The geopark, with a total area of 3300 km²
locating in 7 districts, has over 130 international-value unique geological
heritage sites such as limestone cones, valleys, caves, and an interconnected
underground lake-river-cave system. In addition, there are many famous landscape
attractions such as Phia Oac, Phia Den and Ban Gioc waterfall - one of the four
largest and most beautiful border falls in the world. In addition to unique
geological features, this is also a land of cultural and historical thickness
with more than 200 ranked cultural and historical relics including 3 special
national monuments and 23 national monuments. This place is also considered the
base of the Vietnamese revolution during the resistance war against the French
colonialists.
Traditional water wheels)
on Quay Sơn river, Trung Khanh, district, Cao Bang province
Along with preserving and promoting the values of geological, cultural
and historical heritage within the geopark, for many years, Cao Bang has set
the goals associated with sustainable tourism development. In phase 1, Cao Bang has completed the
construction of the Geopark in accordance with UNESCO criteria. In the coming
time, UNESCO consultants will be invited to formulate an overall development
plan to ensure the linkage with sustainable development to maximize the
available values of the geological park, focusing on strengthening
infrastructure investment and developing partner as well as product system to
ensure livelihoods improvement for local people”.
Cao Bang province focuses on exploiting three main
experience routes in the geological park area including the western route
"Experience Phia Oac - the mountains of transformations" (in Nguyen
Binh), the northern route "Experience history and freedom" (in Hoa An
and Ha Quang) and the eastern route "Experience traditional cultures in a
wonderland” (in Trung Khanh, Quang Hoa and Ha Lang). The above-mentioned routes
are expected to bring visitors special experiences about the land, culture and locals
in the north of the country.
In a recent workshop, Ms. Pham Le Thao, Deputy
Director of Travel Management Department said “UNESCO's recognition of the Non
Nuoc Cao Bang global geological park is not only important for with Cao Bang
province but also an honor and great pride for Vietnam, which contributes to
the development of tourism industry nationwide. To develop tourism based on the
potential and unique advantages of the Global Geopark, Cao Bang needs to take
advantage of domestic and international support and cooperation, making it an
attractive destination”.
A rock stilt house in Khuoi Ky
village, Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district
Assessing and promoting the value of the unique
geological heritage of the Geopark to domestic and international visitors is an
essential task that Cao Bang Province is trying to do. At the same time, how to
involve local people in the development and conservation is not an easy task. Assessing
Cao Bang's efforts in exploiting natural advantages and developing sustainable
tourism, said Mr. Michael Croft, UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam, “We were also
informed by the geopark Management Board that the number of visitors to Cao
Bang is increasing. Despite having great potential for tourism development, we
also need to look forward to sustainable tourism development. The Geopark is a
complex of geological, cultural, landscape and community elements living in and
around the area, so it must be a harmonious combination of integrated
development".
With the incentives that nature has granted,
authorities, the locals and businesses in Cao Bang are accompanying to promote tourism
development potential to attract more and more domestic and international visitors
to Cao Bang, making it one of the most favorite mountainous attractions in
Vietnam.