UNESCO global geopark to attract three million visitors

Photo: Xuan Phuong

On this occasion, the ninth annual Buckwheat Flower Festival in 2023 was opened in the province to honor unique heritage values and promote beautiful images of the people and the typical flower in the Northwestern highlands.

The festival contributes to preserving traditional cultural features, effectively promoting the value of cultural heritage, scenic spots, as well as tourism offerings of the province.

Photo: Xuan Phuong

Located about 300km from the capital of Hanoi, Dong Van Karst Plateau is a special limestone area containing typical imprints of the development of the earth’s crust, natural phenomena, unique landscapes, rich biodiversity, and long-standing cultural traditions of indigenous communities.

On October 3, 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized by UNESCO as an official member of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), becoming Vietnam's first geological park and the second in Southeast Asia.

In 2014 and 2019, UNESCO re-recognized Dong Van Karst Plateau as a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network for the 2015-2018 and 2019-2022 periods.

Photo: Xuan Phuong

Dong Van Karst Plateau has become an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists, along with its diverse and unique tourist offerings and attractions such as Lung Cu flagpole, Vuong Mansion relic site, Dong Van ancient street, Tu San canyon, Ma Pi Leng pass, H'Mong Khen (Flute) Festival, and Khau Vai market.

The number of visitors to Ha Giang increased from 2,000 in 2010 to 2.2 million in 2022 and is expected to reach more than three million in 2023. Sustainable tourism development has been creating sources of livelihood, increased people’s incomes, reduced poverty, and significantly changed the life of local residents.

Photo: Xuan Phuong

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong lauded the efforts of Ha Giang’s authorities and people to overcome difficulties to bring the province forward.

He urged the province to pay more attention to preserving and promoting its geological, cultural heritage values and natural landscapes for sustainable tourism development.

The province needs to further improve the investment environment, management, and protection and exploitation of heritage values so that heritage is truly an asset that makes important contribution to the local socioeconomic development, he said.