The appeal of nighttime electric vehicle tours in Cuc Phuong National Park has recently attracted many tourists. But there is a very special tour that is still little known: walking to observe wildlife at night.
At 7 PM, the car carrying a group of four tourists departed from the entrance of Cuc Phuong National Park. Following the paved road into the forest for about 4 km, the group stopped at a small trail. The nighttime walking tour of the forest began from this point. The number of visitors is encouraged to be limited to under 10 people to avoid creating noise and disturbing the natural habitat of the flora and fauna. Each group will have one guide. Mr. Tran Quang Phuong (48 years old, Head of the Environmental Education Team, under the Center for Environmental Education and Services of Cuc Phuong National Park) has 25 years of experience researching and surveying the area. In recent years, Mr. Phuong has also led nighttime forest tours. "Typically, the night wildlife viewing tour lasts from 2.5 to 3 hours. The distance depends on the needs of the visitors. If visitors want to see small animals like insects, the route will be about 4 km. If visitors want to see animals like civets, wild cats, slow lorises, etc., they can choose a route of about 10 km," Mr. Phuong shared. According to Mr. Phuong, this is a challenging hiking route. Visitors have to climb over jagged rock cliffs, requiring good health and knowledge of the forest. To ensure safety, visitors are advised to bring long-sleeved shirts, gloves, protective hats, and insect repellent. "Visitors should also prepare hiking boots with long socks that cover their feet completely, preferably rain boots to avoid leeches or snake bites," Mr. Phuong added. Mr. Tran Vuong Hao (27 years old, Cau Giay District, Hanoi) recently experienced a night tour by electric vehicle in Cuc Phuong National Park. Afterward, he registered for a night wildlife viewing tour. "It was a truly valuable experience for me. With this adventurous tour, the smaller number of participants allowed for greater concentration. After the tour, I wanted the chance to experience longer, more challenging routes. I hope to see even more wildlife next time," Mr. Hao said. Tourists can register for the night wildlife viewing tour at Cuc Phuong National Park every day of the week. In addition to the entrance fee of 60,000 VND (adults) and 10,000 VND (children under 10 years old), the guide fee is 800,000 VND. Cuc Phuong National Park is a nature reserve and special-use forest located in the territories of three provinces: Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Hoa Binh, with an area of 22,408 hectares. The garden boasts a diverse ecosystem, characteristic of a tropical climate with many rocky slopes. During the rainy season, the hot and humid weather further increases the difficulty, posing a challenge for adventurous visitors.
At 7 PM, the tour bus departed from the garden gate, following the paved road deeper into the forest.
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Essential items in guide Tran Quang Phuong's jungle backpack include a headlamp, water bottle, short knife, and lighter.
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Because the area was very dark, tour participants had to use flashlights to observe the forest at night.
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Some animals that tourists can easily spot along the way include crickets, emma lizards, and beaded vipers…
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The deeper you go into the forest, the more fireflies you see, leaving visitors in awe of this rare sight.
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The forest rangers of Cuc Phuong National Park marked the trail along the entire hiking route through the forest.
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A break for the whole group during the journey.
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Mr. Phuong shared that he has had many memorable experiences since becoming a tour guide. “During a recent night tour, we encountered illegal loggers. At that time, we had to both protect the group and chase away the loggers. Fortunately, the trip ended well, and no one was injured,” Mr. Phuong shared.
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If the weather is clear, visitors also have the opportunity to stargaze at night in Cuc Phuong National Park.
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