Cuc Phuong National Park is located on the border of three provinces: Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, and Thanh Hoa, with its main gate in Nho Quan district, Ninh Binh province. The distance from Hanoi to Cuc Phuong is 90km, taking approximately 2 hours by road. This 48-hour itinerary in Cuc Phuong National Park is based on the experiences of tourist Do Van Tuyen and a VnExpress reporter.
Day 1
Morning
Departing from Hanoi to Ninh Binh city via the Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway, the journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon arriving in Ninh Binh, visitors can explore several famous attractions such as Trang An tourist area, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, Mua Cave, Am Tien Cave (Tuyet Tinh Coc), and Van Long Lagoon.
Visitors should choose 1-2 of the above-mentioned attractions according to their needs, as time will not be enough. To visit all the attractions of Ninh Binh , you need 3-4 days and a well-planned itinerary.
Boat trip in Trang Anh. Photo: Duong Tri
"If it's your first time in Ninh Binh, you should visit the Trang An eco-tourism area first," Mr. Tuyen said. In Trang An, visitors will travel by boat, choosing a tour route according to their preferences. At some points, visitors will disembark to explore, then continue their journey by boat and return to the dock.
The tour lasts approximately 3-4 hours. The entrance fee is 200,000 VND for adults and 100,000 VND for children under 1.4 meters tall.
Noon
Take a break for lunch and enjoy Ninh Binh's specialty goat dishes such as goat meat marinated in lemon, steamed goat meat, grilled goat udder with five spices, stir-fried goat meat, and crispy rice with goat meat sauce. Goat meat restaurants are concentrated in Ninh Binh city or near the Trang An and Hoa Lu tourist areas.
Some suggested addresses: Chinh Thu, Duc De, Vua De, Luong Thuong.
Afternoon and evening
Travel to Cuc Phuong National Park, located in Nho Quan district. Entrance tickets cost 60,000 VND per adult; children are free. Parking costs 20,000 VND per car. Overnight camping costs 50,000 VND per person.
Currently, it's the best time to camp in Cuc Phuong National Park. April and May mark the beginning of the dry season after a humid spring. During the day, visitors will see swarms of butterflies everywhere, while at night, fireflies will illuminate the area brilliantly.
Camping in the Bong hamlet area. Photo: Do Tuyen
There are two popular camping spots for tourists: Mac Lake and Bong Hamlet. Mac Lake is 1.5km from the park entrance, and Bong Hamlet is about 20km from the entrance. "I chose Bong Hamlet because it has a spacious, beautiful grassy area, and it's located in the middle of the forest, so it feels quite 'chill'," Tuyen said.
Set up camp and go for a walk in the national park. Visitors can hike or rent bicycles from the park. In the evening, return to the campsite to prepare and eat dinner. Visitors can bring food from home or order it from the park. Ordered meals usually include grilled chicken, grilled skewers, and various vegetables and fruits.
Spend the night at the campsite.
"Since you've bought entrance tickets, security here is guaranteed. Please remember to clean up the campsite after you leave," Tuyen said.
Please note that Cuc Phuong National Park offers accommodation and meals, so visitors can camp during the day and stay overnight in a hotel. The campsite does not have mains electricity, only a generator that runs for about 4 hours each night. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare additional charging and lighting equipment.
Day 2
Morning
Tourists wake up amidst lush, fresh natural scenery. As soon as the sun rises, swarms of butterflies follow each other everywhere.
White butterflies fly in Cuc Phuong National Park. Photo: Do Tuyen
"Along the Cuc Phuong forest road, there are butterflies of all kinds, colors, and sizes. They fly in swarms, creating a very magical feeling. Just sitting still and enjoying this atmosphere is more than enough," Tuyen said. Breakfast was served at the campsite.
In the morning, active tourists can take a short 5km trek from the Bong hamlet area to visit the thousand-year-old Dipterocarpus tree. This is a giant tree, 45m tall, 5m in diameter, and with a circumference that would require more than 20 people to encircle it. The tree has rotted considerably and is no longer as intact as it once was. However, trekking to the area around the tree is still a worthwhile experience.
Noon
Leaving Cuc Phuong National Park, have lunch at one of the nearby restaurants and enjoy the local specialty "Birds that grow bigger." This is a general term for dishes made from various types of birds, including sparrows, pigeons, quail, cuckoos, and teals.
Some suggested places: Tuan Tu, Thao Linh, Ngoc Phuong (local restaurants) or Binh Dung, Nha La, Ky Chim (restaurants specializing in various types of birds).
Afternoon
Visit Chau Son Monastery, built in 1939, located about 10km from Cuc Phuong National Park. The monastery is situated in a tranquil mountainous forest area, near the intersection of three provinces: Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, and Ninh Binh. Upon first seeing the monastery, visitors will feel as if they are in Europe.
Chau Son Monastery. Photo: Xuan Thu
According to the Ninh Binh Department of Information and Communications, the monastery's design is Gothic, featuring 0.6m thick walls and 1.2m thick columns, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. A highlight of the monastery is the columns designed as symmetrical small towers. Outside the sanctuary are paintings of Jesus carrying the cross and praying. Inside, there is a wide corridor with natural light. The garden space boasts hundreds of types of lush greenery.
The monastery is open from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM (until 10:00 AM on Sundays) and from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM (3:30 PM to 4:30 PM on Sundays). The monastery is closed on some holidays and festivals.
Alternatives
Ninh Binh also has many famous tourist attractions such as Phat Diem Stone Church, Dong Chuong Lake, the temples of King Dinh and King Le, and Kenh Ga tourist area; or you can participate in tours to release wild animals such as birds, monkeys, reptiles, wild cats, and civets back into their natural habitat along the primeval forest trails.
Tam Anh
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