Vietnam is not only famous for its beautiful beaches and islands, among the best in the world, but also its national parks amaze many travelers. For this reason, the travel review and advice site Culture Trip, based in London, recently published a list of the 10 best national parks in Vietnam that are definitely worth visiting. Let's take a look at this list with Asiatica Travel
1. Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh
Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, in Quang Binh, is one of the most important and famous of all the national parks in Vietnam. It is characterized by impressive limestone mountains and a complex system of hundreds of caves of all sizes, including Son Doong Cave, the largest in the world. To reach Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, you must first go to Dong Hoi. From there, take National Road 16 (QL.16) to reach the park by motorcycle, car, or taxi. The distance is about 45 km. Currently, camping in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is only allowed in certain areas and during authorized adventure excursions. Best time to visit: from April to August, when the rainy season has not yet arrived, and the weather is sunny.
Opening hours: every day from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. How to get around the park: trekking, boat, kayak, scooter, car, etc. Things to see: Phong Nha Cave, Thien Duong Cave (Paradise Cave), Tien Son Cave (Mountain of the Gods), Nuoc Mooc Stream Ecotourism Area. Dishes to try: local eel fish, grilled stream fish, forest bamboo shoots, Vietnamese hotpot with eel fish.
2. Cat Ba National Park in Hai Phong
From the center of Cat Ba, it is possible to reach the national park by motorcycle, car, or taxi for a distance of about 15 km. If you want to spend more time exploring Cat Ba National Park, most travelers choose to stay overnight in Cat Ba town and return to the park the next morning, as they are quite close. Moreover, the services and facilities are better in town. Best time to visit: the dry season, from April to October. Preferred trekking routes:
Long treks of 4-8 hours and hill walks: Ao Ech (Frog Pond) - Viet Hai fishing village; May Bau - Quan Y cave (former secret military hospital); Kim Giao - Me Con - Tung Di
Short hike of 2-3 hours (on foot, by bike, motorcycle, or car): Kim Giao forest - Ngu Lam mountain; Trung Trang cave - Uy Ban cave (committee cave).
3. Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan
One of the most famous national parks in northern Vietnam is Ba Be National Park. Located in Bac Kan province, Ba Be National Park is home to numerous ethnic minorities, including Tay, Dao, and Hmong. During your visit, not only can you enjoy nature, but you also have the opportunity to experience traditional local life in the homes of the locals. Ba Be National Park is characterized by large limestone mountains from which sparkling white waterfalls flow into the tranquil Ba Be Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake in Vietnam. Hiking in this park will be a memorable experience. It is also possible to embark on a journey to discover hidden limestone caves along the waterways.
4. Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh
Cuc Phuong National Park is one of the most beautiful national parks in Vietnam. It spans the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa. It is located 130 km from Hanoi, about 3 hours by car or motorcycle. There are three areas where you can stay overnight: the park entrance area, the Mac Lake area, and the central area. Among these, the entrance and Mac Lake areas offer a variety of accommodations at all levels, such as stilt houses, private rooms, or camping tents, accompanied by catering services. Best time to visit: dry season from December to May. How to get around Cuc Phuong National Park: trekking Things to see: the botanical garden, the museum, Nguoi Xua cave (residence/burial site of prehistoric people), an old tree 45 meters high and 5 meters in diameter. Dishes to try: Ninh Binh goat meat, Cuc Phuong native chicken, Cuc Phuong mountain snail.
5. Phu Quoc National Park
A hidden gem in the northwest of the famous Phu Quoc Island, Phu Quoc National Park is home to over 1,000 plant species and 200 animal species. It is a collection of ancient precious forests and giant dipterocarp trees, some of which exceed 30 meters in height. Hiking and camping in the park are quite easy from Ganh Dau village. When visiting Phu Quoc National Park, do not miss the opportunity to see Nui Chua Mountain, the island's highest peak at 565 meters in the Ham Ninh range. The summit offers a panoramic view of the picturesque landscape of green forests, turquoise sea, and blue sky.
6. Hoang Lien National Park in Lao Cai
Hoang Lien National Park is one of the most important special-use forests in Vietnam, located between 1,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level in the northwest Hoang Lien range, home to Mount Fansipan, the highest mountain in Indochina at 3,143 meters. The park's core area is in the villages of San Sa Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Ban Ho in Sapa, and the villages of Muong Khoa and Than Thuoc in Than Uyen. The peripheral area covers an area of 38,724 hectares, including the town of Sapa and some communes in the provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau. Six ethnic minorities live in this area, with the Dao and Hmong being the majority.
7. Du Gia National Park in Ha Giang
Du Gia - Dong Van Karst Plateau National Park spans the three districts of Vi Xuyen, Bac Me, and Yen Minh in Ha Giang province, Vietnam. With a temperate climate and majestic mountainous landscapes, it offers travelers various hiking trails and stops to admire rare plants, ancient trees, and wildlife. Additionally, the Ba Tien mountain range, with 25 mountains of all sizes, and Deo Gio (Wind Pass) on Road 176 through Yen Minh district have great potential for ecotourism and adventure travel. Besides the beautiful natural landscapes and abundant resources, the cultural values of local ethnic minorities like the Hmong, Dao, Tay, etc., are well preserved.
Many traditional festivals and ceremonies are still maintained today, such as the Cap Sac maturity ritual, the "new rice" festival to thank the gods for the harvest, the rain invocation festival, the Gau Tao festival, and the Tet Nhay New Year festival to pray for health and prosperity, ethnic markets, and love markets. During your visit to Du Gia National Park, you will have the opportunity to meet local people wearing colorful brocade costumes, listen to folk music accompanied by traditional dance. These are valuable intangible cultural heritages of Vietnam that offer travelers who want to immerse themselves in indigenous life unforgettable experiences.
8. Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai
Cat Tien National Park is also one of the national parks in Vietnam, nicknamed the "green lung." It offers extensive nature trails that allow visitors to explore the forests on their own, without a guide. The wide range of accommodations, from campsites to riverfront bungalows, makes this national park an ideal place to escape the bustling city and immerse yourself in nature. The best time to visit Cat Tien is the dry season, from December to May, which coincides with the flowering of Indian lilacs between October and May. You can admire these beautiful flowers that add a lovely touch of purple to the landscape.
To get around Cat Tien National Park, you can walk, bike, or take a jeep. You must register at the park entrance if you want to use vehicles. Must-see places in the park include Ben Cu rapids, Troi and Dung waterfalls, the Bau Sau Ramsar site (wetlands of international importance), home to the only population of Siamese crocodiles in Vietnam. Must-try dishes: snakehead fish, wild perch, water hyacinth soup, and hotpot with river fish and wild vegetables.
9. Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Thuan
Nui Chua National Park is located in Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province, bordering Khanh Hoa province. Situated east of the Truong Son (Annamite Range), the park faces one of the cleanest and best-preserved stretches of coastline in the East Sea of Vietnam. The area is surrounded by one of the most beautiful coastal trails in the country. In the semi-arid zone, bears and primates roam the hills, bats and birds fly in the sky. The coastal part of the park is of great importance as it is the nesting place for several endangered turtle species.
10. Xuan Thuy National Park in Nam Dinh
Xuan Thuy National Park is a coastal wetland located in Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province, about 110 km from Hanoi. It is the first wetland in Southeast Asia to be classified as a Ramsar site. It can be reached by motorcycle in just 2 hours via the North-South highway from the east (CT.01), the stretch from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. For conservation reasons, tourist activities are limited, and services and facilities are only basic. You can bring a tent and camp in the pine forest next to the clam field. Best time to visit the park: from October to April is the bird migration season, making the scene very lively and suggestive. Popular activities: visiting Xuan Thuy National Park by boat, observing various bird species on the islets, watching the sunrise over