Promoting geological heritage values ​​- a launching pad for Lang Son tourism

Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark is a prestigious title, creating a strategic opportunity for Lang Son to position itself on the international tourism map and creating a launching pad to attract investment in sustainable tourism development.

Located in the Northeast of Vietnam, Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark (GGP) covers nearly 4,900 km². With the theme “The Flow of Life in the Sacred Land”, the Park converges unique geological, landscape and cultural values, becoming an internationally recognized “living natural museum”, officially announced by UNESCO in April 2025 and awarded the certificate of recognition on June 2, 2025.

On June 2, at the headquarters of the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, Lang Son Geopark was officially awarded a certificate of recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

International value

Lang Son owns 24 geological formations, of which 15 were first established in Vietnam. Many traces of ancient underground rivers, limestone cave systems such as Tham Khoach cave, Doi cave, Lac cave... prove the hundreds of millions of years of tectonic history of the earth. The highlight of Lang Son Geopark is also the unique paleontological fossils, the majestic mountain landscape blending with the primeval vegetation.

Along with its geological value, Lang Son is a land bearing the imprint of local history and culture. Archaeological sites such as Tham Khuyen - Tham Hai cave, Keo Leng cave, Gio cave, or Nhi - Tam Thanh cave complex record traces of ancient Vietnamese people tens of thousands of years ago. Outstanding religious structures such as Bac Le Temple, Tam Thanh Pagoda, Dong Dang Mau Temple, Mau Thoai Temple are associated with the worship of Mau, a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Na Duong Depression - a rare "ancient basin"

Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark currently gathers 38 attractions, divided into 4 unique tourist routes with attractive themes such as: "Discovering the World of the Upper World", "Journey to Heaven", "Wildlife on Earth", "Road to the Aquarium",... Thereby forming an ecosystem of experiential, educational, and resort tourism, expanding opportunities to attract domestic and foreign tourists and investors.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dang An, Director of the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the title of UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son is a boost for Lang Son to develop tourism associated with conservation, and at the same time is a catalyst for green economic growth, creating jobs and improving livelihoods for local people.

Loc Binh - the nucleus of eco-tourism development and green investment

As one of the key points of Lang Son Global Geopark, Loc Binh district is emerging as a "green gem" with full potential for developing eco-tourism, culture, community and high-class resorts.

Survey team at the World Lake site (belonging to heritage site No. 35 - UNESCO Global Geopark Lang Son)

With an area of ​​over 1,000 km², diverse terrain, and a cool climate all year round, Loc Binh converges many valuable geological heritages. The highlight is the Na Duong depression - a rare "ancient basin", surrounded by majestic limestone mountains, along with a system of caves, waterfalls, and primeval forests creating an impressive landscape, with great potential for eco-tourism and resort products.

The locality also owns Mau Son tourist area, known as “Sa Pa of the Northeast” and is attracting large investors in the fields of resort tourism, adventure sports and health care. Other destinations such as Khanh Xuan fault point, Ban Khieng waterfall, Na Cay lake… are being surveyed to be included in the chain of geotourism products.

Not only has natural landscape, Loc Binh is also home to many ethnic minority communities such as Tay, Nung, Dao, San Chay... with Then, Sli, Luon folk songs and unique Long Tong, Cau Mua, and Tet Nhay festivals. This is a valuable foundation for developing community and cultural tourism, contributing to preserving heritage and creating livelihoods for people.

Identifying the potential, Lang Son province has organized many survey programs and promotion seminars to orient the development of tourism products in Loc Binh. In particular, at the Conference on developing eco-tourism products in Loc Binh district (May 2025), Mr. Hoang Xuan Thuan, Director of the Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion of Lang Son province affirmed that the flora and fauna in Mau Son mountain and ancient fossil creatures in Na Duong coal mine are natural "treasures" of Loc Binh. This place can completely become a new growth pole in green tourism development, creating a spillover effect for the whole region, becoming a highlight to attract domestic and foreign tourists in the coming time.

Leaders of Lang Son Province's Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion work with international partners on tourism development cooperation and promoting the image of Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark. (Photo: Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television)

Breakthrough with global synchronization and connection promotion

In recent years, all levels and sectors in Lang Son province have been making efforts to promote tourism in the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark. In particular, the Lang Son Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center has coordinated with relevant units to promote tourism in the Geopark through various forms of propaganda, organizing seminars to introduce destinations, participating in events promoting the Geopark at home and abroad, promoting linkages to attract resources to build and develop the network of partners for the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark.

Lang Son also proactively promotes the image of the Geopark through international forums and fairs, develops digital technology applications, smart tourism maps, 3D paleontological models, signboard systems and symbols specific to each heritage site.

The province pays special attention to training local tour guides and collaborators, encouraging young people to participate in heritage conservation, and applying digital transformation in tourism promotion. Activities such as the training course "Promoting the role of youth in preserving geological heritage" are evidence of a sustainable development strategy that focuses on the community.

Positioning the core tourism products of the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark (Geopark) region as geological tourism products (Geological trail, Natural Museum at Na Duong Lake World Point), adventure tourism (cave exploration, sinkhole, Via Ferrata, waterfall crossing, trekking, zipline, SUP rowing, Kayaking) and identifying satellite tourism products as 38 points on 4 tourism routes of Geopark, Tourist Village, Cultural Tourism Village in the Lang Son Global Geopark region

In the long term, Lang Son aims to build a multi-layered tourism ecosystem: from educational, experiential, and resort tourism to specialized products such as geological exploration tourism, health care tourism, and highland resorts. Regional tourism routes will also be promoted, especially connecting with Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Bac Kan, localities that share global geoparks, creating a unique “geological heritage corridor” in the North.

At the same time, the province continues to strengthen international integration and cooperation, participating in activities of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, the Asia-Pacific Regional Geopark Network, the Vietnam Global Geopark Network, etc. Thereby, gradually spreading geological values ​​to a large number of domestic and international tourists.

With a strategic vision and the support of the people and businesses, Lang Son is gradually transforming the title of Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark into a new growth driver. It is not only a journey to preserve heritage, but also an opportunity to develop a green economy, attract investment and put Lang Son on the world tourism map.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/phat-huy-cac-gia-tri-di-san-dia-chat-be-phong-cho-du-lich-xu-lang-20250611152431773.htm