Cuc Phuong, a popular trekking destination near Hanoi, was named Asia's leading national park at the 2021 World Travel Awards.

It surpassed other competitors such as Chitwan National Park in Nepal, Kinabalu and Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia, Komodo National Park in Indonesia, and Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka to claim the honors.

The award was based on votes cast by travel industry professionals and the public.

Cuc Phuong, Vietnam's first national park, is situated in the Tam Diep mountain range that runs across the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa.

The park stretches 22,408 hectares and is mainly covered by tropical rainforests. It provides habitats for 117 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 65 species of fish.

Besides trekking visitors can also go on wildlife viewing tours at night.

World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry. It has been described as the "travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars".

Cuc Phuong National Park

Photo: Hanoi Explore Travel

Cuc Phuong National Park belongs to Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh province, is bounded between three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa province. It is far about 100 kilometers from Hanoi to the southwest. Cuc Phuong national park is the first national park in Vietnam, established in July 1962. Cuc Phuong National Park has a population of abundant flora and fauna.

Cuc Phuong has the area of 22.000 hectares, of which three quarters are limestone with height from 300 meters to 600 meters above sea level. Here, there has May Bac mount with 648.2 meters. The climate in Cuc Phuong is kind of tropical monsoon climate, average annual temperature about 24.70C. Especially, there have many caves, beautiful landscape and historical natural remnants such as: Trang Khuyet Cave, Chua Cave, Thuy Tien Cave, Nguoi Xua, Cave, Con Moong grotto, San Ho Cave…

Photo: Local Vietnam

In the Park, there has hot spring 380C. The flora is various with 1.944 species. Diverse fauna includes 71 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 33 reptiles and 16 amphibians. Besides, there has many animals such as: bears, horses, boars, tigers, leopards, ferrets, squirrels, monkeys… The half natural breeding area has deer, yellow monkey, Delacour's langur and flying squirrel… which serves the research of scientists and tourists can have opportunity to see animals as in the nature. Cuc Phuong is also the home of hundreds of birds, beautiful and strange butterflies.

Best time to visit

A visit to Cuc Phuong National Park will be perfect if you plan to go from the time of December to May - when the weather is cool, dry and pleasant. Visitors should avoid going during the stormy season in the north around June to August - a very dangerous time for your trekking trip at the national park.

Notably, you will be amazed at the brilliant butterfly season at the national park in May with a sparkling and colorful painting painted by millions of butterflies of all kinds, making you feel like lost in fairyland.

Cuc Phuong National Park Attractions

Photo: Ninh Binh Tourist Center

“Dong Nguoi Xua” - Cave of prehistoric man

Also known as Dang Cave, "Dong Nguoi Xua" - a precious heritage of the national park - preserves the residence and funeral traces of prehistoric people. This place can help visitors better understand the unique culture in the history of human development evolution.

Con Moong Cave

Photo: Southeast Asian Archaeology

With an animal-like large protruding rock at the entrance of the cave, this cave is named Con Moong Cave which means animal cave. Once a place of residence of the ancient people because of its rich flora and fauna, the cave has a complex structure, along with a continuous intertwining of clay, mollusk crust, and coal ash streaks.

May Bac Peak

As the highest peak at Cuc Phuong National Park with an altitude of 648 meters, May Bac Peak is where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the national park's forest and plains as well as the ancient capital Hoa Lu, and Bai Dinh Pagoda. However, this place is only suitable for someone in good health because the road leading to the peak has many difficult-to-go rocky slopes.

Yen Quang Lake

Photo: Wikipedia

Also known as Nho Quan Lake, Yen Quang Lake is a renowned tourist attraction with the lake surface as the gathering venue of various birds to swim, a small island lying in the middle of the lake along with the temple on the island. For the first time coming here, visitors will feel lost in the fairy landscape with the wild and tranquil beauty of the lake surrounded by immense forest and mountains.

Typical ancient trees

Photo: Lotussia Travel

Dang ancient tree: With a height of 45 meters, a diameter of 5 meters and a root system on the ground about 20 meters long, the tree has existed for a long time and attracts visitors with its impressive appearance. Let's try standing below the tree's shadow to experience the feeling of being small.

Thousand years old tree (Parashrea Stellata): As one of the oldest trees in the national park, this tree has a height of 50 meters, a diameter of 5 meters while its whole trunk needs at least 20 adults with their full arm length to embrace. Sau ancient tree (Dracontomelum): With an attractive shape like a solid wall, Sau ancient tree is an ideal landmark for you to relax under its giant leaf canopy while visiting when owning a height of 45 meters besides a root system separating from the tree trunk from a height of 10 meters.

Activities at Cuc Phuong National Park

Trekking

Possessing dozens of walking trails through the forest and diverse discovery contents, Cuc Phuong National Forest is the ideal place for you to take exciting trekking routes and explore the diverse ecosystem of the park, getting fascinating and unforgettable experiences. Visitors can explore on your own or based on the guidance of guides who help you better understand plants and animals there.

Kayaking

One of the favorite activities of many travelers when visiting the national park is kayaking on Mac Lake and Yen Quang Lake. With the boat swimming price of 50,000 VND/person/hour, you can get the feeling of floating on the water while admiring the gorgeous surrounding natural scenery. Besides, if you travel in a large group, everyone can hold a kayaking race, thereby stirring up the trip atmosphere.

Butterfly watching

Photo: Vietnam Online

Cuc Phuong National Park is recently known for its "specialty" as butterflies covering the sky in the late spring and early summer. As home to more than 400 species of butterflies of all kinds and colors from white to blue, brown, pink, the national park is an ideal place to explore and admire as well as research. If you want to watch the sparkling, fanciful picture "drawn" by butterflies, you should come here in late April and early May.

Cycling in the forest

As one of the popular activities in Cuc Phuong National Park, cycling not only helps you to truly feel the natural breath and explore more clearly the ecosystem here but also gives you a sense of peace after hard working days. Don't miss out on cycling experience through the national park as this can also be your opportunity to encounter rare animals.

Besides the above activities, Cuc Phuong National Park is also a suitable place to participate in bird watching experiences, observing animals, reptiles and amphibians. On the other hand, visitors can learn more about the lives of locals through community activities, or ethnic art events.

Flora and fauna

Photo: TourRadar

Cuc Phuong is home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. Inhabitants of the park include 97 species of mammals, most notable endangered langurs; 300 species of birds; 36 reptilian species; 17 species of amphibians; 11 species of fish; 2,000 species of vascular plants, and thousands of species of insects. A number of species in the park are listed on Vietnam Red Book of endangered species.

Primates in the park include macaques, gibbon, François's leaf monkey and slow loris. Other mammals include bats, porcupine, flying squirrel, small striped squirrel, belly-banded squirrel, and the rare black giant squirrel. In the past the park was home to Asiatic black bears, wild dogs, elephants, rhinos, and tigers, but over hunting and lack of prey have most led to the loss of these species. Leopards, clouded leopards, and jungle cats may still be present in the park.

Bird species include bar-backed partridge, scaly-breasted partridge, silver pheasant, red junglefowl, grey peacock-pheasant, laughingthrushes, red-vented barbet, green-eared barbet, scimitar-billed babblers, brown hawk-owl, scarlet minivet, racket-tailed drongos, racket-tailed treepie, white-winged blue magpie. Migrant species include thrushes, flycatchers, tits, finches, pipits amongst others. Hornbills can also be spotted in the forest.

An endemic subspecies of sub-terranic cave fish is also located in the park.

Flora in the park includes multi-layered canopy; trees up to 70m in height; flowers, including, orchids; ferns with amazingly tall leaves; and an abundance of liana and cauliflory. The park also contains plants used for such practicalities as spices and medicines as well as edible fruits, nuts and shoots.

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