May 3rd to May 5th, 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (the standing agency of the Steering Committee for the establishment of Lang Son Global Geopark) organized a field trip to survey, review, and assess the progress of preparations to welcome the UNESCO expert delegation to evaluate the dossier proposing the recognition of Lang Son Global Geopark.

The survey team visited the Lake Lifetime Window Site in Loc Binh District.

The survey team was led by Mr. Nguyen Dang An, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Deputy Head of the standing committee of the Steering Committee for the establishment of Lang Son Global Geopark. The team included Mr. Guy Martini - Senior Advisor, Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, and some Vietnamese consultants; Representatives the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; representatives the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Construction, Transportation, Education and Training; leaders of the People's Committees of districts and city in the Lang Son Geopark area.

During the 3-day field trip, the team conducted surveys at various tourist destinations within the Lang Son Geopark area, including: Bac Le Temple, Ancient Quiet Ocean and Son Thuy Homestay sites in Huu Lung district; Chi Lang Pass, Ammonite World, Continental Eruption, and Past Marine Life sites in Chi Lang district; Tay Cultural Village, Traditional Tile Village, Keng Tao Cave, and Geopark Information Center sites in Bac Son district; Tham Khuyen - Tham Hai Cave site in Binh Gia district; Xu Lang Anise Forest, Rock chaos, and Xu Lang Healing Anise Oil sites in Van Quan district; Khanh Khe Bridge site in Cao Loc district; Na Duong Lake Lifetime Window, and Ban Khieng Waterfall sites in Loc Binh district; Mai Pha Archaeological Site, Tam Thanh Cave Pagoda, Geopark Information Center, Fairy Cave Pagoda, Thoai Mother Goddess Temple, and Geopark Corner in Hoang Van Thu high school in Lang Son city.

 The working team operated in Chi Lang district.

At the survey sites, the team conducted reviews and evaluations of the progress in preparing for the arrival of the UNESCO expert delegation to evaluate the dossier proposing the recognition of Lang Son Global Geopark. Preparation work included infrastructure improvements such as parking lots, landscape renovations, educational outreach activities to enhance community awareness of the geopark, environmental sanitation efforts... Specific work was carried out with each district to focus on understanding, evaluating, and proposing solutions, while committing to addressing any difficulties or obstacles encountered in developing local tourist sites, in line with UNESCO's criteria for evaluating geoparks.

This survey mission serves as an important foundation for synthesizing and evaluating the progress of Lang Son Geopark construction. It will further provide recommendations and proposals to the Provincial People's Committee for leadership and guidance in geopark development, meeting the criteria for welcoming the UNESCO expert delegation to evaluate the dossier proposing the recognition of Lang Son Global Geopark according to the prescribed timeline and strategic plan.

         Nguyễn Minh Chuyển