Non Nuoc Cao Bang receives UNESCO global geopark status

A corner of Non Nuoc Cao Bang geopark (Source: VNA)

Non Nuoc Cao Bang is about 300km from Hanoi capital city. It covers more than 3,000 sq.km. in the districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang and Phuc Hoa and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts.

The geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment, volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can give researchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. It is also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and flora species.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang was established in 2015. In November 2016, Cao Bang submitted a dossier to UNESCO to seek the global geopark recognition. A survey team of UNESCO came to the province in July 2017 to make assessment of the park’s values and conservation work.

It is now the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was accredited in 2010. The park is also the eight of its kind in Southeast Asia to receive the status.

At the event, the province announced the historical relic site of 1950 Border Victory in Thach An district as a special national relic site. The border campaign was the first large-scale battle of the Vietnam People’s Army against the French army during the war. As the first and only campaign that saw President Ho Chi Minh on the front line, its victory marked a turning point leading to the final victory of Vietnam in its past struggle against France.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed the importance of the UNESCO recognition, saying it means Vietnam has another national trademark in terms of landscape and geology at international level.

He recommended Cao Bang to build up a tourism development model that should combine cultural and historical values, patriotism, natural landscapes, and cuisine, among others, thus creating diversity and identity.

The PM emphasised the need for Cao Bang to take innovative measures to turn heritage preservation and promotion into a livelihood, helping local residents have better living standard.