For the first time, Vietnam has a destination that won a global cultural award from WTA.
On the evening of December 6, 2025, at the Bahrain World Exhibition Center (Exhibition World Bahrain), the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2025 ceremony took place solemnly with the participation of representatives of international tourism agencies, businesses, experts and press from more than 100 countries.
At the event, WTA officially announced that "Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam" won the category of World's Leading Regional Cultural Destination in 2025. This is a historic milestone when for the first time Vietnam has a destination named in the global cultural category - affirming the position, reputation and tourism brand of Tuyen Quang on the world tourism map.
Integration mark - Vietnamese tourism brand reaches international level
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee - Head of the delegation attending the event, emphasized: "The title 'World's Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2025' is the pride of Tuyen Quang and Vietnam. This is a worthy recognition for the province's continuous efforts in preserving and promoting the value of geological and cultural heritage associated with sustainable tourism development".
During the working trip to Bahrain from December 5-9, 2025, the Tuyen Quang delegation attended the honoring ceremony and organized a study program to share experiences in developing cultural tourism - resorts - smart tourism in the capital Manama.
Chairman of Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee Phan Huy Ngoc received the winning cup in the category "World's Leading Cultural Destination 2025".
The working program includes seminars, visits to real models at resort complexes, smart tourism centers, cultural conservation facilities and heritage destinations, jointly organized by the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and the World Tourism Association Middle East.
These activities open up opportunities for extensive cooperation between Tuyen Quang and international partners in cultural tourism, eco-tourism, luxury resorts and night-time economy - important pillars in Tuyen Quang's tourism development strategy for the 2025-2030 period.
Recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark since 2010, Dong Van Stone Plateau, Tuyen Quang is one of the most unique geological regions in Southeast Asia, possessing hundreds of geological, paleontological, and geomorphological heritages dating back up to 500 million years.
Ethnic minorities living in the communes of the Dong Van Stone Plateau still preserve many unique cultural features. (Photo: Chu Viet Bac)
Covering an area of over 2,345 km², this place preserves vivid evidence of the history of the Earth's formation. In addition, there is a unique cultural space of 17 ethnic groups living and preserving traditional customs through many generations: ancient earthen houses, Mong flute festivals, highland markets, Dao people's ordination ceremonies...
The blend of geological - cultural - human heritage creates the unique identity of Tuyen Quang - "The Land of Blossoming Rocks", where each journey is not only about discovery but also about life experiences, meeting the community and feeling the soul of the rocky mountains.
World Travel Awards - "The Oscars of the world tourism industry"
Established in 1993, World Travel Awards (WTA) is considered the "Oscar of the world tourism industry", a leading prestigious award system to honor outstanding organizations, businesses and destinations in the fields of travel - hotels - airlines - resorts - tourist destinations.
The title that Tuyen Quang received this year is not only a source of pride but also a measure of international prestige, affirming the capacity to manage, preserve, promote and attract Vietnamese destinations on the global tourism map.
Spreading the image of "Heritage and Identity"
With the title "World's Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2025", Tuyen Quang has carved its name on the map of international cultural destinations, contributing to the image of friendly Vietnamese tourism - rich in identity - full of potential for sustainable development. The title and image of Tuyen Quang tourism - "Land of heritage and identity", the world's leading cultural destination will be spread.
The award also has a particularly important meaning for tourism in the Northeast region, opening up opportunities to promote the region's image to more than 100 international markets in the World Travel Awards media network. For Tuyen Quang in particular, this is a big boost, bringing the province for the first time into the global cultural nomination group, promoting investment attraction, expanding the tourist market and increasing regional connectivity. The persuasiveness of the Dong Van Stone Plateau comes from its outstanding geological - cultural - community values: an evolutionary history of more than 550 million years, rare fossils, traces of two major extinctions of biosphere; and the identity of 17 ethnic groups with unique architecture, festivals, crafts and traditional cultural spaces, creating a "living museum" that is rarely found anywhere else.
With its rich natural, historical and cultural advantages, Tuyen Quang has been implementing many synchronous solutions to develop tourism sustainably. (Photo: Chu Viet Bac)
To take advantage of the effect of international nominations, Tuyen Quang has implemented many synchronous solutions: promoting communication, diversifying tourism products, developing community-eco-resort tourism, cooperating in human resource training and enhancing inter-provincial connections. The province also focuses on digital transformation with destination databases, digital maps, and digital explanations to improve the quality of experiences and promotion. In addition, localities in the region are recommended to strengthen coordination in infrastructure, preserve identity, develop human resources for green-smart tourism and promote technology application. The international title is both an honor and a responsibility for the whole region to innovate more strongly, towards high standards of sustainable tourism and international integration.
Source: https://vtv.vn/tuyen-quang-duoc-vinh-danh-diem-den-van-hoa-khu-vuc-hang-dau-the-gioi-2025-tai-world-travel-awards-20240912204032185.htm
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