Cuc Phuong National Park

Do you want to explore a wild world right in Vietnam, where thousands of species of flora and fauna live together? Cuc Phuong National Park is waiting for you!

If you are a nature lover, Cuc Phuong National Park will be a choice worth experiencing. Besides eco-tourism activities, exploring the environment, landscape… This place also has many prehistoric caves that bring many interesting things to visitors. Let’s explore this place!

Location

Located 120 km south of Hanoi, deep in the Tam Diep mountain range, there is a land that has become extremely familiar, arousing curiosity for many domestic and foreign tourists, that is Cuc Phuong National Park – the first National Park of Vietnam.

Cuc Phuong National Park is located in three provinces Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa with a total area of ​​22,408 hectares. With many values ​​of natural landscape, diversity of ecosystems, and cultural and historical values, Cuc Phuong has long become a famous and attractive eco-tourism destination.

Tourist Attraction

Visitor Center

The Visitor Center is the first stop when arriving at the National Park. This location provides basic information about the National Park, conveys messages about nature conservation, and protects wildlife so that visitors can visualize and build a schedule to visit, learn, and explore the National Park that suits their time and health.

Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Program

Located 500m from the Cuc Phuong National Park ticket gate, visitors can easily schedule a visit to wildlife rescue and conservation programs such as Endangered Primate Rescue Program, Turtle Conservation Program, Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program, etc. Through these programs, you have the opportunity to learn and explore the beauty of endangered wildlife in Vietnam. With creative and interactive spaces at these programs, you can visit rescued animals in long-term care areas and listen to their stories; watch footage of the rescue and release of extremely rare animals; see with your own eyes the types of traps that have been confiscated and used to hunt endangered animals, etc.

Cuc Phuong Museum

Cuc Phuong Museum is a place for students, university students, and experts in animal and plant conservation to visit and study specimens. Currently, the museum is preserving more than 50 archaeological specimens, including a positive specimen of placoderm reptiles dating back 230-250 million years ago, 122 pickled specimens, 82 animal specimens, 2,900 insect specimens of various kinds, and more than 12,000 plant specimens.

Cuc Phuong Botanical Garden

Cuc Phuong Botanical Garden is one of the first three botanical gardens in Vietnam to be listed in the international list of botanical gardens. This place is an effective place for scientific research, study, and tourism. It would be great if you could spend time walking in this tropical garden.

Silver Cloud Peak

Silver Cloud Peak is the highest peak in Cuc Phuong National Park with an altitude of 648 m above sea level. This is an adventurous challenge with a 7km round trip walk. Standing on the top, you can see the whole view of the national park and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, Bai Dinh Pagoda. This route should be accompanied by a tour guide from the Park.

Cave of Prehistoric Man

The cave is about 4 km from the forest entrance, where traces of prehistoric people’s living and burial sites are preserved, a cultural site in the history of human development. This place is also a valuable heritage within the protection area of ​​Cuc Phuong forest. The cave has stalactites, if you try to knock on it, it will make a sound like a gong. Visitors walk 300 m from the main road. Visiting time is from 30 minutes to an hour. The park only allows visitors to visit this place when it is light.

Giant Dragon Toad Tree (Dracontomelon Duperreanum)

The tree is 45m high, with a system of buttress roots branching out from the trunk at a height of about 10m and then growing 20 m long. On the way to the tree, visitors can also admire woody vines, epiphytes such as mistletoe, kites, orchids, and birds such as red-headed woodpeckers and striped-bellied pitta.

Thousand-year-old tree (Terminalia Myriocarpa)

The giant tree is 70 m tall, with a straight trunk and a diameter of 5 m. This tree has two trunks, a large base, and a circumference of about 20 people. About 5-6 years ago, the tree died, dried up, and rotted, the cause is believed to be because it was too old. However, the tree still stands straight. This is considered a must-see attraction in Cuc Phuong.

Activities

Trekking/ Walking 

Cuc Phuong National Park has built many walking routes in the forest, with different content and time, so you can choose the appropriate route for yourself. Some walking routes visitors can explore by themselves, however with the guidance and introduction of the tour guide, surely the visitors’ trip will become more interesting and meaningful.

Bird-watching

Cuc Phuong is one of the most diverse bird fauna spots in Northern Vietnam, with 308 species discovered and recorded, including many rare species such as Red-headed Woodpecker, White Pheasant, Brown Hornbill, Striped Pit-tail…, especially many species endemic to Vietnam and Indochina. Therefore, Cuc Phuong has become an unmissable destination for scientists and birdwatchers. The best time to watch birds is early morning and late afternoon.

Cycling

One of the ways to explore the mysteries of Cuc Phuong nature is by cycling in the forest. Cycling in the forest will not only bring visitors a sense of tranquility and a real sense of nature but also allow visitors to encounter rare animals in Cuc Phuong. You can rent a bicycle at the reception.

Kayaking

Staying at Cuc Phuong, visitors can participate in many recreational and relaxing activities. Kayaking on Mac Lake and Yen Quang Lake is one of the attractive activities that many visitors love.

Biodiversity Visiting

Cuc Phuong has currently listed 43 biodiversity sites, which are the result of research collaboration between Cuc Phuong National Park and the ICBG. Visiting these biodiversity sites will give visitors many opportunities to learn and explore tropical plants.

Besides, there are many other interesting activities that you can experience in Cuc Phuong National Park. Take your time to have a complete experience here!

Ideal time

Cuc Phuong National Park is a place for tourists to visit at any time. Each season in Cuc Phuong National Park has its unique species and beauty. Here are some suggestions for your trip!

Butterfly season

The butterfly season in the Cuc Phuong forest falls around May. At this time, the number of butterflies reaches thousands, creating an extremely unique and strange scene. This is a great background for visitors to record extremely artistic and aesthetic photos.

Bird season

Spring from February onwards with warm weather is the time when flocks of birds fly back after winter migrating south. If you want to see birds, come to Cuc Phuong National Park in the warm seasons!

Autumn

Autumn with cool weather will be extremely suitable for tourists to visit and have activities such as trekking, camping, cycling here. Normally, autumn in Northern Vietnam will fall from September to November.

Above are some interesting experiences and attractions suggested for you when coming to Cuc Phuong National Park. What are you waiting for? Come to Cuc Phuong and discover the wonders of nature right away!

Don’t forget to contact Trang An Ecorest Resort & Spa or visit us at www.tranganecorestresort.com if you need any support!

Trang An Ecorest Resort & Spa

Image source: Internet