ABOUT CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1962 with acreage of 22,000 ha. Cuc Phuong boasts an engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting sceneries. Magnificent Limestone Mountains rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces and traditional stilt houses of the Muong hill-tribe.

Flora and Fauna
Cuc Phuong is home to a huge diversity of flora and fauna. Inhabitants of the park include 135 species of mammals, 336 species of birds,122 species of reptiles and amphibians , 66 species of fish, over 2234 species of vasculer and none-vascular plants, and thousands of species of insects, most of whom do not bite. A number of species in the park are listed on Vietnam Red Book of endangered species. Visitors in April and May should be blessed with the chance to see literally thousands of vibrant butterflies

                               Butterflies in Cuc Phuong National Park
Flora in the park includes multi-layered canopy; trees up to 70m in height; flowers, including, orchids; ferns with amazingly tall leaves; and an abundance of lianes and cauliflory. The park also contains plants used for such practicalities as spices and medicines as well as edible fruits, nuts, and shoots.

Primates in the park include macaques, gibbon, Francois' leaf monkey and slow loris. Other mammals including bats, porcupine, flying squirrel, small striped squirrel, belly-banded squirrel, and the rare giant black squirrel. In the past Asiatic Black-Bear bears, wild dogs, and tiger have been spotted in Cuc Phuong, but over hunting and lack of prey have jeopardized the existence of these species within the park. Leopard, clouded leopard and jungle cat may still stalk prey in Cuc Phuong.

         Bird in Cuc Phuong National Park
Bird species include Bar-Backed Partridge, Scaly-Breasted Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Red Jungle Fowl, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Laughing Thrushes, Red-Vented Barbet, Green-Eared Barbet, Scimitar-Billed Babblers, Brown Hawk Owl, Scarlet Minivet, Racket-Tailed Drongos, Racket-Tailed Magpie, White-Winged Blue Magpie. Migrant species include thrushes, flycatchers, tits, finches, pipits amongst others. Hornbills can also be spotted in the forest.
An endemic sub-species of sub-terranic cave fish is also located in the park.
Mosquitoes and leeches are present in the park, but they are not as bad as you may imagine and repellent keeps most of them away.

Rescue Center
Cuc Phuong’s Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) was established in 1993 and is a project of Frankfurt Zoological Society. The establishment of EPRC has faced many difficulties, but began with two individuals of Delacour’s langur and Hatinh langur confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade.

The Center currently houses about 160 individuals of 15 species and sub-species in which 6 species nowhere else in captivity. These include Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), Hatinh (Trachypithecus laotum hatinhensis), Black langur (Trachypithecus laotum ebenus), Lao langur (Trachypithecus laotum laotum), Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus poliocephalus), and Grey-shanked Douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea).
        
Nine species have been successfully bred in captivity, Delacour’s langur, Hatinh langur, Black langur and Grey-shanked Douc langur the first time in captivity. The proportion of these species reproduction has been very high, with five Delacour’s langurs giving birth to five offspring and ten Hatinh langurs giving birth to 16 individuals at the Center. The Center is only foundation in the world that implements captive rescue for 3 species of Douc langur, including the Grey-shanked Douc langur, Red-shanked Douc langur and the Black-shanked Douc langur with a total of 28 individuals.

Besides its rescue duties, the Center has also led important activities including a program to release captive animals back into the wild. In 2007, eight Hatinh langurs have been released into the semi-wild enclosure at Phong Nha Ke Bang national park, and have achieved initial successes in searching for food, habitat use and other behaviours.

Limestone Karst Landscape
Located on 2 limestone mountain ranges, the landscape of Cuc Phuong contains a wonderfully rich ecosystem. The rocky outcrops of Cuc Phuong form the site of valuable pale ontological and anthropological vestiges, including a fossilized sea reptile dated at 200 - 230 million years old, while the remains of prehistoric people who lived in the forest some 7500 years ago are also to be found in the numerous mountain caves.

Culture.
In earlier times, Cuc Phuong was home to the Muong minority people and to this day a few scattered villages around the park's periphery still house these interesting people and their unique culture. If you visit these communities you can still see their traditional stilt houses, waterwheels, bamboo rafts and brocade looms.

WHAT TO DO
Cuc Phuong National Park is one of the best tourist attactions in the Ninh Binh Province with alot of activities for tourists Who love the discovery and the nature. You can take day tours from Hanoi easily or discover this area by yourselves.

Caves Discovery
There are so many caves in Cuc Phuong National Park for your to discover ex Son Cung Cave, Pho Ma Cave, Moon Cave. Especially Con Muong Cave and Dang Cave Where We Scientists found the traces of the Ancient people about 7500- 12000 years ago.
Camping  
Cuc Phuong is the place can be camp in safety at the head quarter, but no need because you can not fire, therefore is not necessary, we also support a good condition for your accommodation, some case and some where far from center you can do it, but you need have good condition of your camping tools as well as the assistant from our guide & remember asking in advance for the weather permit.

Biking
One of the mysterious discoveries of Cuc Phuong nature is riding bicycles in the forest. Biking in the forest will bring you not only the quiet feeling, the true feel of nature but also gives you the opportunity to catch the rare animals in Cuc Phuong.

Kayaking
Kayaking on Peaceful Mac Lake and Yen Quang Lake is one of the most popular activities When you staying in Stay Cuc Phuong.

Bird watching in Cuc Phuong National Park.
Cuc Phuong is home to a wealth of beautiful tropical birds, many of them endemic to Vietnam and Indochina. Some of the 308 species of rare birds that you might encounter are the Silver Pheasant, Red-collared Woodpecker, Brown Hornbill, Bar-bellied Pitta and so on.


Ecotourism & Homestays.
The forests of Cuc Phuong are immensely important culturally, providing livelihood resources for local communities. However, the forests and its resources are under constant threat. Community-based ecotourism initiatives are beginning to turn marginalized communities into local stakeholders, creating incentives to support conservation.

Trekking to biodiversity hotspots
Excellent hiking opportunities abound in the park and you could spend days trekking though the forest. Popular trails will lead you to several ancient trees, caves, Muong villages and biodiversity hotspots...


HOW TO GET TO CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
From Hanoi
You can go by private car or bus or You can go by local bus at Giap Bat Bus Station to Cuc Phuong National Park
You can also go by train to Ninh Binh City then take the local bus to Cuc Phuong

From Ninh Binh
Cuc Phuong National Park is 40kms from Ninh Binh city. It's easy to get to Cuc Phuong. You can go by private car, bus, taxi...