Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong National Park is one of Vietnam’s most important protected areas. Ho Chi Minh personally took time off from the war in 1963 to declare this Vietnam’s first national park,saving: ‘Forest is gold. It we know how to conserve it well, it will be very precious. Destruc-tion of the forest will lead to serious effects on both life and productivity. This national park is 70km from the coast and covers an area about 25km long and 11km wide, spanning the provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. Its highest peak is Dinh May Bac (Silver Cloud Peak) at 656m. The park is home to the excellent Endangered Primate Rescue Center (see opposite). The centre is located about 500m before the national park reception centre. You can’t wan-der around the centre alone, so if you’re travelling independently you need first to go to the national park reception area and arrange a guide. Entry is free, but you might consider purchasing some postcards or a poster, or making a donation. Though wildlife has suffered a precipitous decline in Vietnam in recent decades, the park’s 222 sq km of primary tropical forest remains home to an amazing variety of ammal and plant life. There are 320 species of bird, 97 species of mammal including bats, and 36 species of reptile identified so far. Of the 2000 plant species, 433 have medicinal properties and 299 are food sources. The park is home to a species of tree called Cay Kim Gao (Podocarpus fleuryi hickel). In ancient times. kings and mandarins would only eat with chopsticks made from this lumber – it was said that anything poisonous it touches turns the light-coloured wood to black. Poaching and habitat destruction are a con stant headache for the park rangers. Many native species, such as the Asiatic black bear. Siamese crocodile, wild dog and tiger, have vanished from the area as a result of human impact. Episodes of violence have erupted between the Muong and park rangers who have tried to stop logging in the park. The government has responded by relocating the villagers further from the park’s boundary. Some ecotourism ventures such as village homestays provide income to the local people, thereby giving conservation a direct economic benefit to them. Improved roads have led to increased illegal logging, which in turn is having a huge impact on the growth, movement and conservation of plants and animals. The best time of year to visit the park is in the dry months from November to February. From April to June it becomes increasingly hot, wet and muddy, and from July to October the rains arrive, bringing lots of leeches. Visitors in April and May should be lucky enough to see some of the literally millions of butterflies that breed here. There is a low-key, informative visitor centre a few hundred metres before the park entrance.
Mac Lake is inside of Cuc Phuong National Park and belong Ninh Binh Tourist Area
>>> View scenery of Ninh Binh by flycam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRsu57S62Ik
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2892_sYnYV4