The People’s Committee of the northern province of Ha Giang announced a master plan for Dong Van geopark in Hanoi on April 12. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan took part in the event.

The master plan, which has just been approved by the Prime Minister, aims to preserve, restore and develop the values of Vietnam’s first geological park in the 2012-2020 period with a vision towards 2030.

Under the plan, the park will cover an area of more than 2,300 square kilometres spanning four districts, including Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quan Ba. The area is home to over 25,000 people from 17 ethnic groups.

Addressing the ceremony, Nhan said the plan creates an important legal foundation to bring into play the geological, local cultural and bio-diversity values of the park.

He asked concerned ministries, branches and localities to focus on implementing the plan as well as increasing investment promotion and socio-economic development in the region.

Since Dong Van Stone Plateau became a member of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN) in 2010, the number of tourists to Ha Giang and the park has risen sharply, reaching 400,000 in 2012 and 140,000 in the first three months of 2013 alone.-VNA