The Cuc Phuong National Park is located in Ninh Binh province, 100 kilometres southwest of Hanoi. This primitive forest with a specific tropical ecology is an attractive destination for tourists and scientists.
With an area of 22,200 hectares, Cuc Phuong is home to 1,944 species of plants, 89 animal species, 307 bird species, 110 reptile and amphibian species, 65 fish species and around 2,000 insect species.
In Cuc Phuong, visitors will have an opportunity to visit the Cave of Prehistoric Man, the Con Moong Cave, and thousand-year-old trees and the village of the Muong ethnic people. To reach the centre of the national park, visitors can travel by car or motorbike along a path going cross the forest. On the path, visitors will see signpost of the Cave of Prehistoric Man. Going along a 100 metre suspension bridge and climbing around 200 stone steps, visitors will see the gate of the cave, which have three parts. The outer part has traces of prehistoric men.
When exploring the cave, archaeologists found axes and knives made of stone, and animal bones and teeth. In particular, they found three graves of ancient people, which belong to the system of graves found first in relic sites of the Hoa Binh culture.
The middle part of the cave is very dark and wet, where many bats live. Local people call the part Dang (or Bat) cave. The third part is home to magnificent stalactites with many shapes. The cave has echo sounds like gong beats, adding the mystery to the cave.
Leaving the cave to go to the centre of the national park, going three kilometres further, visitors will see a thousand-year-old tree or going 3.5 kilometres further in a different direction, they will see another ancient tree. In spring the Cuc Phuong forest is covered by mist, which accumulates on leaves and falls continuously onto the ground. Alongside this wonderful falling sound, there are sounds of birds and gibbons, creating wonderful natural music. Enjoying such peaceful, quiet and healthy atmosphere, visitors will forget the noise and dust of busy cities.
From the centre of the national park, visitors can go six kilometres to visit villages of the Muong ethnic people with houses on stilts, clothes and customs with specific cultural features.
Another destination visitors cannot miss is the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, which has over 100 endangered primate species. Delacour’s Langur, popularly named ‘Vooc Mong Trang’ in Vietnamese is a rare primate species which is found only in Vietnam. The langur was chosen to be symbol of the Cuc Phuong National Park.
At present, Cuc Phuong has become a centre supplying rare and precious animals for forestation programmes in the region and around the world.
Nguyen Thoa
Vietnamese
