Lang Son aims for an internationally geological heritage site

The People’s Committee of Lang Son Province has just issued a Plan to implement Resolution No. 223-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on the conservation, restoration, and promotion of the values of the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark for the period 2025 – 2030, with an orientation toward 2035.

Plan No. 258/KH-UBND aims to concretize Resolution No. 223-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, which aims to preserve natural and cultural heritage, protect the ecological environment, and promote the values of the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark.

By 2030, the province strives to implement programs and projects on the research and conservation of cultural and natural heritage; protection of the ecological environment; preservation and promotion of the traditional cultural identity of ethnic communities; to organize and implement at least one international research and cooperation project to assess the potential for discovering dinosaur fossils; to prepare dossiers proposing heritage ranking at different levels for at least six sites or relic areas; and to have at least one site included in the list of International Geological Heritage Sites of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).

In addition, 80% of the ranked relic sites and areas will have defined protection boundaries; 50% of the ranked relic sites and areas will be granted land use right certificates; at least five relics will be conserved, repaired, or restored each year; three classes on the teaching and transmission of intangible cultural heritage will be organized; at least five intangible cultural heritages will be preserved and revived; four sightseeing routes will be built and completed with about 25 typical and distinctive tourist attractions that have high appeal to visitors; five tourist destinations will meet ASEAN tourism standards, gradually moving toward international titles recognized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

By 2035, Lang Son aims to invest in completing a synchronized and modern infrastructure system within the Geopark area, rich in the diverse cultural identities of ethnic communities; to ensure the natural heritage system and biodiversity are sustainably preserved; and to develop distinctive, high-quality tourism and service products.

The province strives to prepare dossiers proposing heritage ranking at different levels for at least eight sites or relic areas; to have 85% of the ranked relic sites and areas with defined protection boundaries; 55% of the ranked relic sites and areas granted land use right certificates; to conserve, repair, and restore at least six relics per year on average; to organize four classes on the teaching and transmission of intangible cultural heritage; to implement procedures and processes for proposing one intangible cultural heritage dossier to be nominated to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; and to build 20 exemplary communes and wards in the conservation, restoration, and promotion of the Geopark’s values.

The Center for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion is the lead agency, coordinating with departments, sectors, commune and ward People’s Committees, and related units to advise and effectively organize the implementation of this Plan; to conduct inspections and supervision of implementation, and annually report the implementation results of agencies and localities; to advise and propose the Provincial People’s Committee to conduct reviews after three and five years and to summarize the implementation of the Plan; and annually advise and propose specific implementation plans to the Provincial People’s Committee.