New sustainable development opportunities for Vietnamese tourism from global geological heritage

Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark sets out the responsibility to preserve and promote unique natural and cultural values ​​on the journey of sustainable development of globally valuable heritage in Vietnam.

The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO will officially hold a ceremony to receive the title of Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark - a prestigious international title recognizing the unique geological, landscape and cultural values ​​of the land at the head of the Fatherland on June 28, in Lang Son city. This is the fourth geopark in Vietnam to be recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Director of UNESCO's Department of Ecology and Earth Sciences , Mr. Antonio De Sousa Abreu, assessed that this new accession not only contributes to enhancing the region's identity, but also opens up new development opportunities for Vietnam.

New "gem" with different values

According to information from the organizing committee, the Director General of the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and representatives of many central ministries and branches, international organizations, domestic and foreign geological, tourism and cultural experts, as well as representatives of provinces with Geoparks such as Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dak Nong, and Phu Yen will attend this honoring ceremony.

The event is an opportunity to honor the value of Lang Son's geological heritage and traditional culture, and at the same time, to start a journey to promote tourism potential, call for investment, and promote sustainable socio-economic development of the locality; to connect extensively with the network of global geoparks, to cooperate and exchange experiences in managing, preserving and promoting the values ​​of human natural heritage for sustainable development; to open up many new opportunities for sustainable tourism development in Vietnam in general and Lang Son in particular.

Leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province assessed that this recognition will help Lang Son province have more motivation as well as opportunities to focus resources to strengthen the management, conservation and promotion of the value of geological heritage, cultural heritage, history, archeology, biodiversity, as well as unique scenic spots of Lang Son province.

Some fossils discovered by experts in the Lang Son Geopark area. (Photo: Lang Son Newspaper)

Previously, the UNESCO Director General and international delegates also surveyed the Park's outstanding heritage sites such as Na Lung Than garden, Hoa Hoi stop, Tam Thanh pagoda, interacted with the local community, and experienced the unique culture of Lang Son...

Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark was recognized by the Global Geoparks Council in September 2024 and officially announced by UNESCO in April 2025, becoming the fourth Global Geopark in Vietnam, after Dong Van (Ha Giang), Non Nuoc Cao Bang and Dak Nong.

The park covers an area of ​​nearly 4,843 km² (accounting for 58% of the area and 78% of the province's population), is a unique natural and cultural treasure, preserving 500 million years of geological evolution with many valuable vestiges from ancient seas, volcanoes, ironwood forests to majestic cave systems such as Nguom Mooc Cave, Tham Lum and Ung Roac sinkholes; outstanding biodiversity value with Huu Lien Nature Reserve... These vestiges have now become attractive destinations for tourists who love exploration and science.

Former Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences and Mineral Resources, Associate Professor, PhD Nguyen Tan Van commented: "The special thing about Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark is the unique form of Karst fields, which is completely different from the old Karst towers and peaks located in Cao Bang or Ha Giang before."

Young people are passionate about experiencing the roads in Ha Giang Geopark. (Photo: Vuong Cong Nam/Vietnam+)

More opportunities for sustainable development of Vietnamese heritage

Lang Son Global Geopark has about 200 caves, diverse and massive in both scale and nature with a series of dry caves, wet caves, fossil caves or a system of mysterious underground caves...

It is worth mentioning that the cave system here mainly develops horizontally with layers of diverse and beautiful stalactites, creating a scene that is both majestic, wild and beautiful and magical.

Through thousands of years of residential development in the region, the Park has created a system of scenic spots, historical and cultural relics and unique heritages such as: Long Tong festival, Na Nhem festival, Ky Cung-Ta Phu festival; Tay-Nung ethnic lion dance, sli singing; and Then practice and the worship of the Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms have been recognized by UNESCO as representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Since its recognition, Lang Son Global Geopark has become a new tourist highlight, attracting more and more visitors and investors. With 38 attractions, the locality has built 4 tourist routes with the theme "The flow of life in the sacred land," including: Route 1 - Discovering the World of the Upper Realm; Route 2 - Journey to the Heavenly Realm; Route 3 - Rustic life on earth; Route 4 - Road to the Aquarium.

One of the cave systems in Lang Son Geopark. (Photo: Van Dat/VNA)

Lang Son's goal in the coming time is to build the Park into a pillar of green and sustainable tourism development, with the brand strategy "Lang Son Global Geopark - The flow of life in the sacred land", and the special product "The Great Journey" to attract domestic and foreign tourists.

It can be said that the title of UNESCO Global Geopark not only brings pride but also places on the shoulders of the local government and people a heavy responsibility in preserving and promoting unique natural and cultural values ​​on the journey of sustainable development, affirming Vietnam's position on the global heritage map./.

Established in 2015, the UNESCO Global Geoparks designation recognizes geological heritage of international significance. The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network serves local communities by combining the conservation of unique geological heritage, raising public awareness and promoting sustainable development.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/co-hoi-phat-trien-ben-vung-moi-cho-du-lich-viet-tu-di-san-dia-chat-toan-cau-post1046492.vnp