Cuc Phuong National Park

Known as “Huge Green Lung,” Cuc Phuong National Park covers an area of 22,408 hectares and spans across 3 provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa. Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the first national park of Vietnam. 

Cuc Phuong National Park is preserving a diverse flora ecosystem, including 2,234 different plant species—17% of Vietnam’s plant diversity. A highlight that could be mentioned is the thousand-year-old tree with a height up to 50 that takes 20 people hugging to cover its perimeter.

Besides flora and fauna, Cuc Phuong is protecting 659 vertebrate and 1899 invertebrate species. Some of them could only be found in Vietnam, like Delacour’s langur, while nearly 81 others are endangered and listed in the country’s Red Book. Cuc Phuong National Park is also the headquarters of the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (EPRC) and Turtle Conservation Centre (TTC).

The park is a haven for bird-lovers, with 308 bird species that have been found till now, such as Bar-bellied Pitta, red-coloured woodpecker, Fujian Niltava, or puff-throated babbler.

Not just natural, Cuc Phuong also has a rich cultural value. Archaeologists have discovered various traces of ancient prehistoric man in the park’s caves, which date back to 7500 to 12000 years ago. Nowadays, the park is home to a community of nearly 3500 Muong ethnic people. 

Best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park

The best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park weather-wise is from November to December. These months cover the park in cool temperatures, from 19 to 25 °C. The sky is clear and dry, with very little to no rain. It, though, could get a bit chilly toward the end of December. 

Cuc Phuong experiences extreme heat from May to September. The heat could go very extreme, up to 35 °C and super humid. 

On another note, the diversity of nature inside the park always offers things to see, no matter which month you visit Cuc Phuong. Travelers interested in insect observation might find it ideal to get to the park during April–August, while September–December is perfect for birding lovers.

Check out the natural events calendar below to find out when the park is most suited for you: 

How to get Cuc Phuong National Park

Taking a tour is the best option if you don’t want to go through a hussle. All the tours to Cuc Phuong National Park are organized daily, with pick-up starting at 08:00 from your hotel and dropping you off back at around 18:00 on the last day. 

These all-inclusive tours will include 2–3 hours of trekking and walking to the core of the park, so prepare accordingly. There are choices of day trips (~45 USD) or 1-night stay packages (~120 USD).

On the other hand, it’s also very easy to guide yourself to Cuc Phuong National Park since Ninh Binh is conveniently connected with Hanoi. You could choose between taking daily buses (2-hour drives) or riding a train (2.5 hours) to Ninh Binh, then taking a taxi to the park entrance. From there, you could get a park-guided tour or explore Cuc Phuong on your own. 

Highlights activities

Trekking

The massive size and biodiversity make Cuc Phuong an ideal place to trek. The park offers various routes to choose from, from a short, medium, to overnight trek. 

Short and medium treks are usually 2–3 km long and take around 2 hours. These treks will take you through the park’s diverse vegetation with more than 2000 different species or admire panoramic views from the top of May Bac Mountain, which stands at 648.2 meters. Most routes are available for self-guidance, and no tour guide is needed. 

Overnight trekking routes will guide you deeper to the core of Cuc Phuong. They are up to 30 km long and might take 2 or 3 days, depending on your preference. You will have chances to experience camping in the jungle or visit Pu Luong Nature Reserve. Pre-signup and a local guide are requested at the entrance of the park, with a maximum of 5 people per group. If you have a larger group, drop the park ranger an email via dulichcucphuong@hn.vnn.vn. 

Visit Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (EPRC)

Cuc Phuong is home to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC), the first animal rescue center in Vietnam as well as Indochina.

Visiting the center will help you witness more than 180 primates, representing 14 endangered species. Some could only be found here, such as Delacour’s langur, Hatinh langur, or Cat Ba langur. 

Joining a wildlife night watch

As the sun begins to set toward the horizon, another Cuc Phuong is awakened. Join a night watch tour to see what the nocturnal wildlife in the park is definitely a must-do. 

The tour starts every 1 hour from 19:00 to 22:00 daily. From the entrance, an electric car will drive you around Cuc Phuong National Park for 1.5 hours, covering 5 km. 

Throughout the trip, the car will stop occasionally to observe the wildlife along the way. The highlight is witnessing the fireflies dancing in the middle of the dark forest, creating a magical scenery. If lucky, you might encounter some rare animals, such as meerkats, wildcats, or Pygmy slow loris. 

Tickets cost 100,000 VND per adult and 50,000 VND per child (excluding the entrance fee) and could only be booked at the park entrance. Bear in mind that the park will only sell 100 tickets per day. 

Where to stay

In order to preserve the wildlife of Cuc Phuong, there are only 3 designated places to stay inside the park, including the park headquarters, the park centre, and the Mac Lake area.

Park Headquarter

Stay if: You are looking for the most comfortable night possible.

Park Headquarters is the most popular area to stay in Cuc Phuong, located right at the entrance to the park. It includes choices of private or sharing rooms. All the rooms are well equipped with the fullest amenities, such as air conditioning and TV, and surrounded by extra facilities like a playground or souvenir shops. 

Prices start at 200,000 VND and could go up to 1,000,000 VND per night, depending on the season or weekend.

Mac Lake area

Stay if: You are staying in a group or want to engage in sporty activities. 

The area around Mac Lake offers a variety of facilities for group parties, including campfires, fishing, kayaking, or cultural performances. Accommodations include 22 private rooms and a stilt-house dormitory, with the cost ranging from 400,000 vnd to 700,000 vnd.

Park Centre

Stay if: You’d like to be attached to nature.

The Park Centre is the most remote area in Cuc Phuong, approximately 20 kilometers from the park entrance. Staying at the park center will help you stay away from modern life and completely surrounded by nature.

Facilities here are pretty basic and not ideal if you’re looking for a convenient stay, though the area still has enough services, such as dining or entertainment facilities. Electricity is only available for 4 hours in the evening, with limited access to the internet.

The price for a private room starts at 350,000 VND per night. If you travel in a large group, you could also rent a nearby stilt house for 1,200,000 VND per night.