Dong Van Stone Plateau in the northern province of Ha Giang, Vietnam was on October 3 officially recognised as a new member of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN).
The Vietnam’s stone plateau was listed together with other 6 areas at the European Geoparks Conference held on Sunday in Lesvos, Greece. This is the first geopark recognised in Vietnam.
Lying about 150 km from the central town of Ha Giang and approximately 1,000 metres above the sea lever, Dong Van Stone Plateau Geopark covers some 574-sq.km spreading over four districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, and Dong Van.
The plateau features karst stone (80%) in various sizes and shapes and with different characteristics. It is also home to around 250,000 people belonging to nearly 20 ethnic groups who are preserving their rich cultures that has lasted for hundreds of centuries.
Dong Van Stone Plateau has been surveyed by local and foreign specialists from Russia, Germany, Japan, Poland, and Belgium. Various evidence about the Earth’s evolution including fossils of thousands of species that lived some 400-600 million years ago, as well as valleys, rocks, caves, and more have been discovered here.
The GGN asked Vietnam to build a master plan to preserve cultural and geological heritage values of the Dong Van Stone Plateau at the same time boost sustainable economic development in this mountainous province.
Below are some latest photographs of the geopark:
Stone plateau
The Nho Que River runs through the stone mountains
Local people grow corn in some cultivable areas
Dong Van Town viewed from the moutain
Dong Van ancient street zone is a complex of architectural works with unique ancient architectural styles of Vietnam and China including more than 40 houses of Tay, Nung, Hoa, Mong, Dao ethnic groups dwelling generations here.
It is exhausting to travel to the stone plateau. Stones are big like oxes or elephants and containing dangerous bends as folds on a sleeve. Along the road are rocky cliffs on one side and deep abysses on the other side. When coming to Bac Sum slope, Quan Ba heaven gate, Can Ty pass, go through Yen Minh, Mau Due and visit the edifice of the Wang family name (King of Meo ethnic group) – a unique artistic architectural work that was ranked by the Ministry of Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 1993. Looking at terraced fields hugging each mountain, wooden houses shine in time. Young women who are Mong, Dao, Lo Lo ethnic groups have eyes that glisten in the mist of the mountainous region, with tinkling of silver rings, and in colorful costumes go down the mountain to go to the fair. The stone plateau is more stunningly spectacular in a variety of brilliant colours when plum, pear, mint flowers blossom
Source: VietNamNet Bridge
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