Authorities in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang are planning to charge visitors who stay overnight on the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

According to the head of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark Management Board, Hoang Xuan Don, local authorities are completing a plan to collect VND30,000 per night from adult tourists and VND15,000 from children.

The fees, which exclude fees to three sites including Lung Khuy Cave, Mong King Palace, and Lung Cu Flag Tower, will be applied to visitors to four districts of Quang Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac.

"After studying the situation from other countries and localities in Vietnam, we've decided to collect the fees to improve infrastructure in the area and fund conservation efforts," Don said. "There are currently about 40 tourist sites in the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark but we're only charging fees at Lung Khuy Cave, Mong King Palace, and Lung Cu Flag Tower."

Stretching over 2,356 square kilometres in the four districts of Quang Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac, the geopark which features towering limestone formations, jagged cliffs and captivating karst peaks, has become a popular tourist destination in Ha Giang.

Earlier this year Ha Giang was selected as one of the 52 best places to visit this year by the New York Times newspaper.