7 Amazing National Parks in Vietnam
The natural reserves and national parks of Vietnam are incredibly diverse. The varied rice terraces of the north change with the seasons. The country's loudest waterfalls and the largest caves in the world are located in the center. Additionally, mangrove forests and unusual fauna can be found in the south. The top seven national parks and natural reserves in Vietnam are listed below.
Ba Be National Park
This subtropical national park, which is a large forest dotted with cascading waterfalls and bat caves, gets its name from the Ba Be Lake. The lake's gentle currents are perfect for fishing trips, boat excursions, and cool-off swims. Spend time exploring the hiking paths that extend out and around the lake on land, or go riding on the fantastic roads that run the entire length of the water. One of the largest ethnic minority groups in northern Vietnam is the Tay, and they live in a portion of Ba Be National Park. In their raised stilt dwellings by the lake, the Tay provide visitors with genuine homestay experiences.
Tips for visiting Ba Be
Ba Be is six hours from Hanoi. You can book organized tours through companies such as Handspan, or arrange your trip independently online. Despite dry and chilly winters, the jungles in Ba Be are lush and beautiful all year round. Occasional storms may disrupt travel plans from July to October.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
An adventurer's paradise, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is home to stubborn rivers, vibrant jungles, and enormous caves. Many additional systems are concealed beneath imposing, jungle-covered karsts in this UNESCO-recognized national park, which is home to some of the largest caverns in the whole world. Caving excursions can range from leisurely afternoon outings to challenging, four-day expeditions, depending on your interests. In the national park, there are options for kayaking, cycling, and trekking above these underground cave kingdoms. A lovely home base to return to at the end of each day is tranquil Phong Nha Town.
Tips for visiting Phong Nha-Ke Bang
To visit the nearby national park, you must make Phong Nha Town your base of operations. Many accessible cave trips can be arranged through your accommodation, but for larger caves, you'll need to make an advance reservation with Oxalis or Jungle Boss. The optimum time to visit Phong Nha is between March and April when the greenery is at its most vibrant following the winter rains. The majority of caverns are inaccessible from October to November during the wet season.
Cuc Phuong National Park
Vietnam's first national park, Cuc Phuong, was dedicated by Ho Chi Minh. It has two animal sanctuaries, a dense forest with thousands-year-old trees, prehistoric caverns, botanical gardens, and other interesting attractions. While the Turtle Conservation Center manages rescue, conservation, and breeding programs, the Endangered Primate Rescue Center recovers and rehabilitates endangered primate species. Spend your time kayaking, birdwatching, walking, or by reserving a stay in one of the friendly Muong people's stilt homes.
Tips for visiting Cuc Phuong
You may easily explore Cuc Phuong within a day or remain in the park longer if you'd like because it's only two hours from Hanoi and an hour from Ninh Binh. Short-notice visits to Cuc Phuong are available through Hanoi-area tour operators, and the park's website lists other possibilities. If you can stand the heat, the spring months of April and May bring soaring temperatures as well as swarms of butterflies. Besides that, there is never a bad time to travel to Cuc Phuong. The months of December and January will likely be cold.
Bach Ma National Park
Rarely-visited Halfway between the imperial capital of Hue and the historic village of Hoi An sits Bach Ma. Since the early 20th century, there hasn't been much construction in the park, but there are still a few French colonial villas there that have been turned into quaint guesthouses. You may spend a few days exploring the hiking paths available. Some have waterfalls and rock pools in them. A beautiful coastline sunrise can be seen by ascending the mountain on a clear morning.
Tips for visiting Bach Ma
Bach Ma National Park is less than two hours drive from Hue, Danang, or Hoi An. You can arrange tailored tours from any of these cities, or book in advance with local agencies such as Oriental Sky Travel. The weather in Bach Ma is pleasant from March to September. The mountain’s elevation promises fresh temperatures even when the cities below are simmering. Try to avoid coming in the rainy season, from October to January.
Cat Ba National Park
Cat Ba, a sizable island in the Gulf of Tonkin, draws more and more nature enthusiasts every year with its alluring scenery and beaches. Get your heart rate up on the network of paths that wind through the national park or take in the breathtaking views from the mountaintops. Some of the more difficult walks lead you to Viet Hai, a remote village that is off the beaten path, over the mountain passes. There are only a few simple homestays in Viet Hai if you're looking for solitude. Watch out for curious animals like the White-headed Langur, one of the world's most endangered monkeys.
Tips for visiting Cat Ba
A local travel company in Cat Ba or Hanoi can arrange for excursions into Cat Ba National Park, which is four hours from Hanoi. Three-hour hikes to three-day expeditions are among the packages the national park is featured in by Asia Outdoors. Despite the possibility of storms, September to November is the most pleasant month to visit Cat Ba. It is extremely hot from May through July, with clear blue skies and fiery sunsets.
Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien offers a wealth of things to do. Without becoming bored, you could easily stay here for a week or more. For those who enjoy hot jungle treks, Cat Then is an excellent choice. In-depth park trips over several days will allow you to see indigenous wildlife, such as bears, crocodiles, bats, snakes, and tropical birds. Don't pass up the chance to go on a night safari to see unusual insects and vibrant reptiles. You may take boat and kayak trips or, if you'd prefer to stay off your feet, use the park's network of roads to cycle or motorbike across.
Tips for visiting Cat Tien
It takes three to four hours to go from either city to Cat Tien, which is located around halfway between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat. Both hubs include tour operators that can create custom itineraries for you. If you choose to travel on your own, make sure to reserve your lodging in advance. The dry season, which lasts from December to July, is the ideal time to travel to Cat Tien. Other times of the year, the park may see intense rain, which may churn up the ground and make moving around difficult.
Pu Luong Nature Reserve
Pu Luong, which combines the Sapa mountains, Mu Cang Chai's rice terraces, and Mai Chau's cultural assets, is a microcosm of northern Vietnam. Beautiful roads wind through the valley, and high mountain passes offer expansive views of the landscape below. In Pu Luong, driving, motorcycling, and cycling are all excellent ways to go long distances. You can reach ethnic settlements and isolated mountain hamlets by taking lengthy hikes. The reserve is peppered with a ton of waterfalls and rock pools where you may cool yourself. Make your base in one of the three villages—Ban Hieu, Ban Don, or Kho Muong—which are particularly noteworthy.
Tips for visiting Pu Luong
Depending on the season, Pu Luong is four to six hours from Hanoi and an hour from Mai Chau. In Hanoi and Mai Chau, there are several tour companies that can create custom itineraries for you. Alternatively, you can book your own lodging and transportation and make activity arrangements once you get there. From July to October, Pu Luong is affected by lingering storms, and from December to February, cold fronts from the north are frequent. Early October is the ideal time to travel because that is when the rice terraces turn a beautiful yellow right before harvest.