Cuc Phuong National Park: A Journey Through Vietnam’s Natural Heritage

Discover the Heart of Vietnam’s Biodiversity

Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong National Park is Vietnam’s oldest national park, offering a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and wildlife conservation. Located just 120 kilometers southwest of Hanoi, this pristine park spans across the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa.

A Paradise for Nature Enthusiasts

Cuc Phuong boasts a diverse ecosystem, featuring towering limestone mountains, lush green rice terraces, and traditional stilt houses of the Muong hill tribe. The park’s dense forests provide a habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, making it a haven for researchers, naturalists, and wildlife enthusiasts.

Highlights of Your Cuc Phuong Adventure

• Visitor Center and Conservation Centers: Learn about the park’s history and conservation efforts at the Visitor Center, and witness the incredible work being done to protect endangered primates and turtles at the EPRC and Turtle Conservation Center.
• Cave of Prehistoric Man: Embark on a short hike to discover the Cave of Prehistoric Man, where ancient human remains and artifacts have been found, offering a glimpse into the region’s history.
• 1000-Year-Old Tree Trail: Explore the park’s natural wonders on a 6-kilometer loop trail that leads you to a magnificent 1000-year-old tree, a testament to the park’s longevity and ecological significance.

BEAR SANCTUARY VIETNAM (BY FOUR PAWS) is a bear sanctuary located in Ninh Binh, Vietnam established by FOUR PAWS, the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them, whose vision is a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sanctuary is not only a new home to bears rescued from bile farming and the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam, but also an unforgettable experience for learning and exploring in a natural setting.

Your Day Trip Itinerary

• 8:30AM: Get picked up by our local tour guide and driver at your hotel in Ninh Binh/ Tam Coc/ Trang An. Enjoy a 45-60 minute drive from Ninh Binh/ Tam Coc to Nho Quan District. Catch a glimpse of beautiful landscapes of lime-stones, ricefields, rural area on the way.
• 9:30AM: Arrive at Bear Sanctuary. Quick checkin at reception desk. Here, after a 30 minute walk to see bear playground from a bridge, you will meet up with a volunteer who is also an on-site tour guide. She/he will escort you to visit “bear houses” and “bear kitchen”. You would have a big chance to learn about many stories of bears’ livies in Vietnam, why people keep them for their bile, how they were rescued, etc.

After about a 2 hour visit at the center, we will take you back to the reception area where we have arranged for you a vegetarian meal at the sanctuary’s restaurant to help to raise fund. Optional: if you wish to have a non-vegetarian meal, our driver, and tour guide will head straight to Cuc Phuong for a lunch stop in the park.

• 1:00PM: Arrive at Cuc Phuong. Stop at the Visitor Center where you can learn more about the park from the pictures and models on display. Follow by a visit to:

• Option 1: The Endangered Primate Rescue Center – one of the highlights of a visit to Cuc Phuong, where you can observe some of the rarest primate species in the world including langurs and gibbons.
• Option 2: The Turtle Conservation Center where we are keeping 20 species of turtle and tortoises for rescue and conservation.

Drive further into the park center where you begin hiking a 3-5km loop trail to see the 1000 year old tree. On this trail you will have a chance to discover the secrets of nature. This one day tour will conclude with a visit to the Cave of Prehistoric Man, where human skeletons and stone tools dated to some 7.500 years old have been found.

• 5:30PM: Trip ends at your hotel.

What to Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes or boots
• Headlamp
• Camera
• Hat
• Insect repellent

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions

• Transfer: Private easy rider (and their motorbike) per person per tour. If you request for 01 English speaking tour guide as one of the riders, surcharge is 35USD for the tour guide.
• Choose Your Tour Option:
  • Option 1: Fully Inclusive
    • Entrance fees, sightseeing tickets, lunch, mineral water
  • Option 2: Driver Only
    • Entrance fees, sightseeing tickets, lunch (paid by passengers)
    • Mineral water included

• Exclusions:
  • Additional drinks and personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities

Join us on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Vietnam’s natural heritage. Our expert guides will ensure you have a safe, enjoyable, and informative experience. Contact us to book your Cuc Phuong National Park tour and discover the wonders of this remarkable destination.