4 Vietnamese national parks you must visit once in your life

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park

The nature of Vietnam is also very majestic and wild, not inferior to any other country. Surely none of us do not know about Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park with the pride of Son Doong - the largest cave in the world.

If you have not been able to explore Son Doong due to physical and financial requirements, then try your hand at the Tu Lan cave system. You will see that what you have seen on the internet… is nothing compared to the scenery you will witness in real life. I was truly overwhelmed and almost could not believe my eyes at what nature created here.

For environmental protection reasons, if you want to visit Tu Lan, you have to go through a professional travel company. I was picked up from Phong Nha town to the company's headquarters in Tan Hoa village, from here I began the most unforgettable two-day journey of my life. Crossing the gentle Rao Nan river, slowly flowing, is a whole forest of rocky mountains welcoming me. I don't remember how many high mountains I crossed, how many rock crevices I clung to, how high slopes I climbed, but when I stood in front of Ken cave, Ton cave, Tu Lan, I felt that those fatigues were nothing compared to what I could admire here. It was the feeling of being so small in the middle of the vast nature, a whole cave complex from 3-5 million years old standing proudly before my eyes, stalactites under the erosion of water for millions of years became interesting shapes. I was really moved when I saw the tiny green trees growing in the cave, the leaves leaning towards the light from outside. I could not imagine that such a masterpiece existed in the mountains and forests.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is currently being closely preserved, I am very grateful to the people who protect nature day and night to keep this rare wildness. If you are in Vietnam, do not hesitate to book a ticket and go to Phong Nha - Ke Bang. This is truly an experience worth every penny and you should experience it at least once in your life.

Nui Chua National Park

Nui Chua National Park is located in Ninh Hai and Thuan Bac districts of Ninh Thuan province, covering an area of ​​29,865 hectares, of which 22,513 hectares are land and 7,352 hectares are sea. There are few places like Nui Chua National Park that have both majestic mountains and white sand beaches with clear blue water. Nui Chua has an extremely rich ecosystem with more than 1,500 species of plants, 330 species of terrestrial vertebrates, 84 species of mammals, 163 species of birds and about 350 species of coral.

Nui Chua has many interesting things waiting for you to discover. You can visit Hang Rai with strangely shaped rocks, creating beautiful large and small caves; take a boat to the windy Vinh Hy Bay; visit the vineyard, enjoy sweet grapes and a glass of sparkling wine. But to discover a majestic and green Nui Chua, you should go trekking through the forest down to the sea. Passing through rows of green trees, in the distance are the sea and mountains. Occasionally there are large rocks standing proudly in the sky. The forest trees embrace the rocks, making the scenery both majestic and poetic. On the way, you will also see vertical cliffs with many unique shapes on the dark blue sea.

After crossing the green forest, you will set foot on a fine sand beach, clear blue water curving along the arc of the mountain slope like Binh Tien beach. On one side are steep cliffs covered with moss, on the other side is the horizon, deep blue, undulating with colorful boats. In the evening, you can camp right next to the beach to welcome the first sunrise tomorrow morning - when the sun like a red ball rises from the sea. If you go during the turtle egg-laying season, you will also have the opportunity to observe this interesting event with your own eyes.

Discovering Nui Chua, you will see both the beauty of nature and the hospitality of the people here. You will understand why this land with scorching sun and dry winds is known as a precious gem full of vitality with golden sunshine, blue sea and lush green nature.

Cat Tien National Park

Recognized by UNESCO as a "World Biosphere Reserve", Cat Tien National Park protects one of the largest tropical rainforest areas in Vietnam, and is home to many rare flora and fauna, promising to bring unforgettable experiences to nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Located in 5 districts: Tan Phu, Vinh Cuu (Dong Nai), Cat Tien, Bao Lam (Lam Dong) and Bu Dang (Binh Phuoc), 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Cat Tien National Park was established on the basis of connecting Nam Cat Tien forest and Tay Cat Tien Nature Reserve. About 50% of Cat Tien's area is green forest, 40% is bamboo forest, 10% is farm. Typical animals include: Asian elephant, gaur, sun bear, black bear, wild buffalo, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, deer... Cat Tien is home to 40 species listed in the World Red Book, especially the one-horned rhinoceros. In addition to the rich fauna, Cat Tien is also home to 62 species of orchids.

At Cat Tien National Park, trekking through the forest is an activity chosen by many tourists - with long trekking routes, along the way are giant ancient trees with long roots, and a rich ecosystem of animals such as spiders, snails, birds and butterflies flying beautifully like a fairy tale scene. You can hire a tour guide if you want to explore the forest more adventurously. In addition, taking a boat and watching the sunset on Bau Sau Lake - home to crocodiles and many rare animals and plants - is also a wonderful experience. At night, when animals go hunting and living, you will have the opportunity to witness Sambar deer, porcupines, Tibetan antelopes and civets...

Some must-see attractions in Cat Tien National Park include: Bau Sau Lake (also known as crocodile lake); Ben Cu waterfall - in the rainy season, the waterfall is covered in an overwhelming white color; Ta Lai village - home to the Ma, Stieng and Tay ethnic groups for a long time.

Cuc Phuong National Park

120 km south of Hanoi, nestled deep in the Tam Diep mountain range, Cuc Phuong National Park has become a famous and attractive eco-tourism destination for domestic and foreign tourists. This is also the first national park in Vietnam.

Located in the three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, with a total area of ​​22,408 hectares, Cuc Phuong National Park has many values ​​in terms of natural landscape, diversity of ecosystems, cultural and historical values... Many species of flora and fauna at high risk of extinction have been discovered and preserved here, notably the black and white-rumped langur, considered the symbol of Cuc Phuong forest. In particular, Cuc Phuong National Park is also an archaeological site. Prehistoric relics dating back about 12,000 years have been discovered such as tombs, stone axes, stone arrowheads, shell knives, grinding tools... in some caves here. To explore the traces of prehistoric habitation, visitors can visit the Ancient People Cave or Con Moong Cave.

Silver Cloud Peak is also a tourist attraction in Cuc Phuong National Park. The peak is 648 m high, from the top you can see the whole National Park, along with the ancient capital Hoa Lu and Bai Dinh Pagoda. However, the road to Silver Cloud Peak has many steep rocky slopes that are quite difficult to walk, so this place is only suitable for people in good health.

In addition, some other popular attractions in Cuc Phuong National Park include: Crescent Moon Cave, Pho Ma Cave, Primate Rescue Center, Muong village...

What to prepare when exploring the national park?

1. Find out information and choose

In Vietnam or every country, there are many national parks with different terrains and landscapes. First, you need to determine what your needs are? Are you going alone, with family or friends? Will you be hiking, trekking, camping overnight or picnicking during the day?

Once you have chosen which national park you will visit, find out information about the destination such as weather, whether the roads are closed during that time period. If there are museums, exhibition areas, etc. in the park, you need to check the opening/closing times to avoid the case that you arrive and cannot visit.

2. Prepare supplies for the trip

Bring enough, but not too much. You only need a light backpack, 1-2 bottles of water, a few energy bars and a light jacket if you are going for the day. Some essential items include: a light jacket, a raincoat, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, socks, gloves, a scarf, sunglasses, a camera, a spare battery, a swimsuit (if the place you are going has a stream or a sea)… Personal documents should be put in a waterproof zip bag.

If you are going for a long trip and camping, you should prepare tents, warm blankets, coolers to preserve fresh food, disposable bowls, chopsticks, spoons, forks, knives, hand sanitizer, tissues, etc. Bring some medicines such as cold, cough, fever reducer, digestive medicine, medical bandages, insect repellent, massage cream if you are going for a long trip.

3. Choose the right shoes

No one shoe is suitable for all terrain, so depending on the terrain and nature of the national park you visit, bring 1-2 pairs of suitable and familiar shoes.

Regular sneakers are suitable for walking on flat, non-slip roads, not wading or climbing.

Hiking shoes are suitable for day hikes and the trail is not too difficult, not steep, not many boulders and less than 15 km long. You should choose hiking shoes that are waterproof.

Trekking shoes are suitable for multi-day mountain climbing, high above the ankle, have very good grip, very thick soles and are designed to be able to walk on terrain with lots of gravel, crushed stone, large boulders or places with lots of snow and rain.

In addition, you should wear tight socks to keep warm and prevent sand and gravel from getting into your shoes.

4. Learn the safety regulations

Please read the safety instructions carefully before exploring the park and consult with the staff to ensure safety. Please note and comply with the following basic rules: do not stand too close to the cliffs, do not try to climb over the fences, check the tides (if at sea), do not feed wild animals, pay close attention to signs such as snakes, bears, etc.

5. Respect where you come from

Some parks have very fragile ecosystems and need to be strictly protected. These places often have separate roads and signs to protect the flora. In addition, protect nature by not littering, not taking rocks from the forest home, not smoking in national parks during the dry season, not disturbing the animals, and picking up trash.

Tran Hong Ngoc, Lan Oanh