Leaving Hanoi at 7.30, we drive (2 hours) 130km to Cucphuong national park. Upon arrival, we take a walk around the Primate Center and then drive further into the middle of the national park. In here, you won't have to walk far to find interesting birds or trees. After lunch right in the middle of the rain forest, we'll have free time for a relaxing walk around and take a visit to the primitive cave before driving back to Hanoi.
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About Cuc Phuong
Cuc Phuong National Park Vietnam Information
With 25,000 hectares and 140 km South of Hanoi, Cuc Phuong is the first National Park of Vietnam
which was established in 1962. The botanical richness of the forest is
impressive as it supports a wide variety of flora species and patches
of primeval forest, including ancient trees with thick clusters of
roots, and parasitic plants and ligneous creepers.
Some tree species have been introduced from Burma, India, and
Borneo. Clusters of orchards grow near cave entrances, where the
moisture conditions and light are ideal. Varieties include
thousand-year dracontomelum and parashorea trees which can be visited
in a one or two hour hiking, and coral, vanilla, snow-white, and
butterfly orchids everywhere. Large mammals inhabit the park including
panthers and bears, but rarely appear, so the most popular animals you
can see are monkeys, gibbons, flying squirrels and pheasants. There are
also over 120 species of birds and many varieties of beetles living
here, and April and May arrive swarms of butterflies. At night, million
of cicadas create a deafening din, and million of fireflies flicker
about.
Lying in a limestone area, Cuc Phuong includes numerous caves. At
"Nguoi Xua" (Cave of Early Man), two ancient tombs have been
discovered, along with Neolithic remains and evidence of stone
implements; there have been similar finds at Trang Khuyet (Crescent
Moon), Thanh Minh, and Con Mong Caves. Hang Dan Cave is known for its
bat population. Hiking in Cuc Phuong is following some kilometers of
trails and passing through old-growth forest with long vines wrapped
around strangled trees, visiting the caves, waterfalls and streams in
the forest or stopping over at a Muong ethnic's village. Since the
location in between three provinces, it's easy to combine a trip to Cuc
Phuong with a trip to Hoa Binh or Ninh Binh province, or you can depart
from Hanoi, spend the whole day exploring the forest and overnight at
the Park's guest house.