Cuc Phuong National Park

Cuc Phuong National Park (or Cuc Phuong forest) is a nature reserve, a special-use forest located on the boundary of the North West, Red and North Central Delta regions of three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa. The national park has a rich flora and fauna that is characterized by tropical rainforests. Many highly endangered plant and animal species are discovered and preserved here. This is also the first national park in Vietnam.

An Overview

Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh Province, 100 km from Hanoi capital. Cuc Phuong is Vietnam's first national park and also the country's largest nature reserve. The park is one of the most important sites preserves biodiversity in Vietnam.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Flora and fauna

Cuc Phuong National Park is home to an amazing diversity of flora and fauna system. The park includes 97 species of mammals, 300 species of birds; 36 reptilian; 17 of amphibians; 11 of fish while 2,000 species of vascular plants, and thousands of insect species. A number among them is listed on Vietnam Red Book of endangered species.

Conservation programs

There are three conservation programs formed in Cuc Ph??ng National park

Endangered Primate Rescue program

The primate center stores specimens of langurs, loris, and gibbon, including the endangered Delacour's langur, black crested gibbon, and golden-headed langur. The primate center was established since 1993 with the support from the Frankfurt Zoological Society and has grown to 180 animals in 50 cages, 4 houses, and two semi-wild enclosures.

Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program

The Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program was designed and dedicated to the conservation of small carnivores which are linsangs,  weasels, civets, small cats, otters, badgers, and pangolins. The program has performed since 1995 as a specific program for the endangered Owston's civet and expanded to include all species of small carnivore.

Turtle Conservation Center

The turtle conservation center was established in 1998 and is home to some of the most endangered turtles in Vietnam, including the Vietnamese pond turtle which is nearly extinct in the wild.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Cultural Preservation 

Lying in half-covered terrain, Cuc Phuong has preserved many beautiful caves, namely Son Cung Cave, Vui Xuan Cave, Pho Ma Cave... Some of the caves still preserved archaeological relics. Scientists believed that is the keys to a deep understanding of the history of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. These remnants were conserved in Nguoi Xua Cave and Con Moong Cave. Cuc Phuong is home to the residence of Muong ethnic community. Whose culture is the stilt-houses, the traditional costumes, the customs and habits, the gongs festivals... In Cuc Phuong National Park, along with admiring the amazing biodiversity that Nature endows, tourists receive a chance to contemplate the traditional dances, folk songs of the Muong ethnic minorities. Young boys and girls in traditional dress dancing around the light of campfire actually offer tourists an exciting dancing night. This activity was designed to preserve and promote the cultural traditions of Muong ethnic culture in particular.