Living among the rocks, keeping the heritage soul
According to scientists , Dong Van Stone Plateau is over 540 million years old, possessing the most unique geological formations in Vietnam, with high scientific value, rarely compared to any other place in the world. With an area of over 2,350 km2, an average altitude of 1,400 - 1,600 m, stretching across 23 communes, this limestone mountain area has 139 geological heritage sites, including 15 international heritage sites and 68 national heritage sites. This place is also endowed by nature with majestic wonders such as Quan Ba Twin Mountains, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Tu San Canyon...
Behind the majestic beauty of fossils, karst valleys, and cat-ear mountains... lies the long-standing culture of 17 ethnic minorities, creating a unique cultural harmony. 16 festivals, social customs, beliefs, and folk knowledge of ethnic minorities have been honored as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as: Forest God Worship Ceremony (Pu Peo), Gau Tao, the art of Khen, flax growing and weaving techniques (Mong); Bo Y folk songs; Khau Vai market (Nung, Giay)...
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| Tourists explore the poetic beauty of Nho Que River. |
Not only affirming unique cultural values, these heritages are also "meeting places" that attract tourists, bringing experiences imbued with local identity. Community cultural tourism villages such as Nam Dam (Quan Ba commune), Pa Vi (Meo Vac commune), Lo Lo Chai (Lung Cu commune) are considered "magnets" attracting domestic and foreign tourists, and are also places where heritage lives with the community, present in every house, the sound of the panpipe, the color of embroidered skirts, rituals, customs... creating a "heritage fire" that lights up the Stone Plateau.
Thanks to its outstanding geological, historical and cultural values, in 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized by UNESCO as a Geopark, becoming the first Geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia. To date, Dong Van Karst Plateau has successfully passed three re-evaluations of its membership in the Geopark Network (GGN) and maintained its title with the Green Card - the highest level of UNESCO.
Turn heritage into assets
Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, Consultant of the UNESCO Geopark Network, affirmed: “The greatest success of the UNESCO Geopark of Dong Van Karst Plateau is turning heritage into a development resource, directly improving the livelihoods of the community. To maintain the UNESCO title and enhance its global value, the province has taken the people as the center, because they are both the conservation subjects and the beneficiaries of the heritage.”
The story of heritage associated with the community is a testament to the extraordinary vitality of the residents of the rocky region. In a place where nearly 3/4 of the area is made up of cat-ear rocky mountains, steep terrain, and harsh climate, the people of the Rocky Plateau still persistently exploit and create a unique method - "rock hole farming". That is the act of carrying soil from deep crevices into rock holes, patiently heaping up small handfuls of soil to sow corn seeds. Behind each corn hole is the sweat, intelligence, and courage of the people of the highlands to cherish life. It is this uniqueness that has made "rock hole farming" a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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| The Khen is in harmony with the traditional dance of the Mong boys and girls in Meo Vac commune. |
In the period of 2021 - 2025, Tuyen Quang province has synchronously deployed many solutions to preserve and promote the value of Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO Heritage Park such as: Promoting propaganda and education to raise public awareness of heritage values; preserving culture, geology, landscape, and biodiversity; implementing 8 provincial-level scientific research topics; investing in infrastructure, standardizing 45 heritage sites on tourist routes 1, 2, 3 and operating information station route 4; building experience route number 5 connecting with Non Nuoc Cao Bang Heritage Park.
To date, 23 communes in the Stone Plateau region have more than 5,000 commercial establishments, nearly 1,650 hotels, restaurants, and homestays; 73 service, handicraft, and homestay establishments have been recognized as official partners of the UNESCO Stone Plateau Park. Many typical OCOP products help increase the value and income of the people.
Along with the above results, tourism in the Stone Plateau is increasingly attractive with unique adventures and experiences. From the Mong Panpipe Festival with its rich mountain and forest colors, the brilliant Buckwheat Flower Festival, the International Marathon on the legendary Happiness Road, to rowing on the green Nho Que River, exploring mysterious caves or trekking through dangerous cat-ear rocks... all combine to become attractive destinations, attracting domestic and foreign tourists. In 2024 alone, Dong Van Stone Plateau welcomed over 2 million visitors, with tourism revenue reaching over 4,000 billion VND and creating jobs for about 8,000 direct workers.
Affirming heritage status
Currently, Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO World Heritage Park is entering a period of intense preparation for the fourth re-evaluation in 2026, with the goal of maintaining the title in the period 2026 - 2030 and the following years. Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vuong Ngoc Ha affirmed: "The Provincial People's Committee has issued a comprehensive action plan, closely following the recommendations of UNESCO and GGN at the third evaluation (2022). The overarching goal is to harmoniously integrate conservation with development, taking heritage as the foundation, the community as the subject and international integration as the driving force".
According to Plan No. 22 KH-UBND dated July 31, 2025 of the Provincial People's Committee on Deploying tasks to serve the re-evaluation of the Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO Bridge Park for the fourth time in 2026: Relevant agencies and units must urgently complete the organization, upgrade infrastructure, embellish the heritage, build a community education model, promote communication to complete the dossier..., all tasks must be completed before April 30, 2026. This is an important milestone for the province to be ready to welcome the UNESCO and GGN expert delegation expected to come to the field, working from May to August 2026.
With a sense of urgency, the preparation work was carried out synchronously by all levels, sectors and localities according to the motto of "5 clear": clear people, clear work, clear progress, clear results, clear responsibilities. In which, the Management Board of Dong Van Stone Plateau National Park is the coordinating focal point; 23 communes in the Stone Plateau play a direct role in beautifying the destination, promoting the internal strength of the community; domestic and international experts accompany and provide technical support.
To enhance the visitor experience, 4 new heritage sites will be surveyed and developed including: the North Pole (Lung Cu commune), Thach Ke Thach Khuyen (Quan Ba commune), Nho Que lake - Tu San gorge (Meo Vac commune) and Mau Due Antimony Mine (Mau Due commune). The system of signs, information boards integrated with QR codes, promotional signs and directional signs will also be redesigned, promising to bring a friendlier, more modern and complete experience to visitors. The "community-centered" mindset is clearly demonstrated through the mobilization of socialization to renovate and preserve ecological landscapes on key tourist routes.
With thorough preparation, responsibility and strategic vision, Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO World Heritage Site is ready to enter the 2026 re-evaluation period with confidence, autonomy and pride. This is also an important foundation for Tuyen Quang province to realize the goals according to the Master Plan for the development of Dong Van Karst Plateau National Tourist Area to 2025, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister.
The province strives to turn the Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO World Heritage Park into a national tourist area by 2030; total tourism revenue reaches 5,000 billion VND, creating jobs for over 13,000 direct workers. In particular, Tuyen Quang province is currently campaigning to vote for the Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO World Heritage Park as "Asia's Leading Cultural Destination". Thereby, continuing to promote the heritage to the world, affirming its position on the regional tourism map.
From a harsh rocky land, Dong Van Stone Plateau has risen to become a global brand. Maintaining the UNESCO title is not only a task but also an affirmation of the community's enduring vitality, the thousand-year value of the heritage and the aspiration to reach international stature from the northernmost point of the Fatherland.
Thu Phuong
Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/202508/lua-di-san-tren-mien-da-xam-4907a4b/
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