Vietnam’s UNESCO-listed Dong Van Karst Plateau has just been honored as Asia’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination 2025 by the World Travel Awards, marking a milestone moment for the northern highlands and placing Tuyen Quang more firmly on the international tourism map.
A New Achievement for Northern Vietnam
This is the first time Tuyen Quang Province has received a WTA cultural title since the recent administrative merger with former Ha Giang Province in July. Officials say the award reflects both international interest and the region’s cultural value. According to Nguyen Trung Ngoc, Director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the recognition affirms Dong Van’s global significance and reinforces long-term commitments to preservation and sustainable growth.
He emphasized that international titles come with responsibility. The goal, he noted, is to elevate tourism standards in ways that align with both global expectations and local heritage.
A UNESCO Geopark Rich With Story and Landscape
Designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2010, Dong Van is known for dramatic karst formations, prehistoric fossil sites, limestone canyons, and winding roads that draw travelers deep into the northern mountains. But the region is equally defined by living culture: seventeen ethnic minority communities whose traditions, languages, and seasonal celebrations have been preserved for generations.
As local officials point out, keeping an award is not the challenge; protecting cultural authenticity is. Language, traditional crafts, and daily life form the true heritage that visitors seek. In many ways, local people remain the storytellers of the landscape.
Toward Sustainable and Community-Based Tourism
Authorities now plan to expand cultural and ecological tourism through community-based experiences, improved hospitality, and partnerships with international organizations. Cross-province travel routes connecting cultural destinations are under discussion, along with training programs for sustainable management and promotion.
Digital transformation also plays an increasing role. Efforts are underway to develop tourism databases, digitize maps and guides, and apply technology to outreach and destination marketing, allowing travelers from around the world to explore Vietnam’s northern plateau more easily.
Dong Van’s latest accolade reinforces its growing importance as a model of cultural preservation and regional identity, and offers a promising foundation for sustainable tourism development in the years ahead.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 