Cuc Phuong National Park is bustling with the early arrival of butterflies.

Unlike previous years, Cuc Phuong National Park seems to have received earlier signs of summer 2026, with delicate, colorful butterflies swarming the trees and trails within the park. Forest rangers believe that the butterflies appearing about half a month earlier than usual is a sign that the forest is maintaining its balance and preserving its pristine beauty in the cleanest environment.

These delicate butterflies have diversified the types of tourism offered in Cuc Phuong National Park.

The vibrant colors of butterflies attract tourists at the beginning of the travel season.

Amidst the vibrant atmosphere at tourist areas and attractions in the region, the number of visitors to Cuc Phuong National Park in late March and early April this year increased significantly compared to previous years. Besides combining their visit with tours in Ninh Binh , many tourists also chose to book private tours to Cuc Phuong to admire the first butterflies of the season in the pristine old-growth forest.

Typically, the butterfly season in Cuc Phuong National Park begins in early summer and peaks around the April 30th - May 1st holiday. Butterflies appear in abundance from this time until around June each year. However, this year, butterflies have appeared earlier than usual, covering the trails and forest canopy, creating a vibrant and colorful scene, signaling the arrival of a bustling tourist season.

Tourists are fascinated by the delicate butterflies.

In the dreamy, peaceful setting of the ancient forest, amidst the rustling of leaves, Ms. Nguyen Van Anh, a tourist from Hanoi, shared that her family had taken advantage of the early butterfly season to visit Cuc Phuong National Park to enjoy the fresh air and admire the butterflies in flight. This was a very memorable experience for the whole family.

Like Ms. Van Anh's family, many tourists visiting Cuc Phuong at this time of year are delighted to see, for the first time, the delicate and vibrant butterflies in their natural habitat. Beyond simply observing the butterflies in their natural setting, visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the diversity of butterfly species through an exhibition space featuring approximately 350 specimens, out of nearly 400 species recorded in Cuc Phuong National Park.

These delicate butterflies have diversified the types of tourism offered in Cuc Phuong National Park.

Mr. Do Hong Hai, Deputy Director in charge of the Center for Environmental Education and Services at Cuc Phuong National Park, said that the early start of the butterfly season has led to a significant increase in the number of visitors. According to statistics, in March 2026, Cuc Phuong welcomed over 12,300 visitors, with domestic tourists accounting for nearly 9,000. The increase in visitors has made the atmosphere at the forest's inner-city tours more lively, especially on weekends. Besides butterflies, the ecosystem at Cuc Phuong at this time also offers the experience of observing fireflies at night. As night falls, visitors can easily spot fireflies appearing in the forest. This is also an activity many people look forward to when visiting Cuc Phuong during this period.

The early appearance of butterflies is considered an interesting natural phenomenon at Cuc Phuong National Park. Based on this, the park has proactively adjusted and implemented programs and plans early to provide visitors with the best possible experience.

Positive ecological signals from primary forest ecosystems.

Tourists are fascinated by the delicate butterflies.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, shared that through field monitoring and ecological data, the unit has observed that this year's butterfly and firefly season appeared about 2 to 3 weeks earlier than the multi-year average. This is not a random phenomenon but a direct reflection of very subtle changes in the forest ecosystem. The appearance cycle of butterflies and fireflies depends greatly on factors such as temperature, humidity, early season rainfall, and the growth status of the vegetation. This year, the North tends to warm up early, with higher humidity from the end of spring, creating favorable conditions for larvae to develop quickly and transform into butterflies sooner; at the same time, the humid environment with less light variation also helps fireflies enter their bright light-emitting phase earlier.

From a scientific perspective, this is a very noteworthy biological indicator. It shows that the forest ecosystem is responding sensitively to climate change. But the positive thing is that Cuc Phuong forest is still "healthy" enough to maintain those natural cycles clearly.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh stated that the early appearance of butterflies and fireflies is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, as these are sensitive species that only thrive in environments with rich vegetation and minimal disruption.

Tourists are fascinated by the delicate butterflies.

To best serve tourists while ensuring ecological balance, Cuc Phuong National Park consistently implements the ecotourism principle of "not exploiting the forest, but explaining it." With this principle, Cuc Phuong aims to convey the message that nature is only truly beautiful when it remains intact; the butterfly season and the firefly season are not man-made creations, but the result of a long evolutionary process and a balance between countless biological and non-biological factors. If this balance is disrupted, these unique natural phenomena will gradually disappear and cannot be recreated, Mr. Chinh shared.

For many years now, Cuc Phuong National Park has consistently been recognized by the World Tourism Awards as Asia's leading national park. This achievement not only acknowledges the persistent efforts of generations of forest guardians at Cuc Phuong but also demonstrates the park's correct approach in balancing forest protection and development.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/cuc-phuong-ron-rang-mua-buom-den-som-20260401090728043.htm