Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark: The Majestic Creation Of Mother Nature

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO heritage of Vietnam, boasts striking scenery, high biodiversity, and the friendly faces of local ethnic groups.

Charlotte Pho

February 28, 2022 | 09:58

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark is special for its rugged rocks and hills, which were shaped millions of years ago due to the change of the Earth’s crust. Up to 80% of the karst formations of Dong Van Plateau are limestone formed by environmental conditions and different development stages of nature. This place has become an interesting highlight for tourists, scientists, explorers from all around the world to see and learn more about this wonder that was naturally made from rocks.

Photo: Bao Lam Dong

After the Tet holiday, tourists are amazed when they set foot at Dong Van Karst Plateau, as this rocky destination is a majestic creation of Mother Nature with the beautiful gray shade of cat ear-shaped rocks and many other colors that were created by humans. It was the colors of houses, lovely pink of peach blossom flowers, white of plum and pear flowers, and the yellow cauliflower fields covering the hills.

A survey conducted by scientists from the Viet Nam Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources revealed the finding of 13 fossil - geological formations in Dong Van, including Chang Pung, Lutxia, Sika, Lang Xang, Si Phai, Toc Tat, Lung Nam, Bac Son, Dong Dang, Song Hien, Hong Ngai, Mia Le, and Lan Pang. Of which, Chang Pung is the oldest one with a date of 545 million years.

Photo: VnExpress

Dong Van Karst Plateau, which is located in the north of Ha Giang, includes four mountainous districts (Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac) with a length of 2.300 km2, and a population of 250.000 people. For generations, people living on the Dong Van Plateau have been working hard as they planted and cultivated on the rock foundation. But they never thought that Dong Van Karst Plateau poses an important meaning to the development of their lives through tourism and jobs for local villagers, and helps raise awareness about the geological environment.

Photo: VOVTV

The journey from Hanoi to Dong Van Karst Plateau takes 10 hours of driving through the rocky, difficult roads on rolling slopes. While the roads are paved, the drive is still quite dangerous motorists should go with caution. From morning to night, the mountainous space in this season is covered with mist, and the road slithers like a snake, with a part going up and down, spiraling up the vast mountain.

Photo: Tour Du Lich

Visitors can visit Dong Van Karst Plateau any season of the year, but the best time is from October to December when the buckwheat flowers are blooming. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in Buckwheat Flower Festival (held annually around October, November) with many special activities such as art programs imbued with the identity of ethnic groups of the kart plateau, experiencing products from buckwheat flowers, etc.

A father and his two kids in a village. Photo: Bao Lam Dong

According to documents published by the People's Committee of Ha Giang province, Dong Van Karst Plateau contains many geological and stratigraphic heritages, containing imprints on the history of the development of the earth's crust. Along with that is the unique cultural beauty of the highland ethnic minorities. The beautiful natural scenery here is also a highlight with its majesty and suits people who love experiencing and exploring new things.

Photo: Khu vui choi

This season, the rocky plateau is decorated with the bright colors of several types of flowers such as peach blossoms, plum, and pear flowers on the hillsides and the houses located along the foothills. All the rocky mountains in this highland are patterned with the colors of peach, plum, pear, and canola flowers. Unlike Da Lat, peach and pear flowers in the rocky plateau do not bloom during Tet, but on the full moon of February every year.