Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark works in partnership with Dia Tren traditional paper-making village (Quang Hoa District) to preserve traditional craft and inprove

Nestled peacefully at the foot of majestic limestone mountains, Dia Tren Village in Phuc Sen Commune, Quang Hoa District has long been renowned for its traditional paper production - a craft deeply intertwined with the daily life and spiritual practices of the local ethnic people. In the context of modernization and integration, this traditional craft faces the risk of disappearing. Recognizing both its cultural value and economic potential, the Geopark Management Board has actively cooperated with local authorities and residents to safeguard and develop the traditional craft village in a sustainable manner.

With technical guidance from the Geopark, villagers in Dia Tren continue to uphold their traditional production methods while also embracing innovation and making efforts to diversify and improve product quality and design, integrating cultural and historical elements of the region into their paper products. In 2023, through connections facilitated by the Geopark, the village partnered with the Zó Project – a social enterprise – and adopted advanced paper sheet-forming techniques under the guidance of artisans from Bac Ninh’s poonah paper village. As a result, Dia Tren paper products have seen significant improvements in form, size, and packaging design, enhancing their aesthetic appeal to meet the market’s requirements. New products such as paper fans, notebooks, calligraphy artworks, envelopes, and paper flowers have received positive feedback from visitors and opened new opportunities in the high-end tourism gift market. Thanks to their distinctive beauty, Dia Tren’s paper products were honored as official gifts for delegates at the 8^th Asia Pacfic Geoparks Network Symposium, held in Cao Bang in 2024. This marked a major step in promoting the village’s traditional craftsmanship and spreading the cultural values of Non nuoc Cao Bang with international delegates.

In addition to craft preservation, the Geopark Management Board provides ongoing support in helping local residents leverage their cultural assets – including customs, festivals, natural landscapes, and traditional architecture. Through training sessions, workshops, field surveys, and experience exchange trips in other provinces, the villagers of Dia Tren have gained a deeper understanding of their roles in heritage preservation and sustainable livelihood creation. On this basis, the villagers have begun offering experiential tourism activities, inviting visitors to take part in the traditional paper-making process and explore handmade craft production. These initiatives are also linked to the Geopark sites, helping to increase local tourism appeal and improve income.

Besides, the Geopark has supported the village and its partners in integrating environmental protection and responsible tourism into craft preservation such as self-service souvenir shelves, environmental protection fund boxes, and village information panels. These efforts not only enhance the village’s image but also encourage active community participation in heritage conservation.

The Management Board also promotes the village and its products across various platforms, including media channels, exhibition fairs, tourism events, regional and international Geoparks Network events – such as the 8^th Asia Apacific Geoparks Network Symposium, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, and the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) in Hanoi,

This strong, effective collaboration between the Geopark, local authorities, and residents has brought positive changes to Dia Tren. Increasing numbers of young people are returning to the village to carry on their ancestral craft, contributing to the preservation and enrichment of local cultural heritage. Sharing his thoughts, Mr. Vi Tran Thuy, Director of the Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark Management Board, emphasized: “The support of local authorities and mass organizations for the people of Dia Tren has played a vital role in preserving the craft village, creating sustainable livelihoods, and promoting community benefit-sharing. This is not just the story of one traditional village – it is a vivid example of a people-centered approach to cultural preservation, harmonizing tradition with modern development.”

In the coming time, the Geopark Management Board will continue to provide guidance and support to other craft villages in the Geopark territory to expand this model of preseving heritage for livelihood improvemnt, helping to foster green, sustainable tourism in line with the vision of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Commenting further on the role of enterprises in this process, Mr. Vi Tran Thuy added: “In preserving and promoting the values of traditional craft villages, the mobilization of social resources, especially the active participation of tourism service providers – is of paramount importance. Craft villages are not only cultural heritage to be protected but also essential tourism assets contributing to the branding of Non nuoc Cao Bang tourism. Therefore, preserving craft villages should be viewed as a shared responsibility, with businesses playing a key role in supporting promotion, product development, and service enhancement. Thereby contributing to the preservation and development of craft villages as attractive destinations, offering impressive experiences to visitors, increasing the demand for local services and products, and enhancing the sustainable tourism value chain within the Geopark territory”.

With the continued support of the Geopark Management Board and local authorities, and y the creativity and determination of its people, each sheet of traditional paper and story of Dia Tren becomes a living testament to history and culture, and a bridge spreading precious traditions of the Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark. These efforts are breathing new life into traditional crafts while promoting distinct cultural values of the Non nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark to domestic and international visitors.