Joanna James
Are you a nature lover travelling to Vietnam? If so you're in for a treat as there are a plethora of natural attractions to be enjoyed in this wonderful land. Here are 5 of the best nature parks of Vietnam.
An impressive addition to your Halong Bay cruise, the Cat Ba National Park is a tropical primary rainforest that features a wonderful collection of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Many of the plants here are endemic to Vietnam and thus are very well protected. The park lies 60km to the east of Hai Phong city. There are a variety of trails, such as the ones that lead to Trung Trung Cave, Ngu Lam Mount, and Frod Lake, each offering a unique experience. If you check the weather in advance, you can also go swimming here. The Cat Ba National Park is great for a day-trip but it's better to your camping equipment if you have time to spare.
Quite an 'off-the-beaten path' option, The Cuc Phuong National Park is located within the Ninh Binh province close to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. If trekking is not your thing, no worries there are plenty of cycling tours available here including ones that takes you through the lime stone mountains and paddy fields, giving you the chance to enjoy surreal views while peddling along. If you want more wheels to tour the park, you can also opt to hire a minivan and explore.
The Cuc Phuong National Park is famous as bird watching hotspot. In addition to winged fauna, the park is home to an impressive collection of wildlife such as Asiatic black bears, elephants, tigers, wild dogs, rhinos, pangolins, slow loris, and much more. Unfortunately, some of these creatures have made their way into the Red Book of Vietnam of endanger animals.
The biggest highlight of the Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park is the spectacular lime stone cave complex. Formed about 400 million years ago, these are the oldest karst mountains in Asia. There are hundreds of cave systems ranging from amazing lengths and scales and consisting of underground rivers- it's a heaven on earth for speleologists!
Due to its importance the Phong Nha- Ke Bang National Park was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. Some of the extraordinary creatures that can be found within the park include the Asian black bear, sun bear, giant muntjac, saola, pig-tailed macaque, Assam macaque and a new species of gecko that was recently found among others.
Situated a one-hour boat ride away from Hoi An, the Cham Island is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve that's one of the greenest places in Vietnam. The rules towards protecting the environment here is so strict that plastic bags are completely banned here; so when visiting be careful to not take any you will not be granted entrance. The island has many beautiful forested hills and beaches that provide the perfect venues to try out a number of leisure activities such as camping, scuba diving, and swimming.
If you're holidaying at a beach resort in Mui Ne the likes of the Anantara Mui Ne Resort; or in Ho Chi Minh City, do make it a point to visit the Cat Tien National Park. The park is well worth the 4-hour drive as there is so many wonderful sights and activities to be enjoyed here. Cat Tien is one of the best-preserved parks in Vietnam and is recognized as a symbol of biodiversity for its home to about 40 species that are listed in the World Red List of threatened species. You can have an amazing time of hiking, camping, cycling and boating at the Cat Tien National Park.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
