The delegation from the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism conducted a survey and gained experience at the UNESCO Global Geopark Khorat in Thailand.

During the working trip, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang province and UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark held a meeting on promoting the global geopark model at the headquarters of Khorat Fossil Museum, Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand). At the meeting, representatives of both sides introduced the outstanding values ​​of the UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark and UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark; educational activities on geoparks, conservation associated with sustainable livelihood development for local people.
 

Mr. Pratueng Jintasakul, Director of the UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark Executive Board, expressed his pleasure to welcome the delegation of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang province, and hoped that the two sides would continue to bring the development cooperation to a new level to support each other in implementing the recommendations and meeting the criteria of the Global Geopark Network on building and developing a sustainable geopark model.

Representatives of both sides shared management and professional experience in the conservation and promotion of geological and cultural heritage values, indigenous knowledge; exchanged, discussed and proposed cooperation contents between the two geoparks, including: Preserving indigenous culture, traditional craft villages and ethnic languages ​​in the geopark area; Building a community tourism model, developing sustainable tourism; Proposing the implementation of an educational cooperation program, disseminating geological science knowledge to students in the geopark area; Continuing to increase survey trips, study, and experience exchange between the two sides...
 

Ms. To Thi Trang, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang province, thanked the UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark Management Board for the thoughtful and warm welcome for the delegation. She affirmed that this working trip is a valuable opportunity for both sides to learn, exchange and study the sustainable development model of the global geopark designation. This is also the first step in realizing the "Agreement to establish a cooperative relationship between UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark, Vietnam and UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark, Thailand" at the 8th Asia-Pacific Geopark Network Symposium (APGN) in 2024. Thereby promoting the protection of geological, natural and cultural heritage, contributing to effectively and sustainably promoting the values ​​of the geopark in the region.
 

Within the framework of the working trip, the field survey team learned about the geological values, biodiversity and indigenous culture at the UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark. Notably, the survey of the Khorat Fossil Museum with three main display areas: the Petrified Wood Museum displaying fossils 800,000 - 330 million years old; the Ancient Elephant Museum; the Dinosaur Museum displaying skeletons and fossils of the dinosaur era. Surveying the Khao Chan Ngam prehistoric cave painting site, Sikio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province (Thailand) - where a stone wall painting with a history of more than 4,000 years old is preserved, the delegation participated in the experience of dyeing scarves from stone powder organized by local people. At each destination, the delegation was introduced to the history and outstanding values ​​of the heritages, and discussed methods of management, conservation, exploitation, and effective promotion of the values ​​of heritage sites in the Geopark area.

Through the survey trip, the members of the working group learned and accumulated useful knowledge and practical experience to apply to the management and development of the UNESCO Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark model. This is also an opportunity for the two sides to exchange and orient the implementation of specific activities to realize the content of the agreement between the two Geoparks. Thereby, enhancing understanding, seeking opportunities, promoting cultural development, tourism and professional exchanges between the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang Province, Vietnam and the Executive Board of UNESCO Khorat Global Geopark, Thailand, towards developing the relationship between the two local authorities. Thereby, contributing to promoting the image of Non Nuoc Cao Bang to the international community, further promoting cooperation and connection with Geoparks in the region.