Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, presents Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Head of the permanent delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, with the official certificate recognizing Lang Son Geopark as a UNESCO Global Geopark. (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, said UNESCO’s official recognition of Lang Son Geopark is a significant milestone, opening up new opportunities for sustainable tourism development in the province.

It also enables Lang Son to deepen its integration into the Global Geoparks Network, fostering cooperation and experience sharing in the management, conservation, and promotion of humanity’s natural heritage in service of sustainable development.

Antonio De Sousa Abreu, Director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, said Lang Son Geopark’s inclusion in the network is of significance to Vietnam’s sustainable development goals.

“Vietnam's efforts and dedication to the new Geopark are important because the Global Geoparks Network promotes sustainable development through the combination of natural resource conservation and support for local community development,” said Sousa Abreu.

Kristof Vandenberghe, Chief of UNESCO’s Earth Sciences and Geoparks Section, said UNESCO finds this event special and applauds the efforts Vietnam has made.

“For many geoparks, this is a challenging and difficult journey, but Vietnam has overcome it. The achievement belongs to the entire community, to those who believe in the geopark, and to the wholehearted support of the entire nation,” Kristof Vandenberghe noted.

Lang Son Geopark is Vietnam’s fourth site to receive the designation, following the Dong Van Karst Plateau in Ha Giang province designated in 2010, Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in 2018, and Dak Nong Geopark in 2020.