The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark located in four districts of Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh and Quan Ba of Ha Giang Province, about 150km from the central town of Ha Giang, with the total area of over 2,300km².
On October 3, 2010, the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark has officially been recognized as a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) at the European Geoparks Conference in Lesvos, Greece. It became the first global geopark in Viet Nam, the second in Southeast Asia, after Langkawi Geopark in Malaysia and as one of the 77 geoparks in the world.
The park is created by at least 80 percent limestone and has fossils of thousands of species of ancient creatures from 400-600 million years ago. It is well known for various shapes of karst stone with different characteristics, especially karst pyramids. Moreover, Dong Van is home to nearly 20 ethnic groups, with diverse cultures and traditions, which make the plateau an interesting destination for tourists.
Some of notable places of scenic beauty and relics as well as unique cultural activities in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park can named as:
Khau Vai Rock Flower Garden is located along the two sides of road to Khau Vai Commume, Meo Vac District. In this area, karst process develop deeply into calcareous Karst layer, creating attractive shape; thanks to geologic conditions and specific climate, upper sides of rock peak often have the shape of flowers, flower bud, twig with diversified charms depending on diversified imagination of viewers. This is a unique product of nature and being conserved and maintained to research and for enjoyment.
Lung Pu Rock Zoo is located on the right side of Meo Vac – Lung Pu Route. This is product of karst process occurring in strong tectonic breaker zone. Thanks to two impacts include strong tectonic breaker zone and karst leach, each rock peak, top and large rock, etc. in this area have strange shape, making viewers to look back on coiling dragon, seating tiger, singing bird, etc. Especially there are many kinds of orchid in the garden, making the garden become livelier.
Van Chai Seal Ground is located on the right side of Yen Minh – Pho Cao Route, at the intersection to People’s Committee of Van Chai Commune. As its name, in this area they have discovered a series of round and smooth calcareous karst blocks standing closely to one another, like thousands of seal in shiny black seal herbs leaning to one another on peaceful beach. This topography pattern is established due to thick and solid calcareous karst layers which are weathered and eroded regularly so they do not have shape of sharp rugger rock like other areas. This is one of very unique karst topography pattern of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park making tourists feel amazing and interesting.
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The new Lung Cu Flag Tower has been inaugurated on September 25, 2010. |
Lung Cu Flag Tower is located on the peak of Rong (Dragon) Mountain, about 1,600m above the sea level, in Lung Cu Commune, Dong Van District where considered as the northernmost of Viet Nam. The flag tower shows the affirmation of position and sovereignty of Viet Nam as well as honour the patriotism and bravery of the people and soldiers in the border area. The new tower has been rebuilt at larger scale on the place of the old one and inaugurated on September 25, 2010. The flag on the tower has an area of 54m², symbolising the unity of 54 ethnic groups in Viet Nam.
Nha Vuong architectural relic (edifice of Vuong family) is located in Sa Phin Commune, Dong Van District. This edifice is constructed mainly by green karst, po-mu wood, roof made from soil being burnt carefully, details are carved meticulously, spectacularly with core images of dragon, phoenix, bat, etc. representing for luxury and prosperity. This edifice shows powerful and majestic beauty with architecture in shape of “vuong†letter located in hill of tortoise shell–shape and protected by a wall built by rubble which functions as both edifice and defensive fortress.
Dong Van Old Quarter architectural relic, located at the center of Dong Van Town, has distinct identities of local people. Currently, Dong Van Old Quarter remains about 40 old houses, in which the oldest is the house of Luong family which was built since 1890. A consistent architectural community including market and opposite to market is row of house of local people which are very unique and suitable with Feng Shui of rocky highland. Houses in the Old Quarter have quite similar appearance but contain unique architectural feature of each ethnic group. These houses are wooden and soil wall of about half meter thick, or constructed by brick; roof is covered with Yin and Yang roof. Yards, three-staircases, karst block in the feet of pillars are green karsts carved manually meticulously.
Aim to conserve and promote cultural heritage of Dong Van Old Quarter a series of cultural activities of significance, called "Full moon night in Old Quarter" has held on every 14th, 15th, and 16th days of the lunar months. In those festivals, houses in the Old Quarter are lighted with lanterns; interesting cultural and art performance are held in the old market such as cuisine festival, art performance, and traditional handicrafts, etc.
Khau Vai Love Market is a very unique cultural heritage, being very attractive with domestic and international tourists. This market is only held once a year on the 27th of the third lunar month in Khau Vai Market, Meo Vac District. This is annual dating place of wedded pairs who are not to be bound to meet as husband and wife and also a place of sharing feelings and understands about each other of all the youth (girls and boys) in ethnic groups in Meo Vac District and surrounding areas.
More information:
+ Souvenirs and gifts include:
- Products that disseminate about Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park: handbook of tour guide, CDs/DVDs, tourist map, leaflets, allocation map about heritages in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park...
- Paintings, sculptures, handicraft and fine art products illustrating typical heritages of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park: Tay Cuon fossil (Euryspirifer tonkinensis), Bo Ba Thuy fossil (Trilobite), Ma Pi Leng Canyon, Lung Cu Flagstaff, logo of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park...
- Local specialties: Quan Ba corn wine, Lung Tam brocade linen cloth...
+ Some organizations that tourists can contact to find information about tourism activities in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park:
1. Information Center of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park in Ha Giang Province
Address: Management Board of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park, group 5, Nguyen Trai Ward, Ha Giang Town, Ha Giang Province.
Tel: (84-219) 3860393; Fax: (84-219) 3860393
Email: hagianggeopark@gmail.com
2. Showroom of documentation of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geological Park in Ha Giang Province
Address: Museum of Ha Giang Province, Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Giang Town.
Tel: (84-219) 3867029
Email: baotanghagiang@gmail.com
3. Ha Giang Center for Information and Tourism Promotion
Address: Group 5, Nguyen Trai Ward, Ha Giang Town, Ha Giang Province.
Tel: (84-219) 3868368; Fax: (84-219) 3875488
Email: dulichhagiang@gmail.com
Phuong Anh (collected)