Surveying the current status of heritage, tourist sites and working with relevant agencies and units in Lang Son Geopark

Implementing the Plan No. 324/KH-BQLCVĐC of the Management Board of Lang Son Geopark dated December 1^st, 2022 on surveying the current status of heritage, tourist sites and working with relevant agencies and units in Lang Son Geopark in December 2022, the Management Board of Lang Son Geopark organized a mission to survey the current status of heritage, tourist sites and work with relevant agencies and units in five districts: Bac Son, Binh Gia, Chi Lang, Huu Lung, Van Quan in Lang Son Geopark.

Khảo sát thực trạng các điểm di sản, du lịch trong vùng Công viên địa chất Lạng Sơn

The mission surveyed and assessed the current situation and development potential of heritage and tourist sites in Lang Son Geopark. Potential locations, prospects and assessment of the current state and level of investment to develop destinations in Lang Son Geopark such as Chi Lang Pass (Chi Lang district); Tham Khuyen - Tham Hai Cave (Binh Gia district); Bac Le Temple, Dong Lam Eco-Tourism Area, Huu Lien Nature Reserve (Huu Lung District); Mo Mam Eco-Tourism Site (Bac Son District); Na La Cave, Lung Pa Pass (Van Quan District) and so on.

At the meetings with the Culture and Information Divisions of the districts in Lang Son Geopark: The parties discussed and proposed a number of specific activities to the 2023 Plan of  Lang Son Geopark building and developing of the Management Board of Lang Son Geopark in 2023, specifically:

Expected location to build Lang Son Geopark Information Center/Gallery in five districts in the Geopark area (Chi Lang Victory Gallery in Chi Lang district; Culture, Sports and Communication Center in Huu Lung district; Bac Son Uprising Museum in Bac Son district; Pine forest community cultural house in Binh Gia district; the Rest Stop in Lung Pa Pass in Van Quan district.

Establishing a communication group for Lang Son Geopark, including the following units: the Management Board of Lang Son Geopark; Culture and Information Divisions of districts; Culture, Sports and Communication Centers of districts; communes and townships in Lang Son Geopark in order to coordinate in compiling and posting articles, videos on social media, websites and so on.

The propaganda and promotion of Lang Son Geopark should apply the "Bottom-up" model (the local up) because the local people are very knowledgeable about land and culture of Lang Son. Locals people proudly telling stories, introducing their community and living environment will create attraction for domestic and international tourists.

Strengthening cooperation with the provincial information and communication agencies, the grassroots information system to propagate about building and developing activities of Lang Son Geopark (VTC, VTV1.5…) and other Central Press Agencies.

Establishing a group to collect, synthesize and compile legends, poems and practices of ethnic groups in the Geopark area.

Organizing the training courses for officials, civil servants, businesses and local people on heritage, especially Geo-Heritage, Geopark in Chi Lang, Binh Gia, Van Quan districts; Training course on Handicraft production made local  materials and traditional craft villages in Bac Son district; Short-term basic English course for officials of the Management Board of Lang Son Geopark and partnership homestays  of Lang Son Geopark in Huu Lung district

Developing service products of Lang Son Geopark to have economic impact on local people (Chi Lang district: Van Linh chicken and dried noodle; Huu Lung district: Grilled fermented pork rolls and Bat Do bamboo shoots; Bac Son district: Black Chung cake, Dried pork with Clausena indica; Binh Gia district: Dried Clausena indica, Lap Suon; Van Quan district: Products Star Anise and Dried noodle of Bai market).

Implementing environmental protection activities (environmental sanitation activities for dried noodle village in Van Linh commune, Chi Lang district, community tourism villages in Huu Lien commune, Huu Lung district; propaganda the environmental protection models at Hong Phong I hamlet, Chien Thang commune, Bac Son district; organizing the contest "For a waste-free Bac Quynh commune right before the new year 2023").

Determining the basic infrastructure at important destinations in the entire territory of Lang Son Geopark (including a system of information boards at tourist attractions and heritage sites).

Building tours, geological tourist routes, combining sightseeing, learning, scientific research and so on; links between travel businesses, a system of information centers, accommodation and dining establishments and cultural services in the Geopark (cooperating with travel companies in Lang Son province to research, build and run a model tour of extra-curricular activities and Summer Camp to explore and experience Lang Son Geopark for students in Lang Son province. The model tour for 10 typical students in communication about the Geopark per district, one teacher in charge of each district (03 days 02 nights trip).

Organizing activities to raise public awareness associated with the celebration of major festivals and traditional festivals in districts in the Geopark area: the Contest about Geoheritage and Lang Son Geopark within Chi Lang Commune Festival on January 20^th in the cat year of  2023 (Chi Lang district) - Golden bell ringing contest, folk games in Lang Son Geopark area on the campus of Chi Lang Victory Gallery; the contest to learn about Lang Son Geopark for 19 teams 19 communes and townships in Binh Gia district within the framework of Phai Lua Festival (4/4 lunar calendar); Extracurricular activities to learn about the land and people of Bac Son district at the campus of Bac Son Uprising Museum within the framework of Bac Son Uprising Anniversary.

Organizing the Lang Son Provincial mission to visit and learn experience in route building, tours, product branding models bearing the Geopark Logo; Geopark Information Center in Ha Giang Province (for officials of the Culture and Information Division to advise on building and developing of Lang Son Geopark in Bac Son, Binh Gia, Chi Lang, Huu Lung, Van Quan districts; officials of Management Board of Lang Son Geopark.

At the meeting with schools in the Geopark area: Schools proposed the project of Lang Son Geopark at the school, specifically: Tourguide Roleplaying Club in Huu Lung district (Huu Lung High School); Lang Son Geopark Sunday Market (9am-11am) in Lang Son City (Chi Lang High School); Then and Dan Tinh singing club for students at school (Bac Quynh Secondary School, Bac Son district); Club of Then Singing, Dan Tinh, and Chau Dancing and building a Geopark space (Hoang Van Thu Secondary School, Binh Gia district); Club of Then Singing, Dan Tinh and Lion Cat Dancing and creating space of Lang Son Geopark at the school's Green Library and building ideas on models of cobblestone souvenir making in Minh Khai commune (Minh Khai Primary School, Binh Gia District).

The survey to the current status of heritage, tourist sites and working with relevant agencies and units in the area of five districts: Bac Son, Binh Gia, Chi Lang, Huu Lung, Van Quan in Lang Son Geopark took place successfully. Local authorities, related departments and units, schools and local communities paid attention, coordinating and supporting during the mission's visit to survey and work; assessed the current status of heritage and tourism in the Geopark area, agreed on the contents of coordination in builing and developing Lang Son Geopark in 2023.

Pham Huong