The trend of going to the forest for weekend getaways.

Forests in the North:

Che Tao Maple Forest

The Che Tao maple forest is located about 30 km from the center of Mu Cang Chai district, along a steep, winding road. The forest is considered to have one of the richest and most beautiful vegetation collections in Vietnam. In autumn, alongside the red, purple, and white hues of rhododendrons and azaleas, there is also a vibrant red expanse of maple leaves. The old maple trees shed their leaves, creating a captivating carpet of red and yellow, weaving a magnificent natural landscape that is beautiful from every angle.

• Address: Located on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province.

BA VI NATIONAL PARK

Ba Vi National Park covers an area of ​​10,814.6 hectares and is located just 50 km west of Hanoi. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Ba Vi has been a famous destination thanks to its diverse ecosystems, picturesque scenery, and cool climate. Not too far from Hanoi, it is an attractive tourist destination where you and your friends can "escape" to a peaceful, clean, and pleasant place.

Here, you can go on picnics, camp, conquer waterfalls, stand on the scenic viewpoint and gaze into the distance, and visit the wildlife conservation area. Especially, from mid-November to early December is the ideal time to see the wild sunflowers in bloom.

• Address: Located in the Ba Vi mountain range, spanning Ba Vi district (Hanoi) and Luong Son and Ky Son districts (Hoa Binh province).
• Ticket prices: 60,000 VND/adult, 20,000 VND/student, and 10,000 VND/schoolchild.

Ban Ang Pine Forest

The beauty ofThe DecreeThis is the quintessential beauty of Moc Chau. Visitors here will fully experience the freshness, spaciousness, and coolness of the environment, and can immerse themselves in the beautiful natural surroundings, admiring the pristine scenery to relax and feel more at ease.

Besides its captivating natural beauty, the Ban Ang pine forest tourist area also boasts unique cultural features that fascinate many visitors. Here, the local people still retain their genuine, unspoiled nature, with a gentle, unhurried pace of life.

The simple stilt houses and unique farming methods of the local people also leave visitors in awe. Especially here, visitors have the opportunity to participate in some unique festivals such as the "New Rice Festival," the Hết Chá Festival, etc., or enjoy the sweet folk songs and unique dances of the ethnic groups living here.

• Address: Dong Sang commune, Moc Chau district, Son La province
• Ticket price: 30,000 VND/person, children under 1 meter tall are free.

CAT BA NATIONAL PARK

Cat Ba National Park is a special-use forest area of ​​Vietnam, a world biosphere reserve, located 30 nautical miles east of the center of Hai Phong city.

The entire Cat Ba National Park is a majestic and rugged mountainous area with altitudes below 500 meters, making it an attractive destination for those who love adventure tourism. Besides camping, you can participate in fun and exciting activities such as trekking, swimming on pristine beaches, recreational fishing, bird watching, and nocturnal wildlife viewing…

• Address: Cat Ba Island Cross Road, Tran Chau, Cat Hai, Hai Phong
• Ticket price: 80,000 VND/adult, 50,000 VND/child

Cuc Phuong National Park

National ParkCuc PhuongLocated across three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa, 120 km southwest of Hanoi, this is a vast nature reserve with a rich and diverse flora and fauna, including many highly endangered species.

Cuc Phuong National Park is like a pristine green paradise, chosen by tourists from all over as an ideal destination for outdoor excursions. Visiting Cuc Phuong, you feel lost amidst lush greenery, immersed in the gentle murmur of small streams flowing day and night. Venturing further afield, you'll have the opportunity to discover the mysteries hidden within this primeval forest.

But perhaps what many people look forward to most in Cuc Phuong is the late spring, early summer period, from April to the end of May, when it is the butterfly breeding season. Swarms of butterflies awaken and swarm out from the forest canopy, creating a magical and dreamy scene that anyone who witnesses it once will surely never forget.

• Address: Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province
• Ticket price: 60,000 VND/person, 20,000 VND/student.

FORESTS IN CENTRAL VIETNAM:

Bo Bo Pine Forest

Bo Bo Pine Forest is a cluster of four small, interconnected hills covering an area of ​​over 200 hectares, located about 30 km north of Da Nang city center. The area boasts a pristine, peaceful landscape with a picturesque green hue, making it ideal for tourists to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Often described by locals as a "miniature Da Lat" within the city, this place boasts cool, green pine hills and is also a historical site commemorating the heroic achievements of the people and soldiers of Quang Nam in the struggle to defend the nation. Therefore, it's no surprise that many young people choose Bo Bo pine forest for photography or to gather and relax after a tiring week of work. Furthermore, it's an ideal location for picnics, camping, or small parties on weekends or short holidays with family, friends, and loved ones.

• Address: Located in the communes of Dien Tien and Dien Tho, Dien Ban town, on the outskirts of Da Nang city.

BACH MA NATIONAL PARK

Bach Ma National Park is located just 40 km from Hue city. The park boasts high biodiversity. Its flora comprises 2,147 species, including several highly valuable species such as the false cypress and agarwood. The fauna includes approximately 1,493 species, many of which are rare and endangered.

Here, you can immerse yourself in a vast, pristine, and tranquil green space, listening to the natural sounds of flowers, plants, and various animals.

• Address: Located within the districts of Phu Loc and Nam Dong, Thua Thien-Hue province.
• Ticket price: 40,000 VND/person

Pu Mat primeval forest

Stretching along the central coast of Vietnam and boasting a tropical monsoon climate, Pu Mat has long been a favorite tourist destination for many, especially those seeking to immerse themselves in nature. It features a system of pristine forests in the headwaters of Khe Thoi, Khe Bu, Khe Choang, Cao Veu streams, Khe Kem waterfall, Mooc stream, Giang River, and the Săng Lẻ forest – an ancient forest providing shade year-round.

Moreover, visiting Pu Mat will allow you to experience the rich and distinctive cultural beauty of ethnic groups such as the Thai, Hmong, and Dan Lai. Don't forget to buy some fabric, drink rice wine, and dance the bamboo pole dance... these are cultural experiences that every visitor wants to try when coming here.

• Address: Located within the territories of three districts: Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong, Nghe An province.
• Ticket prices: Entrance to Pu Mat National Park is free, but other locations require a fee, such as the entrance fee to Khe Kem Waterfall which is 10,000 VND per person.

CHU YANG SIN NATIONAL PARK

Chu Yang Sin National Park is home to Chu Yang Sin peak, the highest mountain in the southernmost part of Central Vietnam. Once you visit Chu Yang Sin, you shouldn't miss the exciting activities to immerse yourself in the majestic nature of the Central Highlands, such as camping under the lush green pine trees, observing wildlife, and paddling a dugout canoe on the river…

• Address: Located in Krông Bông and Lắk districts, Đắk Lắk province.
• Ticket price: 25,000 VND/person

Yok Don National Forest

Yok Don National Park is the largest national park in Vietnam, covering approximately 115,545 hectares across the provinces of Dak Nong and Dak Lak. It is also the only national park in Vietnam that preserves the dry dipterocarp forest ecosystem (a type of dry, sparse forest, mainly composed of Dipterocarpus trees, characterized by leaf shedding during the dry season). Up to 90% of the forest area is covered by woodland, home to approximately 67 species of mammals, 196 species of birds, and 100 species of insects.

Besides admiring the pristine and majestic mountain scenery, visitors also have the opportunity to ride elephants through the vast forests or cross the Serepok River with them. This promises to be an exciting and unforgettable experience.

• Address: Located in the three districts of Buôn Đôn and Ea Súp (Đắk Lắk province) and Cư Jút (Đăk Nông province)
• Ticket price: 60,000 VND/person, 20,000 VND/student.

NUI CHUA NATIONAL PARK

Covering nearly 30,000 hectares, Nui Chua National Park boasts a characteristic dry forest ecosystem. While rainfall is low, it features a small lake on Da Vach mountain, a year-round freshwater reservoir near the Vinh Hy coastal area, and numerous large streams such as Nuoc Ngọt, Kien Kien, and Dong Nha that never dry up.

In addition, this national park has over 40 km of coastline, including several small sandy beaches and dunes. Therefore, you can come here with friends and family for a picnic. Visitors can immerse themselves in the cool water, admire the view from the precarious cliffs on the coast, and appreciate the captivating beauty of pristine nature. From July to September, you also have the chance to watch sea turtles lay eggs if you camp overnight.

• Address: Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province, bordering Khanh Hoa province.
• Ticket price: Entrance is free, but other services incur a fee.

FORESTS IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM:

Nam Cat Tien National Park

Nam Cat Tien is home to one of Vietnam's only two Ramsar wetland areas and is one of eight UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves in Vietnam. The Nam Cat Tien National Park boasts high biodiversity, with a diverse and abundant flora and fauna, including many endemic and rare species listed in the Red Book. This makes it a popular destination for tourists and scientists alike, attracting both visitors and researchers.

According to statistics, the entire Nam Cat Tien forest has about 40 species listed in the World Red Book, especially the rhinoceros; 50% of the area is evergreen forest, 40% is bamboo forest, and the remaining 10% is farmland; over 62 rare orchid species have been discovered here.

Visiting Nam Cat Tien, tourists can not only admire the stunning and majestic natural scenery but also experience the journey of exploring Bau Sau - one of the largest mangrove areas in Vietnam, or cycling through the forest, visiting Ben Cu, the botanical garden, and watching animals at night…

• Address: Located in 5 districts: Tan Phu, Vinh Cuu (Dong Nai), Cat Tien, Bao Lam (Lam Dong) and Bu Dang (Binh Phuoc)
• Ticket price: 60,000 VND/person, bicycle rental: 100,000 VND/bicycle

Tram Chim National Park

National ParkTram ChimTram Chim National Park is a wetland area, classified as part of Vietnam's special-use forest system. Upon arriving at Tram Chim, visitors will be captivated by the vast landscape of the Southwestern Mekong Delta. During the dry season, from December to May, it is home to approximately 60% of the population of the red-crowned crane – the tallest flying bird in the world and an extremely rare species listed in the Red Book of endangered species.

In addition, Tram Chim is also charming with the pink hues of lotus and water lilies, and attractive specialties of the riverine region such as grilled snakehead fish wrapped in young lotus leaves, snakehead fish hotpot with water hyacinth flowers, and freshwater crab hotpot…

• Address: Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province
• Ticket price: 20,000 VND/person

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest

Melaleuca forestTea MasterTra Su is one of the typical tourist destinations for the flood season in An Giang. Covering an area of ​​up to 850 hectares, Tra Su is a flooded melaleuca forest with rich flora and fauna in the Southwestern region of Vietnam. This An Giang tourist destination promises to bring you many wonderful experiences with your family and friends.

According to travel experiences and opinions from many visitors to Tra Su Melaleuca Forest, the flood season is the most beautiful time. This period is from August to November in the lunar calendar, with the best times to enter the forest being from 7 am to 9 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm. At the start of the day, you can observe the lives of flocks of birds through binoculars on the observation deck. Below, countless species of shrimp and fish swim, while above, countless birds fly around, along with the pure white melaleuca flowers, creating an incredibly beautiful natural landscape.

Besides its beautiful natural scenery, this place is home to 70 species of birds, 11 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, and 10 species of fish. In addition, it is a gathering place for 140 species of plants belonging to 52 families and 102 genera, including 22 species of trees and many other types of plants.

• Address: Van Giao Commune, Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province
• Ticket price: boat tour of Tra Su Melaleuca Forest 50,000 VND/person

U Minh Forest

ForestU MinhDivided into two regions by the Trèm River, the U Minh Thượng and U Minh Hạ areas are located in Kiên Giang province, while the U Minh Hạ area belongs to Cà Mau province. The forest is the largest biosphere reserve in the Mekong Delta region. It is also home to 252 plant species, 24 mammal species, and 185 bird species, many of which are rare and listed in the Red Book.

Visiting U Minh Forest, you'll get to wander through the forest on endless canals, admire the breathtaking scenery amidst vast reeds, marvel at the expansive melaleuca forests, and occasionally spot romantic purple rhododendron blossoms. In addition, you'll experience the simple life of the people of Southern Vietnam, enjoying rustic dishes that, though simple, will leave a lasting impression.

• Address:

- U Minh Thuong: Cong Su intersection, U Minh Thuong district, Kien Giang province
- U Minh Ha: U Minh district and Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province

• Ticket price:

- U Minh Thuong: 40,000 VND/person/day, boat trip through the forest 20,000 VND/person/route (minimum 4 people required) with two routes: visiting the bird sanctuary and visiting the Bat Lagoon.
- U Minh Ha: 10,000 VND/person, small boat for forest travel 300,000 VND/boat (carries 8 people)

Huong Thao