic reassessments. Dr. Guy Martini's presentation provided detailed recommendations to help Lang Son build a sustainable development roadmap based on its geological heritage values, while simultaneously enhancing the local economy, protecting the environment, and promoting community education. This forms the foundational strategic framework for Lang Son's sustainable development and maintenance of its global status.

Dr. Guy Martini, Senior International Expert on Geoparks, presented a paper at the event.

The discussions revolved around the idea of ​​organizing the International Geopark Winter Festival 2026, linked to activities such as cave exploration and sport climbing. Delegates focused on event organization options, fee structures for participating in adventure tours at different levels, and communication solutions and souvenir product development, aiming to maximize the value of the UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son.

These collaborative events and ambitious plans affirm that Lang Son is comprehensively preparing to take off as a leading destination for tourists who love exploration and adventurous experiences.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/lang-son-tang-toc-phat-trien-du-lich-mao-hiem-ra-mat-ban-do-hang-dong-cong-bo-giai-ultra-trail-2025-2025111420350539.htm