20th International Symposium on Vulcanospleology set for Dak Nong

Bang Mo Volcano (Earlier called Ea T'Linh volcano). Photo: Le Thanh Dat/VNA

This is the first time Vietnam has been chosen to host ISV20, which will take place from November 22 to 26. 150 local and international delegates, including John Brush, UIS-CVC president and members, Guy Martini, chairman of UNESCO's Department of Ecological and Earth Sciences, as well as embassies and consulates general of a variety of nations, including Australia, Korea, Japan, and China, and numerous scientists and researchers from similar industries, will attend.

Dak Nong province hosts the ISV20 conference to commemorate Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23, highlighting the province's efforts in conserving and thoughtfully utilising heritage values, particularly while also offering alternatives for "evolving the tourism industry based on enhancing inherent advantages, ethnic values, indigenous environmental character traits, and global geo-tourism."

The conference is a critical external programme that assists the community in effectively introducing and promoting the volcanic cave system, a geological legacy containing remnants of early human civilization. Simultaneously, the event gathered experts from researching and deepening the values of the cave system and ancient culture and exchanging experiences, assisting in protecting the province's world heritage.

Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh, vice president of Dak Nong Province, gives bouquets to foreign experts attending the conference

Dak Nong is located at the southwest gateway to the Central Highlands and linked to Ho Chi Minh City by National Road No.14. The region has the largest volcanic cave system in Southeast Asia, which were still active 10,000 years ago.

Despite being a newcomer participant in the Global Geoparks Network, Dak Nong has taken the initiative in globalisation, and was therefore delighted to be universally chosen by UIS-CVC as the host location for ISV20.

The event is presented by the Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee, the Institute of Geosciences and Minerals (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), and the Vietnam Museum of Nature (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology).

Dak Nong Geopark

In addition, the province of Dak Nong is coordinating on a scientific conference, "15 Years of Development of Geoparks in Vietnam" set for November 23 to gain insight from international experiences in the realm of preservation, monitoring, and sustainable usage of heritage. It will help boost the province's reputation on the world stage and improve regional collaboration and mutual understanding about geological heritage protection and sustainable usage.

In July 2020, UNESCO certified Dak Nong Geopark as a member of the Global Geopark Network. Dak Nong is the third location in Vietnam and the 164th location worldwide to be designated as a Global Geopark.

ISV is the most significant activity of UIS-CVC in terms of creating a venue for the communication of knowledge, research findings, and member networking in this sector.

Beauty of Dak Nong Global Geopark UNESCO has designated Vietnam’s Dak Nong Geopark as one of its Global Geoparks. Dak Nong is the third park in Vietnam to have been awarded this honor so far after Dong Van Krast Plateau and Non Nuoc Cao Bang in northern Vietnam.

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