On July 20, 2023 at Four Points by Sheraton Lang Son, Lang Son Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee organized the Annual Meeting of the Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee in 2023.

Attending the conference were Mr. Duong Xuan Huyen - Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lang Son Province, Head of the Steering Committee for Lang Son Global Geopark Construction; Mr. Nguyen Phuc Ha, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Standing Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for Lang Son Global Geopark Construction; Representatives of natural Science Subcommittee, Ministry of Science and Technology; Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Dr. Trinh Hai Son, Head of  the Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee; Mr. Tran My Dung - Deputy Director of the Department of Geology, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Director of Ha Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mrs. Khuc Thi Thoi, Deputy Director of Dak Nong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Director of Dak Nong Geopark Management Board; Leaders of local departments, representatives of three UNESCO Global Geopark Management Boards (Dong Van Karst Plateau, Non nuoc Cao Bang and Dak Nong) and businesses interested in the geopark field with many scientists.

Overview of Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee Conference in 2023. Photo : Tuyet Mai - Lang Son Newspaper

The conference discussed the report of Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee in the first 6 months of the year, the tasks for the last 6 months of 2023. Accordingly, in the first 6 months of the year, the Subcommittee has participated in many activities of the Global Geoparks Network and the Asia - Pacific Geoparks Network; actively prepared for the periodic inspection, revalidation of the title of UNESCO Global Geoparks: Dong Van Karst Plateau, Non Nuoc Cao Bang and Dak Nong; coordinated consultation and support for Lang Son Geopark in the process of completing the dossier for submission to the appraisal of the global Geopark… Regarding the tasks in the last 6 months of the year, the Subcommittee continued to cooperate with consultants to complete the dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognizing Lang Son Geopark as a global Geopark in November 2023; proposed to the authorities of the provinces with geoparks to pay attention to research, arrange space to build scientific research centers combined with centers for organizing conferences, seminars, tourist accommodation services and cultural spaces in the geopark area; building management boards of  UNESCO Global Geoparks to become administrative and non-business units towards self-funding of operation,...

At the conference, Mr. Duong Xuan Huyen - Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Lang Son Global Geopark Construction expressed his wish that Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee and other provinces with UNESCO global geoparks will continue to support and guide Lang Son province on expertise and experience in the process of building and developing the geopark, completing the dossier to meet the requirements of UNESCO’s Global Geopark evaluation criteria for Lang Son Geopark. He requested the Steering Committee for Lang Son Global Geopark Construction, the People's Committees of districts, the city and relevant agencies and units to increase absorption and learn the experiences of other provinces, advise and propose practical solutions. Specifically, in the process of building and completing the dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the title of Lang Son Global Geopark in the near future.

Mr. Duong Xuan Huyen - Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Lang Son Global Geopark Construction spoke  at the Conference. Photo : Tuyet Mai - Lang Son Newspaper

During the conference, representatives of UNESCO Global Geoparks Management Boards in other provinces and Lang Son Geopark Management Board shared experiences in the process of building and developing Geoparks, completing the Dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of a global geopark and made presentations: "Overcrowding in tourism development of Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, some proposed solutions"; educational activities on UNESCO Global Geoparks"; Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark – Conservation and promotion of geological heritage values”; Lang Son geological heritage potentials. Currently, Lang Son province is actively implementing the construction of a geopark in strict compliance with UNESCO's criteria and standards, it is focusing on building four tourist routes with 38 attractions, including cooperation to improve the quality of tourism services at routes and attractions in the Geopark, economic development cooperation, towards building and improving the quality of the network of partners in Lang Son Geopark, which is the basis for building a global geopark.

Also at the conference, Mr. Trinh Hai Son, Director of the Institute of Geosciences and Minerals, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Head of Viet Nam Global Geoparks Subcommittee presented the idea of building the Center Model for research, organization of conferences, seminars and accommodation and services for experts associated with cultural parks at geoparks.

In the framework of the Conference, Lang Son Geopark Management Board and representatives of 13 accommodation service establishments, restaurants, cafes on four sightseeing routes in Lang Son Geopark area signed Lang Son Geopark partnership agreements. Besides, Lang Son Geopark Management Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to construct and develop Lang Son Geopark with Viettel Lang Son, VietcomBank Lang Son in order to cooperate in promoting Lang Son Geopark, partners, building a system of panels and information panels for Lang Son Geopark tourist routes.

            The signing ceremony of the Lang Son Geopark partnership agreements. Photo : Tuyet Mai - Lang Son Newspaper

Previously, 17 to 19 July, 2023, sideline activities were held within the framework of the Conference, including surveying and experiencing geological, cultural and natural landscapes in Lang Son Geopark tourist route No. 2 (Lang Son city, Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Van Quan, Binh Gia, Bac Son districts); organized a training workshop on the contents related to the Law on Environmental Protection in 2020 and guiding documents for implementation for Geopark Management Boards; had sports exchange between the Geopark Management Boards of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dak Nong, Lang Son, Lang Son Provincial Library, Lang Son Provincial Museum... creating a joyful atmosphere, connecting officials and employees working in the field of Geopark construction and development.

Taking a sports exchange souvenir photo

The field mission  took a souvenir photo at Huu Nghi International Border Gate

On the afternoon of July 19, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee (Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO) to organize a workshop on Viet Nam Geoparks management in the new context. 

At the Workshop, the delegates participated in 40 multiple choice questions on Kahoot software about the Global Geoparks Network, Vietnam Geoparks Network, Lang Son Geopark, Decree 08/2022/ND-CP dated January 10, 2022 of the Government  detailing a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection; listening to experts and researchers’presentations: the appropriateness of the legal basis system in state management of geoheritages and geoparks in Vietnam; sharing about the model of Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark  (Ha Giang), Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark (Cao Bang), Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark (Dak Nong); the model of Lang Son Geopark Management Board as recommended by the Advisory Team; some models of global geopark management boards in the world.

The workshop contributed to strengthening the connection between members of the Vietnam global geoparks network, cooperation and experience sharing, thereby step by step building, developing and effectively managing the geopark, towards building a management model of the UNESCO Global Geopark in Vietnam in a unified and effective manner, worthy of an international prestigious title. For Lang Son province, the locality is initially building and developing the Geopark, completing the Dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the Global Geopark. This is an opportunity for Lang Son province to absorb the valuable experiences of other provinces in the construction and development of Lang Son Geopark, towards the title of a UNESCO Global Geopark and to promote local economic - cultural - social development in the period of regional and international integration.

The Workshop "Vietnam Geoparks Management in the new context in 2023"

The annual meeting of Vietnam Global Geoparks Subcommittee in 2024 is expected to be held in Cao Bang province.

                                                                             Nguyen Minh Chuyen