Cuc Phuong national park and activities

Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong national park is one of Vietnam’s most important protected areas. Though wildlife has suffered a precipitous decline in Vietnam in recent decades, the park’s 222 sq km of primary tropical forest remains home to an amazing variety of animal and plant life: 307 species of bird, 133 species of mammal, 122 species of reptile, 2000 plant species and counting.

Even now Cuc Phuong national park has not been fully surveyed but is estimated to contain about three hundred bird species and ninety mammal species, some of which were first discovered in Cuc Phuong, such as red-bellied squirrels and a fish that lives in underground rivers. Several species of bat and monkey, including the critically endangered Delacour’s langur, inhabit the park, while bears and leopards roam its upper reaches.


Activities

	Trekking in the primary forest Hiking opportunities abound in the park and you could spend days trekking through the forest. Popular trails will lead you to several ancient trees, caves and Muong villages. Park staff can give you basic maps to find the well-marked trails. However, a guided tour is the best and most informative way to get the long treks, even overnight treks and camping trips are also available.
	Enjoy traditional music performance Cuc Phuong national park was a settlement of generations of Muong minority people with their own unique culture. While visiting the park, you will have a chance to enjoy and take part in traditional songs and dances, which will be performed by young Muong girls and boys who live around the park.
	Bird watching Cuc Phuong national park is home to a wealth of beautiful tropical birds, many of them endemic to Vietnam and Indochina. Some of the 307 species of rare birds that you might meet are the silver pheasant, Red-collared Woodpecker, brown Hornbill, Bar-bellied Pitta ... The best time for bird-watching is early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
	Cycling through the forest An interesting way to experience Cuc Phuong national park is by cycling through the forest. Biking offers the visitor not only silence and a cool breeze, but it is also a great way to view the more secretive animals and birds of the national park. You can rent the mountain bike in the park.
	Watching wildlife at night Cuc Phuong national park can organise night-spotting trips into the primary forest. These special tours offer opportunities to see the more elusive mammal species of the park including the black giant squirrel, the Indian flying squirrel, Sambar deer, loris and several small carnivores.
	Bamboo river rafting When you go to the Muong village in Cuc Phuong national park, you can also try bamboo river rafting, it's interesting activity.
	Muong girl brocade weaving The forests of Cuc Phuong are immensely important culturally, providing livelihood resources for local communities. You can take a trek to the Muong village where the hospitable local people offer 1 or 2 night homestay in their traditional stilt houses. While in the village you will live as one of the family, eat together, have an opportunity to explore their culture.

Time to visit Cuc Phuong national park

You can walk into the Cuc Phuong national park interior. The most enjoyable time for walking in these hills is October to January, when mosquitoes and leeches take a break and temperatures are relatively cool - but this is also peak season.

The flowers are at their best February and March, while April and May are the months when you can enjoy the "butterfly festival" as thousands of butterfly colour the forest.

- From April to June it becomes increasingly hot, wet and muddy.

- From July to October the rains arrive, bringing lots of leeches.

- Weekends can be busy with Vietnamese families.