On November 22, 2022, the 20^th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology and "15 years of Geopark development in Vietnam" symposium were officially opened at the Dak Nong Provincial Convention Center. 

Attending the opening session, there was the representative of UNESCO: Mr. Christian Manhart - Head of UNESCO Office in Vietnam; the representative of the International Committee of Volcanic Caves: Mr. John Brush - Chairman of International Committee of Volcanic Caves, Mr. Guy Martini - President of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, Secretary General of Global Geoparks Network.

On the central side, there was Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Member of Party Central Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment attended online.

On the side of Dak Nong province, there were: Mr. Ngo Thanh Danh, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Head of Provincial Delegation of National Assembly; Mr. Dieu K'Re - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Luu Van Trung - Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Ho Van Muoi - Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Dieu Xuan Hung - Member of Standing Committee of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Ms. Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh - Member of Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, Deputy Head of Symposium Organizing Committee.

There was also  attendance of representatives of Vietnam UNESCO National Committee; central ministries and branches; representatives of members of UNESCO Global Geopark Network; local government of other province; scientific researchers; departments, mass organizations and reporters from domestic and foreign news and television agencies came directly to report on the Symposium.

Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, gave welcome speech

Giving speech at the opening ceremony, Mr. Tran Hong Ha, Party Central Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment expressed his honor because this is the first time the International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology (ISV) has been held in Vietnam, and congratulated Dak Nong province for hosting the international symposium. The hosting of the ISV20 by Dak Nong province marked  a new milestone in scientific cooperation between Vietnam and countries having cave systems in the world, between Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark and the International Cave Association in general and the International Committee of Volcanic Caves and members of the Global Geopark Network.

In the position of the host country of Symposium, Mr. Nguyen Hong Ha thanked UNESCO, the International Committee of Volcanic Caves, UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, the ministries and branches has been interested in supporting Dak Nong to host the event. He hopes that through this symposium in the coming time, Dak Nong province will attract scientists  to research and further enhance the value of the cave system, the typical cultural value; sharing experiences, contributing to the conservation and effective exploitation of the international heritage of Dak Nong province.

Mr. Ho Van Muoi, Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, gave speech at Symposium

Giving speech to open the Symposium, Mr. Ho Van Muoi - Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee expressed the honor of the 20^th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology – it was held the first time in Vietnam and "15 years of Geopark development in Vietnam" symposium. At the same time, it affirmed that: The initiative to host an international scientific event affirms the determination of Dak Nong province in preserving and rational use of heritage values, especially geological heritages;it is an opportunity for Dak Nong to introduce and promote the system of volcanoes and volcanic caves - international geological heritages in Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark to domestic and international friends. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for Dak Nong to learn from international experiences in the field of conservation,

Mr. Christian Manhart, the representative of UNESCO - Head of UNESCO Office in Vietnam acknowledged the efforts of Dak Nong in particular and Vietnam in general in the conservation and sustainable development of precious geological heritages.

After the opening speech of  Mr. Ho Van Muoi - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee, the representative of UNESCO, Mr. Christian Manhart - Head of UNESCO Office in Vietnam, Mr. John Brush - Chairman of the International Committee of Volcanic Caves and Mr. Guy Martini - President of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council, Secretary General of the Global Geoparks Network said in recognition of Dak Nong's efforts. in particular, Vietnam in general in the conservation and sustainable development of precious geological heritages; affirming the need to organize a Conference to exchange new scientific values ​​on volcanoes and volcanic cave systems around the world; thereby proposing and determining ways to effectively conserve and exploit geological heritage values.

 Mr. John Brush - Chairman of the International Committee of Volcanic Caves gave speech at Symposium

After the opening session, the 20^th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, with the theme: "Conservation and Sustainable Development of Volcanoes and Volcanic Caves", had a discussion session at the Hall Conference Center.

The representative of  Provincial Leaders gave flowers to delegates attending the Symposium

Nguyễn Vinh Quang