Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern border province of Cao Bang was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12.

A view of Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is part of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark

This is the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was recognised in 2010.

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.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said the Global Geopark title is UNESCO’s recognition of diverse landscapes and spiritual cultural values of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang area. It will also help the province boost sustainable socio-economic development and improve local living standards.

Ambassador Tran Thi Hoang Mai, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to UNESCO, said during the dossier verification process, UNESCO experts highly evaluated the values of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark. 

Aside from natural values, she said, it also contains a number of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, particularly revolutionary relic sites such as special national relic site of Pac Bo, where Nguyen Ai Quoc or President Ho Chi Minh, returned in 1941 to lead the domestic revolution after spending over 30 years in other countries to seek ways to save the country.

It is also home to special national relic site of Tran Hung Dao Forest, where then General Vo Nguyen Giap in 1944 established the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People’s Army today.

Chairman of the Cao Bang People’s Committee Hoang Xuan Anh pledged that local authorities and people will associate the conservation and development of Non Nuoc the Cao Bang Global Geopark with local socio-economic development in a sustainable manner.

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.-VNA