Cuc Phuong

Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh, 120 kilometers from Hanoi. It was founded in 1962 and is the oldest national park in Vietnam. With 307 species of birds, 133 species of mammals, 122 species of reptiles and more than 2000 plant species, this national park is one of the most important protected areas of Vietnam.

Cuc Phuong National Park highlights

1. Trekking

The main reason for going to Cuc Phuong National Park is a trekking through the nature. There are many different treks, ranging from short 1 hour walks to full day trekking. At the visitor center you can ask for different trails. Some trails go to caves, villages, rainforest, lake and bird watching. Below a few of the trekking routes:

• Fauna and flora garden. The trail is approximately 3 km long and lasts a maximum of 2 hours.
• Observation tower: a short walk up the mountain with a beautiful landscape that takes about 1 hour.
• Other short walks are a route of 220 steps to the cave of prehistoric man. Human graves and tools are 7500 years old, making them one of the oldest sites for human occupation in Vietnam.
• Popular walks are a 6 km walk to the huge, 1000-year-old “old tree” (Tetrameles nudiflora) and a longer four-hour walk to Silver Cloud Peak.
• There is also a long 15 km (approximately five-hour) walk to Muong village. You can spend the night here with local families and rafting on the Buoi River.

Tips

• Night camping requires the help of a guide from the park and the locals, including watching wildlife at night. Camping equipment must be rented in Hanoi.
• Park staff can deliver maps, but a guide is recommended for day trips and mandatory for longer trips.

2. Kayaking

There are two places where you can go kayaking; on the artificial Mac lake or the natural Yen Quang lake. Kayaks can be rented directly at the park entrance.

3. Traditional music performance

Cuc Phuong National Park has been settlement for many generations of the Muong minority. These people have their own unique culture. To show and preserve a part of their culture they have traditional music performances by young Muong girls and boys who live around the park.

4. Amphibians, insects and reptiles spotting

The national park is home to many different species of insects, amphibians, and reptiles, which many of them are endemic to Vietnam. Some animals you can see are green tree frog and stick-insects.

5. Cycling

One of the best ways to explore Cuc Phuong National Park is by biking through the jungle. Cycling gives you the change to see a larger part of the park in a shorter time and is also a great way to see the more secretive animals and birds of the park. You can rent mountain bikes at the visitor’s center.

6. Bird watching

Cuc Phuong National Park is home to many beautiful tropical birds. Some of the 308 species of rare birds that you might encounter are the Silver Pheasant, Red-collared Woodpecker, Brown Hornbill and Bar-bellied Pitta. The park is a must-vist destination for birdwatchers. The best time for bird-watching is early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

7. Wildlife night-spotting

There are night safaris through the forest. These night tours give you the change to see the more difficult to spot animals of the park including the Black Giant Squirrel, the Indian Flying Squirrel, Samba Deer, Loris and several small carnivores.

8. Caves

The limestone formations produced numerous caves, many of which are accessible to explore. Three graves dug up in one of the caves in 1966 contain shells, animal teeth, rudimentary stone tools and prehistoric human remains. The most known caves in the park are Thang Khuyet Cave, Con Moong Cave, Pho Ma Cave, Nguoi Xua Cave and the Cave of Prehistoric Man.

Best time to visit

The best time to walk in Cuc Phuong National Park is from October to January, when mosquitoes and leeches take a break and the temperatures are relatively cool, but this is also the peak season. Flowers are at their best in February and March and in April and May are the months in which you can enjoy the “butterfly festival” where thousands of butterflies color the forest.