The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang is working on a project to develop a national geopark in an effort to preserve natural and cultural values there.

The planned park covers all 12 towns and communes in Na Hang district and eight communes in Lam Binh district with a total area of 1,647 sq.km, according to Nguyen Viet Thanh, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

These areas boast natural, cultural and historical values, especially in terms of geology and geomorphology. Particularly, there is evidence of prehistoric life in areas such as Nguom Hau, Phia Muon and Phia Vai.

Many features in these localities have been nationally recognised by the ministry. They include Phia Vai cave, Song Long grotto, Nam Me waterfall and Phuc Lam pagoda.

The park also includes the Na Hang natural conservation area, which has been listed as one of the 223 ecological systems with the highest bio-diversity values worldwide.

Once the project is realised, the park is expected to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in the locality through tourism and raise public awareness of natural resources.

Dong Van Stone Plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang was recognised as the first geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia by the Global Network of National Geoparks in October 2012.-VNA