The certificate presentation ceremony took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on April 27, where 12 new Global Geoparks were also designated and 44 sites were revalidated.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, attended the ceremony and received the certificate.

The geopark was awarded UNESCO’s “Green Card”, the highest result in its periodic revalidation process, marking the second time the site has passed revalidation.

Cao Bang province in northern Vietnam  hosted a UNESCO expert mission for the revalidation in June 2025, and in September, the Global Geoparks Network Council recommended granting the second Green Card to the geopark.

The renewal is a recognition of Cao Bang province’s sustained efforts to preserve and promote geological, cultural and natural heritage in connection with community livelihood development. It also confirms the province’s implementation of recommendations made by UNESCO experts during the previous revalidation, towards sustainable development and wider dissemination of heritage values to the international community.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh said UNESCO’s decision to, for the first time, award certificates to geoparks that have passed revalidation and continue to hold the designation shows increasing recognition of the determination and efforts of countries, local leaders and communities in maintaining this title. She described the event as particularly meaningful as 2026 marks 50 years since Vietnam joined UNESCO and the anniversary of cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO.

Nong Thi Tuyen, Deputy Director of Cao Bang’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the renewed recognition demonstrates the province’s efforts in recent years in preserving and promoting heritage, linked with sustainable development and improving livelihoods for local communities.

She said the province will continue to strengthen management; preserve and promote heritage values alongside environmental protection and sustainable development; expand education and communication activities; develop sustainable tourism with equitable benefit-sharing; invest in infrastructure; and further develop the geopark in line with the province’s sustainable tourism development programme for the 2025-2030 period.

The 2026 certificate presentation ceremony once again affirms the role of the Global Geoparks Network as an effective platform for international cooperation, where countries share experience, enhance  heritage conservation and support sustainable socio-economic development.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, first recognized by UNESCO on April 12, 2018, covers more than 3,683 sq km across 36 communes and wards and has a geological history spanning more than 500 million years, along with numerous natural landscapes and historical and cultural sites.

Vitality on Dong Van Karst Plateau – a UNESCO Global Geopark

VOV.VN - Covering more than 2,300 square kilometres in northern Vietnam, the Dong Van Karst Plateau, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010, is known for its dramatic limestone mountain landscapes and geological formations dating back hundreds of millions of years.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark honoured at UNESCO conference in Chile

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark was one of five geoparks worldwide to receive the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) Best Practices Awards at the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks 2025 which is getting underway in Chile from September 5 - 15.