Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism meets with the delegation of UNESCO consultants and Vietnamese experts

On the morning of March 16, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (the Standing Body of the Steering Committee for the Development of a Global Geopark in Lang Son Province) received and worked with a delegation of UNESCO consultants and Vietnamese experts led by Mr. Guy Martini, an International Senior Consultant, Chairman of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council.

The leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism speaks at the meeting

According to the report of the delegation, from March 11 to March 15, the delegation conducted an overview survey of the current status of the value of geological heritage, biodiversity, archaeological sites, cultural heritage, tourism products in districts within the Geopark and at some other locations in Cao Loc district and Lang Son city.

After the survey, the delegation selected a number of potential spots in the districts and Lang Son city and assessed their current status and investment level to build 4 expected sightseeing routes including route 1: Hanoi – Huu Lung – Lang Son city; route 2: Lang Son city – Cao Loc – Van Quan – Binh Gia – Bac Son; route 3: Bac Son – Van Quan – Chi Lang – Lang Son city; route 4: Lang Son city – Loc Binh – Lang Son city. In particular, each route passes paleontological fossil sites, geological heritage and at least one relic site associated with Mother Goddess beliefs…

Mr. Guy Martini – International Senior Consultant, President of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council speaks at the meeting

The delegation also put forward a number of specific proposals and solutions to develop Lang Son Geopark, such as redefining the scope and boundary of Lang Son Geopark in the direction of expanding to Lang Son city and some communes in Cao Loc district and narrow the scope of Binh Gia district in the Geopark… Besides, the delegation also proposed some minimum conditions that the province needs to complete in the near future such as building information centers in Huu Lung, Chi Lang, Bac Son districts and Lang Son city; paying attention to building parking lots, signboards of instruction and explanation; develop a master plan for the Geopark in association with sustainable socio-economic development in the locality…

At the meeting, the delegates discussed and clarified a number of potentials and strengths in the districts of Lang Son Geopark and some areas in Cao Loc district, Lang Son city and proposed to add some typical places to the expected sightseeing routes.

The comments at the meeting will be collected by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and sent to the Provincial People’s Committee for approval of expanding the scope and boundary of Lang Son Geopark. Thereby, it provides Lang Son province a suitable direction, meeting the conditions of UNESCO for Lang Son Geopark to become a global Geopark.