Tuyen Quang Conferred with the Title of “World’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025” at the World Travel Awards Ceremony
The award recognizes Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, located in Tuyen Quang, Viet Nam, marking the first time the province has received a world-class cultural accolade. The distinction highlights the province’s growing international profile and its rising competitiveness within Viet Nam’s tourism landscape.
A provincial delegation led by Mr. Phan Huy Ngoc, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, attended the ceremony to receive the award. His participation signaled the province’s commitment to strengthening international engagement and advancing tourism as a strategic growth sector. The delegation also included members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, representatives of the Geopark Management Board, and local authorities - reflecting a united provincial effort to protect, promote, and leverage heritage assets for socio-economic development.
A Milestone for Integration and Global Visibility
In remarks at the ceremony, the provincial representative noted that the title represents both a source of pride and an important acknowledgment of Tuyen Quang’s long-term work in safeguarding and promoting its cultural and geological heritage. The recognition, he added, provides fresh momentum as the province pursues tourism as a key economic pillar.
This marks the first time the province has received a world-class cultural accolade
Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark is distinguished by its extraordinary geological, cultural, and community values. Recognized by UNESCO in 2010, the geopark preserves more than 550 million years of Earth’s evolutionary history, including remnants of ancient oceans and fossil records spanning the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras. Its karst formations, paleontological sites, caves, rare fossils, and layered sedimentary structures form one of the world’s most remarkable open-air geological archives.
The geopark is also home to 17 ethnic groups, whose traditions, architecture, rituals, languages, crafts, and ancestral knowledge create a rich, multi-layered cultural fabric. Over centuries, the interaction between people and landscape has shaped a distinctive cultural ecosystem—a living cultural landscape with deep historical roots and strong local identity.
Lung Cu Flag Tower in Lung Cu Commune – one of the iconic destinations of the newly formed Tuyen Quang Province
These combined values underpin Dong Van’s recognition as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025, where geological heritage provides the foundation and cultural heritage defines its character.
World Travel Awards: A Benchmark of Global Excellence
Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards is widely regarded as one of the most respected honors in the global tourism industry. Over more than three decades, it has become a benchmark for excellence in service quality, destination appeal, and industry leadership.
Dong Van Karst Plateau, where nature and people intertwine to create a distinct cultural identity
The recognition of Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark reinforces Tuyen Quang’s position as a destination of significant natural, cultural, and human value, while contributing to Viet Nam’s image as a dynamic, welcoming, and culturally rich country.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang Province respectfully invites domestic and international media partners to help amplify this achievement and promote Tuyen Quang - “The Land of Heritage and Identity” - as a leading cultural destination.
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Translated from a provided content
