Dong Van Karst plateau Geopark
Dong Van Rock Plateau is the highland in the most extreme north of Vietnam with majority of the terrain at 1,400-1.600m above sea level and with over 80% of the surface covered by just rocks and with high concentration of rocky peaks of over 2,000m above sea level. The rock of Dong Van is said to contain fossils of 400million-600million years ago. The Plateau was recognized by the UNESCO as one of the 77 geological parks in the world and the second in Southeast Asia on October 3. Travel to Vietnam
Dong Van Karst plateau Geopark consists of four districts, namely, Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh, Quan Ba. Located in the North of Ha Giang province - Viet Nam. It shares border with china in the north, total area of over 2.346 km2 . The Karst Plateau is created by at least 80 percent limestone and many fossils of ancient creatures species from 400 - 600 million years ago. Its average elevation is 1400 -1600 meters above sea level. Starlight Cruise Halong bay
Dong Van Karst plateau Geopark is situated in a temperate climate and divided into two seasons: Rainy and dry seasons. The annual mean temperature is 24 -28 degree celcius, while the winter temperatures may be down to 5 degree celcius.
Dong Van rocky highland Geopark was official 77th member of the Global Geopark Network on 3/10/2010. It became the first global Geopark in Viet Nam, the second in Southeast Asia.
This event is a hall-mark in the process of regional and international integration. Contributing to improve Viet Nam's position in the international arena. Besides, it is also an opportunity for Ha Giang province in particular and Viet Nam in general can exchange, learn, contact. Especially, promotion and introduction the human lands of Ha Giang, the value of Geoheritage and culture in these area.
Currently, the scientists have preliminarily made statistics of 45 geomorphic heritages, 33 tectonic heritages and numerous fossils in the sediment stone stratums on Dong Van Karst plateau Geopark. Of which, there are 26 breed and species in the world, the first time which has been found in here and named Geographical after Ha Giang. Many Geoheritages have been ranked in National level and International level such as, the system of fault valleys in Nho Que river, Tu San canon - Ma Pi Leng pass under the type of tectonic and geomorphic heritage. Folds in calcareous Karst in Ma Pi Leng, Quan Ba and many other places, etc.
Dong Van rocky Plateau not only is sculpture product, a historical rocky page of the nature present to human people but also contain a lot of potential values such as, Geoheritages, bilogical diversity, tourism, fossils...Especially, the cultural of community 17 ethnic groups on Dong Van Karst plateau Geopark, traditional beauty need preserving and promoting.
Dong Van Karst Plateau is unique combination between Geoheritages and cutural heritages. Which has created great potential for tourism and attracted many visitor within and outside country.
Being in Dong Van Karst Plateau, we can do trekking, biking, motorbiking or a lot of interesting activities. We can visit some village of ethnic people, do trekking with a lot of wonderful landscape...
Dong Van Ancient Quarter
Located at the center of Dong Van town. The vestige consists of the market and two villages (Quyet Tien, Dong Tam) of Dong Van commune. It was built on early years of the 20th Century. At first, the Old Quarter only has Tay and Hoa people. During years 1940, 1950 of the 20th Century, there are some ethnics like Kinh, Dao and Nung also settled in these area. It has distinct identities of local people.
Nowadays, Dong Van old street has more than 40 old house. Of which, the oldest is the house of Luong family which was built since 1890. the Ancient Quarter is a consistent architectural community including, market and opposite to market is the row of the house of the local people which are very unique and suitable with Feng Shui of the rocky highland area.
The architecture of the houses in the Old Street have quite similar appearance but contains unique architectural feature of each ethnic minority:
- The houses frame is 2-storey, made of wooden.
All columns and pillars are made from iron wood without jointing and fussy carving, which remain rigid even at present;
- The wall is compacted clay (adobe) with an average thickness of about half meters while the roof is is covered with yin and yang tile, a fashion very typical for ethnic minority people in the Northern boundary;
- The yard and the three-step staircase are hand-made from bluish limestone while pillar footing stones are carefully carved.
In general, Dong Van old street is combination between architectural style of local people with people from Hoa Nam – china.
