SUMMARY

Geotopes in Vietnam’s sea and islands

Lê Đức An, Trần Đức Thạnh, Nguyễn Hữu Cử

According to the concept by NOWF and UNESCO, geotopes (both geomorphological and geological wonders) in Vietnam’s sea and islands have been inventoried in coastal lands, coastal water bodies, coastal marine regions and open sea regions and graded into three levels of international, national and local values. Among the 88 geotopes in the first three regions, there are 17 geotopes at the international level emanating from peninsulas, coasts, coastal sand dunes, bays, lagoons, and islands. In the open sea regions, there are 61 geotopes at the international level in the total of 102 geotopes, which are coral platforms, atolls and pyramids forming the two great archipelagoes - Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa. As representative geotopes, the Hải Vân promontory - Lăng Cô beach - Sơn Trà island area (world natural heritage), the Ba Lạt river mouth (international geosite), the Lý Sơn island (national and international geosite), Nam Yết island and Nam Yết - Sơn Ca atoll ( international geosites) have been briefly described.

Người biên tập: PGS.TS Nguyễn Xuân Khiển.