• Tour type: Private
• Transfer distance: approx. 120km
• Duration: ~8.5 hours (9:00 – 17:30)
• Meals: Lunch
• Best time to do: Bird season: from October to March / Butterfly season: From March to May

Depart from your hotel around 9.00 AM. Transfer to Cuc Phuong national park. It takes approx. 2 hrs drive to get there.

Cuc Phuong is the first National Park of Vietnam, which was declared in 1962 with 25,000 hectares.

Magnificent Limestone Mountains rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces and traditional stilt houses of the Muong hill-tribe. Covered in a dense forest, this landscape forms the habitat for some of Asia’s rarest animal and plant species. The botanical richness of the forest supports a wide variety of flora species and patches of primeval forest, including ancient trees with thick clusters of roots, parasitic plants and ligneous creepers. Human habitation in Cuc Phuong dates back long before the park’s creation, from 7,000 to 12,000 years ago. Artifacts from time have been found in numerous caves within the park, including human graves, stone axes, pointed bone spears, oyster shell knives, and tools for grinding.

On arrival at the park’s Visitor Center, continue driving around 8 miles (12 km) more to the park center where you will start hiking about 2.5 miles (4 km or 1 hour) into the jungle with some stops on the way to discover the secrets of nature including the impressive giant Ancient tree. After finishing the trail, head for the Cave of Prehistoric Man, the place of one of the earliest discoveries of human habitation in Vietnam. Excavated in 1966, many human graves, stone axes, pointed bone spears, oyster shell knives, and tools for grinding dating back 7,500 years ago were found inside. Have lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon, transfer by car for about 45 km to Van Long Nature Reserve. Set amid glorious limestone pinnacles, this tranquil reserve comprises a reedy wetland covering more than 11,5 square miles (approx. 30 km2). Home to about 250 different species of animals, including 72 varieties of birds makes Van Long a dreamland for birdwatchers. Especially the area is known for being one of the last remaining homes of Delacouri langurs, one of the endangered animals in Vietnam’s Red Book. However, it is not easy to spot langurs, try your luck in the late evening.

Return to hotel in Ninh Binh in the afternoon.