Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark honored as “Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025”

On the evening of October 13, the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia and Oceania 2025 ceremony took place at the InterContinental Grand Stanford Hotel in Hong Kong (China). The event brought together representatives of international organizations, state management agencies, businesses, and experts from many countries and territories.

The landscape of Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.

Representing Tuyen Quang Province were Ms. Nong Thi Bich Hue, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee, head of the delegation; Mr. Nguyen Trung Ngoc, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Mr. Hoang Xuan Don, Director of the Management Board of Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.

Mr. Graham Cook, Chairman of the World Travel Awards Organization, presents the award to the Tuyen Quang delegation led by Ms. Nong Thi Bich Hue, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Provincial People’s Committee.

At the event, Tuyen Quang Province was honored by the World Travel Awards Organization with the title: “Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, Tuyen Quang, Vietnam – Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025.” This is one of the most prestigious categories of the World Travel Awards, recognizing destinations with outstanding achievements in preserving indigenous culture, promoting sustainable tourism development, and protecting natural ecosystems.

The Tuyen Quang delegation at the award ceremony.

Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark was recognized by UNESCO in October 2010 as Vietnam’s first Global Geopark. Covering an area of over 2,345 km² with 23 communes, the geopark preserves geological strata dating back more than 500 million years, bearing traces of tectonic movements that shaped a rare and vivid geological museum of global significance. The Dong Van Karst Plateau is also home to 17 ethnic groups, whose rich cultural identities are well preserved and promoted.

The award “Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025” bestowed upon Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark once again affirms Tuyen Quang’s position on the regional and international tourism map, spreading the reputation and image of Tuyen Quang tourism as “The Land of Heritage and Identity” - a leading cultural destination in Asia.

Kim Ngoc