Come to Cuc Phuong Touch the breath of nature

VTV.vn - More than numbers and titles, Cuc Phuong brings experiences that can touch emotions, so that anyone who has been there will remember them forever.

Cuc Phuong - Vietnam's first national park, established in 1962 - is a destination that makes anyone who loves nature stop. With more than 22,000 hectares of primeval forest located between three provinces: Ninh Binh, Phu Tho (formerly Hoa Binh province) and Thanh Hoa, this place is like a "living museum" of ecosystems, both mysterious and majestic. But more than numbers and titles, Cuc Phuong brings experiences that can touch the emotions, so that anyone who has been there will remember them forever.

More than 60 years since its establishment, Cuc Phuong still retains its pristine beauty and the most biodiversity in Vietnam. Photo: Cuc Phuong National Park

The road leading to Cuc Phuong forest on an early October morning seems to open up another world . On the road surface still damp with dew, each ray of sunlight penetrates through the dense tree canopy, pouring down in pale yellow streaks. The chirping of birds, the rustling of wind, and the awakening of insects blend together into a wild melody, leading people gradually away from the hustle and bustle of the city to immerse themselves in the space of fresh nature.

Under the thousand-year-old forest canopy

The first impression when entering Cuc Phuong is a cool, pleasant feeling. The giant tree trunks stretch straight up to the blue sky, with rough, mossy roots and lush leaves providing shade. Going deeper, visitors will encounter the thousand-year-old Chò tree - the symbol of this National Park. With a height of more than 50 meters, the tree's trunk is so large that several people cannot hug it, the Chò tree stands there like a silent witness to history. Looking up, everyone can feel the smallness of humans before the majesty of nature.

Thousand-year-old acacia tree. Photo: Cuc Phuong National Park

Not only ancient trees, this place also preserves many ancient caves associated with traces of prehistoric people. Ancient People Cave, Con Moong Cave or Thuy Tien Cave all contain stone tools, bones, shells... showing traces of human life tens of thousands of years ago. Entering the cold, damp caves, the flashlight beams sweeping across the shimmering stalactites, visitors seem to return to the past, touching the ancient breath of this land.

If during the day Cuc Phuong impresses with its majestic beauty, then at night it opens up a completely different world. In the dark, the chirping of insects, the chirping of crickets, sometimes mixed with the mysterious cries of wild animals, makes anyone experiencing it for the first time feel excited. Walking with a tour guide at night, the flashlight suddenly reflects the sparkling eyes of a small animal in the bushes, making the whole group silent and then exclaim with delight.

On summer nights, millions of fireflies light up the entire forest at the same time. Photo: Cuc Phuong National Park

On summer nights, especially around May and June, Cuc Phuong also gives visitors a special gift: millions of fireflies simultaneously light up the entire forest. Tiny yellow dots of light flutter in the darkness, making the forest seem like a shimmering galaxy. Sitting quietly on a slope, watching the fireflies fly and listening to the rustling of leaves, people easily forget the concept of time.

Another experience not to be missed is the white butterfly season in April and May every year. Tens of thousands of butterflies fly in flocks, covering the forest paths in white. In the midst of the “butterfly rain”, visitors feel like they are lost in a fairyland. The butterflies land on the shoulders, flying with every movement, so gentle and pure that we just want to step very softly so as not to break the “wild dream”. Many people consider this to be the “festival season of nature”, a unique gift that Cuc Phuong gives to forest lovers.

White butterfly season. Photo: Cuc Phuong National Park.

Message from the jungle

Besides the majestic landscape, Cuc Phuong National Park is also famous for its conservation and rescue centers for rare animals. The primate rescue center is nurturing and conserving rare species such as the Delacour's langur - now only a small number left. Along with that are conservation centers for turtles and small carnivores, where visitors can witness the patient and silent work of scientists and volunteers. Each animal here carries its own story, reminding of the fragility of nature and human conservation.

Not only the forest, the buffer zone around Cuc Phuong also offers cultural experiences imbued with local identity. The Muong people living here have cleverly combined community tourism with traditional culture. An evening at a homestay, visitors can enjoy bamboo rice, grilled chicken, drink rice wine, and dance around the fire. The sound of gongs and laughter makes the trip not only stop at nature, but also a warm encounter with people.

White-rumped langur - a rare primate. Photo: Cuc Phuong National Park

More than 60 years since its establishment, Cuc Phuong still retains its pristine beauty and biodiversity, the most in Vietnam. But under the pressure of climate change, exploitation and uncontrolled tourism, the ecosystem here also faces many challenges. Therefore, every step into the green forest is a reminder: Keep the forest green forever, so that future generations can see fireflies in summer, white butterflies in spring and the shadow of the thousand-year-old acacia tree.

Leaving Cuc Phuong, many people still carry with them the echoes of birdsong hidden somewhere under the bushes, the light of fireflies at night, the pungent smell of forest wood. Some people call this place the “green lung” of the North, others compare it to a natural epic. But for anyone who has ever set foot here, Cuc Phuong is an unforgettable experience - where you not only see the forest, but also feel the pristine breath of mother earth.

Source: https://vtv.vn/den-cuc-phuongcham-vao-nhip-tho-cua-thien-nhien-100251009160252337.htm