While public opinion has not yet calmed down about the "Ma Pi Leng Panorama" incident (in Meo Vac district, Ha Giang), less than 20 km away, there is another elevator project to visit the Cao Don relic, located right in the old town market of Dong Van district.
It is known that this is a project licensed by the Department of Planning and Investment of Ha Giang province since the end of November 2017 for Mr. Nguyen Van Dan, in Ha Giang city. The project has an investment capital of nearly 20 billion VND, building a 102 m high elevator, with an elevator shaft area of 15 m2clinging to the steep cliff of Don Cao. In addition to the elevator system, the project also has a complex of restaurants, motels, souvenir shops, and coffee shops on the top of the mountain with an area of over 5,600 m2to serve tourists...
102 m high elevator clings to the cliff of Don Cao mountain - Photo: Ngoc Quang
This project was carried out from April 2019, although at that time the investor had not yet completed the legal procedures for the project. "In February 2019, they came to work and presented the project that had been approved by the province. We looked at it and saw that they were still missing many things, so we asked them to supplement the map with the planning of area 2 (the area to protect the relics of Dong Van ancient town)" - Mr. Nguyen Van Tho, representative of Dong Van District People's Committee said. "However, the investor said the construction time was late, so they committed to completing the procedures while working."
"After nearly 5 months of construction, they did not add the contents that the district requested, along with many objections from the people, so the district temporarily suspended construction. Currently, we are waiting for the investor to complete the procedures and wait for instructions from the province."
Cao Fort relic is located in the heart of Dong Van stone plateau park, recognized by UNESCO as a global geopark in 2010.
On October 25, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a document to the People's Committee of Ha Giang province requesting strict handling of the Cao Don sightseeing elevator project. Accordingly, the Ministry stated that although the project has been implemented, it has not complied with the planning for the Dong Van stone plateau approved by the Prime Minister, and has not properly implemented the Ministry's opinions in the documents that the Ministry sent to Ha Giang province in mid-2018. The Ministry requested the People's Committee of Ha Giang province to direct the competent authorities to conduct a comprehensive inspection and resolutely handle violations in accordance with the provisions of the law on cultural heritage and other relevant legal documents.
The Prime Minister also approved two plans for the Dong Van Karst Plateau in 2017: the Master Plan for Tourism Development of the Dong Van Karst Plateau National Tourist Area, Ha Giang Province to 2025, with a vision to 2030; and the Plan for Construction of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Ha Giang Province to 2030.
