Cuc Phuong receives the award honoring it as Asia's leading national park.

This is the fifth consecutive time (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) that Cuc Phuong National Park has held this prestigious title.

The World Travel Awards are one of the leading awards in the global travel industry. These awards aim to honor outstanding travel destinations and contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism sector.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, said: "We are proud to receive recognition from the World Travel Awards. This is a great encouragement for us to maintain and improve the quality of tourism services at Cuc Phuong National Park. We are committed to continuing to preserve the unique natural beauty of Cuc Phuong, standing alongside other prestigious national parks in the Asian region."

Covering an area of ​​22,408 hectares across 14 communes and 4 districts in 3 provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa, Cuc Phuong National Park is primarily characterized by limestone mountains with an average elevation difference of 400-450 meters above sea level. Bearing the characteristics of a tropical rainforest, Cuc Phuong possesses an invaluable biodiversity, making it one of the most biodiverse areas in Vietnam, home to many rare and endangered plant and animal species listed in the Vietnamese Red Book.

To date, 2427 species, belonging to 931 genera and 231 families of plants, have been recorded. These include 430 medicinal plants, 229 edible plants, 240 plants that can be used as dyes, and 137 species that yield tannins. 57 species are listed in the 2007 Vietnam Red Book and the 2020 IUCN Red Book, and 15 endemic plant species such as: Cuc Phuong Yellow-flowered Tea; Cuc Phuong Begonia; Vietnamese Orchid; Cuc Phuong Trumpet Vine; and Cuc Phuong Rhynchostylis.

Besides its diverse vegetation, the fauna of Cuc Phuong National Park is also incredibly rich and unique. Research has recorded 669 vertebrate species belonging to 120 families and 35 orders, including: 138 mammal species, 337 bird species, 80 reptile species, 48 ​​amphibian species, and 66 fish species. Of these, 73 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the IUCN 2020 List, and 3 species are endemic: the red-bellied squirrel, the Cuc Phuong catfish, and the Cuc Phuong earless lizard.

Regarding invertebrates, there are 1,899 species belonging to 169 families, 33 orders, 6 classes, and 3 phyla. Among them, the insect class plays a major role with a very large number, such as the order Coleoptera (454 species), the order Lepidoptera (378 species), and the order Hymenoptera (314 species).

Along with its diverse and rich flora and fauna, Cuc Phuong National Park is also a magnificent natural museum preserving many traces of life from prehistoric times to the present day. These include fossils, remains, tools, and other artifacts found in the caves – important documents recording the lives of various species and documenting the ups and downs of geological development over different periods. In Cuc Phuong, archaeologists and historians have published many valuable discoveries, especially in paleontology and archaeology, related to the dry cave system.

With a new phase of tourism branding strategy for Cuc Phuong, based on raising awareness about nature through ecotourism and building upon the achievements of forest conservation, biodiversity preservation, scientific research, and rescue and conservation efforts, Cuc Phuong has recently focused on researching, developing, and operating innovative, bold, and unique tourism products.

The "Homecoming Tour" – participating in the reintroduction of rescued animals, the "Greening the Old Forest" tree planting program (in response to the government's call), the Cuc Phuong Spring Festival during the Lunar New Year, the "Journey of Revival" – participating in the rescue and care of wild animals, the Nature Experience Education Program for all levels of primary and secondary school students, the "Growing Up with the Great Forest" summer camp… are some of the products that have created the Cuc Phuong ecotourism brand, contributing positively to the goal of making Cuc Phuong a model national park and a great school of nature. Cuc Phuong has been and continues to be a top destination for students, scientists, and domestic and international tourists.

Community-participatory tourism is a key principle of ecotourism, which is why this activity was implemented in Cuc Phuong National Park quite early (since 1993), and Cuc Phuong was also the first national park to implement this model.

The trekking and overnight stay tour through the Muong ethnic minority villages in Khanh village, An Nghia commune, Hoa Binh province has attracted many tourists and become a frequent destination for visitors to the park. In Khanh village, tourists can experience and learn about the life, culture, and indigenous knowledge of the community, hike, swim, and paddle rafts on the Buoi River, participate in evening cultural exchange activities, and attend festivals...

Community-based tourism activities have created jobs, increased income, and contributed to improving the lives of the community; raised awareness of nature conservation among the community, and clarified the role of the people in the garden's activities; helped the community preserve some cultural features and traditional crafts; and improved the intellectual level of the people through interaction with tourists.

With its stunning natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and attractive tourism activities, Cuc Phuong National Park deserves this recognition. This honor is a testament to the continuous efforts of management agencies and the community in preserving and developing sustainable tourism in Cuc Phuong.

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai