The land preserves many ancient heritage values

Cao Bang Non Nuoc Geopark has over 130 diverse and rich geological heritages, covering an area of ​​over 4,000 km2 in 10 districts and cities, which is evidence of the formation of the earth's crust over 500 million years ago. With diverse geological features and a temperate subtropical climate, nature has bestowed Cao Bang with many outstanding natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

This is where the ethnic minorities of Tay, Nung, Mong, Dao, San Chi, Lo Lo... have lived for thousands of years, forming and creating a unique, rich, and humane traditional culture. Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has 5 national scenic spots, 96 historical and cultural relics ranked, including 3 special national relics, 25 national relics, 68 provincial relics; 5 national intangible cultural heritages, 1 national treasure, 1 representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Up to now, the UNESCO Global Geopark of Non Nuoc Cao Bang has built 5 experiential tourism routes, including: "Journey to the origin" in Hoa An and Ha Quang districts; "Discovering Phja Oac - The mountain area of ​​changes" in Nguyen Binh district; "Experience the indigenous culture of the fairyland" in Quang Hoa, Trung Khanh and Ha Lang districts; "A time of fire and flowers" in Thach An district - City; "Connecting the UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van stone plateau, Ha Giang - UNESCO Global Geopark of Non Nuoc Cao Bang" in Bao Lam and Bao Lac districts.

Mr. Guy Martini, senior expert, Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network Council, shared: Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark is an ideal place for tourists to learn about the process of the earth's crust formation over 500 million years with many heritages as evidence such as: Fossil heritage sites, marine sediments, volcanic rocks, minerals, limestone landscapes, caves, waterfalls... forming famous beautiful landscapes such as Keo Yen stone chrysanthemum (Ha Quang), Ban Gioc waterfall - Nguom Ngao cave, Mat Than mountain, Quay Son river (Trung Khanh)... and experience the diversity of cultural and historical heritages of ethnic minorities.

With a diverse geological appearance with many beautiful, wild and famous landscapes associated with unique and rich indigenous culture, in recent years, many magazines of developed countries have voted Cao Bang, the focal point of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, as an ideal destination to admire the beautiful, majestic, poetic natural scenery and experience unique indigenous culture. Opening up the direction of sustainable tourism development in Cao Bang, promoting the solution of global issues on climate change prevention, environmental resource protection, biodiversity, creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities in particularly difficult areas...

Implementing well the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network

Immediately after being recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark of Non Nuoc Cao Bang, the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and districts, cities, and people in the Geopark area actively implemented recommendations on preserving and developing the heritage values ​​of the Geopark.

Director of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Management Board Vi Tran Thuy said: Every two years, experts from the UNESCO Global Geopark Network will re-evaluate the Geopark. If the recommendations are not implemented well, the title will be revoked. Determining this as an important task, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Management Board consulted the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Provincial People's Committee, districts and cities to promote the task of preserving and promoting the heritage values ​​of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark.

Organize propaganda and training for tens of thousands of people at all levels, departments, branches, 10 districts, cities, teachers, and school students on the Geopark Education Program, raising awareness of the community and local people according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Provincial workshop "Introducing a set of practical guidelines for sustainable tourism development in the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark area". Geopark education through the model "Club with children to explore Geoparks" in schools... is assessed by UNESCO experts and the Vietnam Geopark Network as an initiative that can be shared with global Geoparks around the world.

Every year, in response to World Environment Cleanup Day (September 19), the Management Board coordinates with the Provincial Youth Union to organize a campaign, mobilizing youth union members from hamlets and communes in the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark to collect waste, plant trees and flowers to create clean and beautiful landscapes at heritage sites on 5 Geopark tourist routes, especially the Basalt Heritage Site of Cau Goi Pass Ma Phuc (Quang Hoa) and the Mountain Eye, Cao Chuong Commune (Trung Khanh) - where many tourists stop to check in. Districts and cities strictly control, prevent stone mining, deforestation, increase forest planting, forest protection, biodiversity protection, environmental ecosystems, etc.

In the work of building, developing and managing the Geopark tourism routes, the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark coordinated with the expert delegation of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network to work with districts and communes in the Geopark area to review, inspect and evaluate the management, protection and exploitation of the infrastructure system; invest in and upgrade infrastructure to build new check-in points to introduce the heritage values ​​of the Geopark; check the system of signs, explanation boards...; increase the participation of local authorities and communities in environmental sanitation, protection, conservation and promotion of Geopark heritage sites... Conduct surveys, research, supplement, evaluate and rank new heritage values ​​to build the 4th experiential tourism route "A time of fire and flowers" in Quang Hoa - Thach An - City districts and the 5th route "Connecting the UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Stone Plateau, Ha Giang with the UNESCO Global Geopark of Non Nuoc Cao Bang" in Bao Lac and Bao Lam districts.

After 2 re-evaluations (2020 and 2023), Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark implemented the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network. Mr. Guy Martini, senior expert, Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network Council, commented: Although Cao Bang still faces many difficulties, all levels, departments, branches and sectors are always interested in directing and mobilizing people to well implement the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network on protecting and promoting the values ​​of the Geopark heritage. Every time I go to Cao Bang for re-evaluation, I see more active participation of state management agencies and people joining hands to protect environmental resources, biodiversity, geological landscapes, combat climate change, develop craft villages of knife forging, incense, do paper, making handmade tiles, dong vermicelli, traditional brocade weaving in Quang Hoa, Ha Quang, Nguyen Binh districts... connecting with tourism; Many districts develop homestay community tourism associated with agriculture, craft villages... creating sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities. Experience in preserving and promoting the heritage values ​​of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark needs to be shared with member countries of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network to jointly protect and promote the heritage of the Geopark better.

Strengthening exchanges, learning and sharing with member countries of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network on implementing the recommendations of the Geopark, the Management Board of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark promotes, preserves and develops the heritage values ​​of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark and 5 Geopark experience routes on central and local media channels; publishes documents, newsletters, leaflets, and the bilingual CAO BANG GEOPARK website in English and Vietnamese, attracting thousands of foreign visitors, contributing to sharing, promoting and introducing Cao Bang province to the world. Participates in many activities organized and launched by the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, strengthening the connection of Geopark member countries, such as: Participating in an online course on managing the UNESCO Global Geopark title; the summary meeting of the Global Geopark Network in the Asia-Pacific region; Responding to the "International Day for Ethnic Minority Communities" living in the UNESCO Geopark area on August 9; International Museum Day on May 18 of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network; participating online in honoring new Geoparks; promoting the development of Geopark brands and products by attaching the Geopark logo to the province's OCOP products such as: Kolia tea, Phja Thap incense, Nguyen Binh dong vermicelli, Luong Noi brocade, brocade printed with beeswax patterns of the Dao Tien people...

After 6 years of operation, Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark has well implemented UNESCO's recommendations including: education about Geoparks; raising awareness of the community and local people according to the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs); strictly prohibiting the trade of geological specimens/materials in the Geopark area; upgrading and improving infrastructure for convenient travel; increasing the participation of the Management Board in the activities of the UNESCO Global Geopark network...

Natural landscapes, forest resources, river systems, national parks, etc., biodiversity are better protected. In particular, some ethnic minority areas have developed homestay community tourism associated with traditional craft villages, agriculture, etc. People not only protect the heritage value of the Geopark but also benefit from the protection of the value of geological heritage and indigenous culture. Thereby, enhancing and effectively promoting the heritage value of the Geopark, contributing to creating many new, unique and special tourism products, attracting visitors to Cao Bang from less than 1 million in 2018 to nearly 2 million in 2024.

By effectively implementing the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark has contributed to the UNESCO Global Geopark Network in promoting sustainable tourism development; solving global issues of environmental protection and climate change; creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities in particularly difficult areas, implementing the United Nations Millennium Goals on sustainable poverty reduction; preserving the cultural identities of ethnic minorities... Affirming the prestige of Cao Bang in organizing the 8th Conference to become a trusted forum to share with domestic and international friends about implementing the recommendations of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network, promoting the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Goals.