Cuc Phuong, the first National Park of Vietnam which was established in 1962, is 140 km South of Hanoi, 55km from Ninh Binh, roughly 25,000 hectares. 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.
Route: Hanoi – Cuc Phuong – National Park – Hanoi.
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AM: 7h30 We pick you up from your hotel and depart Ha Noi for Cuc phuong national park.
10:30 Arrival at Cuc phuong national park. Your visit begins at the Endangered Primate rescue Center. Have lunch
PM: After lunch, you will start on a long trek through the forest to learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the park. You will also make stops at Cho Chi, the oldest tree in the forest, a number of picturesque streams and waterfalls and Nguoi Xua, the ancient cave of man.
15h30: Car pick up and transfer back to HANOI. Finish tour.