The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on November 24 received a certificate recognising its geopark as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.
A volcanic cave in the Dak Nong Geopark (Photo: VNA)
Dak Nong (VNA) – The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on November 24received a certificate recognising its geopark as part of the UNESCO GlobalGeoparks Network.
The Dak Nong Geopark is the latest member of theglobal network and the third to obtain this title in Vietnam.
It covers more than 4,700 sq.km. of land in sixof the eight district-level localities in Dak Nong, namely Krong No, Cu Jut,Dak Mil, Dak Song, Dak G’Long, and Gia Nghia, equivalent to two-fifths of theprovince’s total area.
According to domestic and foreign scientists,there are 65 heritage and geomorphological sites in the Dak Nong Geopark,including volcanic craters, volcanic caves, and waterfalls.
Notably, this geopark is home to the largestsystem of volcanic caves in Southeast Asia, with more than 50 caves and a totallength of over 10,000m.
Once coming to the Dak Nong Geopark, visitorscan also explore the Central Highlands’ space of gong culture – a UNESCO-recognisedmasterpiece of the intangible heritage of humanity, the culture of M’Nongpeople – the ethnic group that has the longest residence history in theprovince, along with the culture of other ethnic minorities.
UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Michael Croftsaid the Dak Nong Geopark boasts the combination of natural beauty and locals’unique culture, both of which need to be preserved and capitalised on viaeconomic and tourism activities.
He highlighted the importance of localresidents’ participation and pledged UNESCO’s close cooperation to help tapinto tourism potential of this geopark.
On July 7, the Programme and ExternalRelations Commission of the 209th UNESCO Executive Board approved theGlobal Geoparks Council’s proposal to recognise the Dak NongGeopark as a global geopark,
Earlier, the Dong Van Karst Plateau in Ha Giangprovince and the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in Cao Bang province, both in thenorth of Vietnam, had been named members of the Global Geoparks Network./.
The Ly Son-Sa Huynh Geo-Park has been listed in the dossier for UNESCO recognition, and the organisation can send an evaluation mission in 2020, general secretary of the Global Geoparks Network and chairperson of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, Guy Martini, confirmed in an email early this week.
The Programme and External Relations Commission of the 209th UNESCO Executive Board on July 7 approved the Global Geoparks Council’s proposal to recognise Vietnam’s Dak Nong Geopark as a Global Geopark, the third of its kind in the country.
UNESCO has designated Vietnam’s Dak Nong Geopark as one of its Global Geoparks. Dak Nong is the third park in Vietnam to have been awarded this honor so far after Dong Van Krast Plateau and Non Nuoc Cao Bang in northern Vietnam.
As a convergence of geological, archeological, cultural and biodiversity values, the Dak Nong Global Geological Park promises to be an attractive destination for international tourists in the future.
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A volcanic cave in the Dak Nong Geopark (Photo: VNA) 
