Since Non Nuoc Cao Bang was recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2018, the northern province of Cao Bang has turned its geological, natural and cultural heritage into a basis for tourism growth and sustainable livelihoods.
The geopark retained its Green Card in two consecutive revalidations, strengthening its international standing and connecting with 241 geoparks in 51 countries.
To Vu Ninh, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the UNESCO designation had helped Cao Bang balance heritage conservation with economic development and strengthen its position as an international destination for nature, culture and heritage tourism.
Associate Professor Dr Tran Tan Van, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, said the geopark preserves nearly 500 million years of Earth’s evolutionary history. Its geological heritage includes fossils, ancient rock formations, caves, waterfalls and distinctive karst landscapes that form an “open book” of Southeast Asia’s natural history.
The area’s natural attractions include Ban Gioc Waterfall, Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen Lake and Mat Than Mountain. Its cultural heritage includes the traditions of the Tay, Nung, Mong and Dao peoples, traditional crafts and revolutionary historical sites such as Pac Bo and Tran Hung Dao Forest.
The geopark has developed five experiential routes. It has become an “open-air museum” where communities help protect heritage while providing tourism services. Outside the pandemic period, visitor numbers grew by an average of 20–30% a year, and tourism spread beyond the best-known attractions.
In Khuoi Ky in Trung Khanh, Pac Rang in Quang Hoa and Khuoi Khon in Bao Lac, residents have developed homestays, guiding and food services. Household incomes from community-based tourism have increased three- to five-fold. Visitor demand has also created markets for local produce and handicrafts and generated jobs that help young people remain in their communities.
Traditional crafts have become a source of income and a way to preserve cultural identity.
In Phia Thap village in Quang Uyen commune, homestay owner Hoang Thi Kinh combines accommodation with incense-making experiences.
In Lung Dia Tren hamlet, Nong Thi Liem earns a stable 10–20 million VND (386–772 USD) a month from handmade-paper-making experiences. The programme has been developed with the geopark management board since 2020.
Local authorities and the geopark management board support communities with tourism training, craft revival, links with travel companies and heritage education in schools.
Digital promotion has expanded the geopark’s reach. Its bilingual “Cao Bang Geopark” channel features more than 130 heritage sites.
Promotional booths at major events, including the 9th Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium in Malaysia in 2026, have also helped present Cao Bang’s OCOP-certified products and cultural heritage to an international audience.
Local officials have also shared their experience in geopark management and community-based tourism development with international partners from China, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries.
The measures have produced measurable results. In 2025, Cao Bang welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors, up from 1.54 million in 2019. International arrivals exceeded 97,000, rising more than 121% year-on-year, while tourism revenue surpassed 2.4 trillion VND.
The province plans to develop new experiential routes, improve service quality and distribute tourism benefits more widely among remote communities, strengthening the link between heritage conservation and better livelihoods.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
