Cuc Phuong National Park – Treasures of Ninh Binh

Introduction

Cuc Phuong National Park is the first large nature reserve in Vietnam. This place has a diverse flora and fauna typical of the tropical climate. In addition, many rare animal species listed on the IUCN Red List are found and preserved here.

In the article below, Hanoi Locals will provide you with interesting information about Cuc Phuong National Park. Please follow our article below immediately.

Cuc Phuong National Park Location

Cuc Phuong National Park is a special-use forest located on the border of three regions: the Northwest, the Red River Delta, and the North Central region. It corresponds to the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa.

The Cuc Phuong National Park map is displayed below:

Furthermore, the Cuc Phuong forest spans a vast expanse of up to 22,200 hectares. Among them, most of the area is in Ninh Binh province (about 11,350 hectares). The province of Thanh Hoa follows with 5,850 hectares, mainly made up of valleys, dirt mountains, and limestone mountains. Finally, 5,000 hectares in Hoa Binh province are all limestone mountains.

In addition, this area’s vastness has allowed it to become a national park with Vietnam’s richest and most varied environment. Besides, it provides many exciting tourism experiences, including discovery activities, environmental tourism, and eco-tourism, for guests to freely explore.

You can reserve our tour below if you love nature and would like to spend the entire day exploring Cuc Phuong National Park:

• Cuc Phuong National Park Tour – 110 USD/pax

Furthermore, Ninh Binh is well-known in Northern Vietnam as a place with a lot of breathtaking scenery. Thus, when choosing one of our excursions below, travelers can experience a plethora of other fascinating tourist destinations in addition to Cuc Phuong National Park:

• Hoa Lu – Mua Cave – Tam Coc Tour – 99 USD/pax
• Ninh Binh Private Tour
• Ninh Binh Tour From Hanoi

How To Get To Cuc Phuong National Park Ninh Binh

Cuc Phuong National Park is about 54km from Ninh Binh city center and more than 120km from Hanoi capital. The road to this nature reserve is quite simple, so there are numerous ways to get here, including by bus, train, taxi, or private car.

However, traveling by private car or limousine is the perfect choice for you. When using our private car service, visitors will be free to choose their departure time and accompany a driver who can speak basic English.

Here, you can refer to our private vehicle service to Cuc Phuong National Park from Hanoi:

• Hanoi To Ninh Binh Limousine – 107 USD/Sedan
• Private Car Hanoi To Ninh Binh – 68 USD/Sedan

To get to Cuc Phuong Forest from Hanoi, visitors travel along National Highway 1A until reaching the Gian Khau crossroads (Ninh Binh). Next, you turn onto Highway 12A and continue through Nho Quan town for about 2 kilometers to reach the forest.

Furthermore, Hanoi Locals offers private car service from Ninh Binh to other well-known locations in Vietnam, including:

• Ninh Binh To Halong Bay Private Car – 80 USD/Sedan
• Private Car Ninh Binh To Mai Chau – 77 USD/Sedan
• Ninh Binh To Phong Nha Private Car – 213 USD/Sedan

Ideal Time To Visit Cuc Phuong National Park

Due to its vast expanse and distribution in three areas, Cuc Phuong Forest has different weather patterns. Visitors can update the weather situation about the seasons to have the best trip here.

There are four best seasons of the year to visit Vietnam’s Cuc Phuong National Park, namely:

February – April: During this period, the weather turns sunny and green trees, making it ideal for touring and other exploration-related activities. You may encounter some animals, such as pheasants and blue-billed magpies on your trip.

Late April – May: The weather is often nice and the temperature is cool during this period. Specifically, this is also the lovely butterfly season, so it is considered the most suitable time to visit Cuc Phuong.

June – August: To escape the intense summer heat, tourists can enjoy amazing natural experiences at Cuc Phuong Forest. Because of the tropical monsoon environment, this national park experiences an average yearly temperature of 24.7°C.

August – October: Fall is a fantastic season to go camping at Cuc Phuong Garden. This is a great place for people who don’t like crowds and noise because it isn’t as busy with tourists as it used to be.

Cuc Phuong National Park Entrance Fee

Detailed ticket prices to visit Cuc Phuong National Park in 2024:

• Adults: 60,000 VND/ticket.
• Pupils and students: 20,000 VND/ticket.
• Children: 10,000 VND/ticket.
• Children under 5 years old: Free.

Note: This is only the ticket price inside Cuc Phuong National Park; it does not include the cost of meals, tour guides, or the rental of a vehicle and boat. Additionally, students must show their student ID card to be eligible for discounted pricing.

The History Of Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong Forest was once a significant Ninh Binh archaeological site. Inside some caverns, experts discovered prehistoric items dating back 12,000 years, like grinding tools, stone axes, stone arrows, and tombs.

It was not until 1960 that Cuc Phuong was recognized as a forest reserve with an area of 20,000 hectares. This is a step marking the birth of Vietnam’s first protected area.

In 1966, this area was designated as Cuc Phuong National Park. 20 years later, the Government of Vietnam’s Decision No. 194/TC placed Cuc Phuong on the list of special-use forests.

In addition, the World Travel Awards honored Cuc Phuong National Park as the leading national park in Asia for four years running, from 2019 to 2022. Not only that, but this location is also considered one of the most beautiful national parks in Vietnam.

What Is Attractive About Cuc Phuong National Park?

Cuc Phuong National Park is home to an extremely diverse ecosystem with stunning natural landscapes and unique prehistoric caves. If you enjoy the outdoors and wish to explore it, this is a spot you shouldn’t miss.

Botanical Garden of Cuc Phuong

Cuc Phuong Botanical Garden is where many rare and endemic plant species grow in the tropical climate. Furthermore, a 1997 report names this as one of the three top botanical gardens in the world. It is open to visitors to stroll around and take in this garden’s beauty.

Endangered Primate Rescue Center

The Vietnam Primate Conservation Program, commonly known as the Endangered Primate Rescue Center, was founded in 1993. Its goal when it was founded was to save endangered primate species such as the Pygathrix cinerea douc, Trachypithecus Delacorte, etc.

Specifically, this location still harbors a unique type of animal that has vanished from the rest of the world, save for Vietnam. That’s the Delacour’s Langur, and it’s why the picture of it was selected to serve as Cuc Phuong National Park’s emblem.

Carnivore And Pangolin Education Centre

Cuc Phuong National Park has the Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Education Center open to visitors. You will discover a lot of fascinating things here, like:

• Visit and learn about the stories of animals in long-term care that were saved from illegal wildlife traffickers.
• Next, you can see that 39 species of carnivores, along with rare pangolin species, are threatened in Vietnam.
• Learn about wildlife conservation at the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Organization.
• Also, watch the video about the rescue and release of the extremely rare pangolin.
• Find out what you can do to prevent the extinction of wildlife.
• You can view traps used in the illegal hunting of rare animals confiscated by rangers.
• Finally, see footprints and hear the sounds of predators and pangolins.

Turtle Conservation Center

The Turtle Conservation Program has taken care of more than 600 individuals of 19 species out of 25 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles in Vietnam.

Successfully bred 15 species of turtles in captivity and returned hundreds of turtles to the wild after being rescued and given health care.

Cuc Phuong Museum

The Cuc Phuong Museum houses a display of specimens of long-extinct and endangered species. More than 50 prehistoric artifacts, 122 soaked specimens, and 82 animal species are kept here.

In addition, about 12,000 plant specimens and 2,900 insect specimens of various kinds are gathered at this location. Notably among them are specimens of Placodontia reptiles dating from 230–250 million years ago.

As a result, this place has become an important research and reference location for biology students and professors.

The Mac Lake And Yen Quang Lake

About 1.5 kilometers from the gate is Mac Lake, which offers a serene and natural setting. Kayaks are available for rent here, so you can paddle about the lake and take in the stunning scenery of Cuc Phuong Forest.

In addition, this national park also has Yen Quang Lake, which is considered a beautiful scenic spot. There is a temple built on an island rising in the middle of the lake. Many species of birds often come to this lake to swim and feed.

In particular, Yen Quang Lake is also an ecological area, including the central area, monastery, and vihara. Besides, this place also has historical relics such as the Mong Communal House, La Communal House, and Pho Ma Cave.

Prehistoric Caves

Cave Of Prehistoric Man

The important legacy of Cuc Phuong National Park includes prehistoric caverns. This location conserves artifacts from 7500 years ago that depict the appearance and way of life of prehistoric people in Vietnam.

Experts excavated this cave in 1966 and discovered numerous artifacts, including oyster shell knives, pestles, stone axes with sharp bone spears, etc.

In particular, people also find ancient tombs with the dead buried according to a certain ritual used in that era. This proves the long-term settlement of prehistoric people here.

Hang Con Moong

Con Moong Cave belongs to Thanh Yen commune, Huyen Thach Thanh, Thanh Hoa province. Due to its advantageous location close to rivers and streams, this cave boasts a remarkably varied range of vegetation and wildlife.

Not only that, but remnants of the prehistoric settlement in this cave have also been discovered. It developed into a significant archaeological site and was designated a national monument.

Furthermore, Cuc Phuong National Park is home to numerous other caves, such as:

• Mang Chieng Cave: This is a Neolithic burial site from a society that shared traits with the Hoa Binh culture. This location also has a large number of artifacts, animal remains, and human remains.
• Son Cung Cave: On the way to see the 1,000-year-old Cho tree, visitors can explore this cave.
• Deep within the Cuc Phuong woodland sits Crescent Moon Cave. The name of the cave also originated from the crescent moon that can be seen when gazing out of the cave.

Muong Village

Cuc Phuong Forest is the residence of the Muong ethnic minority community. They have lived here for a long time, so they have developed a distinct culture and language. Muong village is located deep in the old forest so you will have to walk about 15 kilometers of forest road to get here.

Coming here, visitors can explore the culture and tradition of this nation through stilt houses and brocade weaving looms. Not only that, but you will have the opportunity to take photos and interact with local people, creating great experiences for your Ninh Binh trip.

Hunting Butterfly Season

Butterfly season in Cuc Phuong National Park usually falls around May every year. Numerous varieties of many different types race to escape their cocoons and transform into stunning, vibrant butterflies.

This season’s number of individual butterflies can reach millions, making for a striking and enchanting sight. It’s hard to find this unique image anywhere else. This is also another explanation for the high number of visitors to Cuc Phuong National Park during this period.

Travel Tips

We offer the following recommendations to help you have the most unforgettable trip to Cuc Phuong National Park:

• You should wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for long-distance trekking.
• Bring only essential personal belongings; don’t overpack, as this will hinder your trekking.
• In addition, you can bring drinks and snacks to regain energy.
• Remember to pack a phone and camera so you can take souvenir photos.
• Insect repellent, a flashlight, and a cap are things you should pack.
• Don’t forget to put your trash in the right place.

Nearby Attractions Cuc Phuong National Park Viet Nam

Ninh Binh is well-known for many other fascinating locations outside Cuc Phuong National Park. For example, Tam Coc – Bich Dong Complex, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Trang An Scenic Spot, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, etc.

Tam Coc – Bich Dong

Tam Coc – Bich Dong is an interesting attraction belonging to the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh. This location is well-known for its breathtaking three-cave sequence and picturesque mountain landscape.

In addition, the journey on the Ngo Dong River is also a wonderful experience during your trip. Besides, travelers will have the opportunity to see numerous locations, including Thai Vi Pagoda, Bich Dong Pagoda, and Co Vien Lau, along with many other unique works here.

Hoa Lu Ancient Capital

In the past, Hoa Lu Ninh Binh was chosen as the capital of the country. As a result, this location is extremely important to Vietnamese history and culture.

Coming here, visitors can admire works bearing the architectural style of that time and discover fascinating anecdotes about the history of the resistance movement against Vietnamese invaders.

Bai Dinh Pagoda

One of the most well-known spiritual tourism attractions in Northern Vietnam nowadays is the Bai Dinh Pagoda. With its enormous scale, this temple has broken numerous records in Vietnam and Asia.

This place attracts tourists to make pilgrimages and explore extremely magnificent Buddhist-style architectural works. Bai Dinh Pagoda promises to bring you many interesting surprises in your journey to explore Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

Conclusion

In short, Cuc Phuong National Park is one of the most experienced tourist destinations in Ninh Binh Vietnam. Coming here, visitors can admire many rare animal species listed on the World IUCN Red List. At the same time, you can also explore wild nature and traces of prehistoric people that have important values in the development of humanity.

All the information about Cuc Phuong National Park that Hanoi Locals mentioned above will hopefully bring you a lot of useful knowledge about this place. We wish you a memorable journey in Northern Vietnam.