It is located in the northeastern province of Ha Giang, a mountainous province located in the far north of Vietnam. Most of its surface is limestone (about 60%). Its landscape is spectacular and unique, with high mountains and deep canyons. The highest peak is Mieu Vac Mount (1971m), while Tu San is the deepest Canyon (700-800 m deep).
This place is located at an average altitude of 1000 – 1600m above sea level, Dong Van stone plateau spreads across 4 districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, and Dong Van in Ha Giang province, with a total area of up to 2,356 hectares.
History
Dong Van is considered a special limestone area. This place has up to 80% limestone area, created from very different environmental conditions and development stages lasting hundreds of millions of years and containing traces of the historical development of the earth’s crust. In addition, the stone plateau also contains many fossil samples dating back 400-600 million years. Dong Van Plateau is a rocky area ranging in age from the Devonian to the Permian period, surrounded by earthen mountains.
It is located at an extension foot mount East of the Himalayas. Geoheritages date from the Cambrian (about 550 million years ago) to the present in seven stages, including palaeobiology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, tectonics, karst, caves, and essential faults. The geology in this UNESCO Global Geopark reflects essential events in Earth’s history, like two mass extinction boundaries of Frasnian-Famennian (360 million years ago) and Permian-Triassic (250 million years ago). This includes 3 groups of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, as well as stratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, and biostratigraphic specificities. Its paleontological diversity shows 19 groups of valuable ancient organisms like ancient fish, ancient flora, brachiopods (eurispirifer tonkinesis), bivalves, trilobites, foraminifera, corals, conodonta, crinoidea and fossilized paths of mollusks.
Unique features around Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
Masterpiece from limestone
Not only will it overwhelm you with its area and height, but Dong Van Stone Plateau is also known for many remarkable feats because this is one of the rare regions in our country that still contains traces of the history of the development of the Earth’s crust. On this plateau, there are up to 80% limestone outcrops, and few people know that they are hundreds of millions of years old.
The entire plateau is covered with gray, heaving rocks. However, Mother Nature has arranged them perfectly to create a picture that captivates people’s hearts.
Blooming seasons
It is a masterpiece of stone art, not only mixed with the gray color of the stone but also many other colors created by humans. It is the pure white color of plum blossoms and banyan flowers every spring. Or the bright yellow color of mustard flowers covering the entire hillside. Admire the green of the forest trees, corn fields, and rice fields mixed with the yellow of the sun every summer. Or the golden color of terraced fields when the rice season is ripe.
And it is certainly impossible to forget the purple flower color every time October and November come; the buckwheat flower season in Ha Giang stretches across the hillside.
Rustic villages
Each house here is protected by an outside stone fence. The heaving rocks of many shapes and sizes on the rocky plateau can become solid fences. This can only be created by the skillful hands of the Mong ethnic group.
Thanks to the development of tourism, some H’Mong ethnic people here have jobs to earn extra income, these jobs bring joy meeting many people, and stable income. In addition, they come into contact with many people, expanding their language and knowledge.
Life of ethnic minorities
Currently, there are about 17 ethnic minorities living on the Dong Van Karst Plateau and the Mong people account for more than 90%. With so many ethnic groups, you will have the opportunity to learn about their culture, people, lives, and customs. Tourist will meet children here, they are very cute and obedient. Every day they walk to school, the distance can be up to several kilometers with long and high slopes.
Conclusion
On October 3, 2010, Dong Van Karst Plateau became the first UNESCO geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia.
In 2014 and 2019, UNESCO re-recognized Dong Van Karst Plateau as a member of the UNESCO Global Geopark network for the period 2015-2018 and the period 2019-2022.
This recognition is not only the pride of Vietnam, it also contributes to protecting this place through conservation policies and propagating awareness of preservation.
Get an opportunity to visit Global Geopark in Vietnam through Vietnam E-Visa!