Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong National Park is the oldest national park in Vietnam. Located only 120km southwest of Hanoi and nestled between the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. Cuc Phuong boasts engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery.
Magnificent Limestone Mountains rise up majestically from the green, rice terraces and traditional stilt house of the Muong hill-tribe. Covered in a dense forest they form a habitat for some of Asia’s rarest species. It’s no wonder why researchers, naturalists, enthusiasts and conservationists alike are drawn to this corner of the world.
Limestone karst landscape: Located on two limestone mountain ranges, the landscape of Cuc Phuong National Park is a wonderfully rich eco-system. The rocky outcrops of Cuc Phuong also contain very valuable archeological vestiges such as: a fossilized sea reptile, dated 200 – 230 million years old and evidence of prehistoric people, who lived in the forest some 7500 years ago. These formations of limestone also contain numerous caves to explore, which are home to around forty bat species.
Biodiversity: The ancient forest’s 2000 species of trees, with 110 species of reptiles and amphibians and 119 mammals, including Clouded Leopard, Delacour’s langur, Owston’s Civet and Asian Black Bear. There are also incredible 307 documented bird species. Visitors in April and May should be blessed with the chance to see literally millions of vibrant butterflies.
Culture: A long time ago, Cuc Phuong was home to the Muong minority people and to this day a few scattered hamlets around the park’s periphery stilt house this interesting tribe and their unique culture.
