Cuc Phuong National Park

Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong is the oldest and largest national park in Vietnam.
Where is it? Situated 120 South-West of Hanoi, with a 22,200 - ha rainforest, Cuc Phuong National Park is the centerpiece of Vietnam’s conservation efforts and one of the most accessible parks in the country.

A magnificiant limestone landscape. Located on 2 limestone mountain ranges, the landscape of Cuc Phuong is a wonderfully rich ecosystem. Apart from verdant karst mountain and the lush valleys, the limestone formations produced numerous caves, many of which are accessible for exploration.
Looking at "Nguoi Xua" Cave (Cave of the Early Man), you will see the two new discovered ancient tombs along with Neolithic remains and evidence of stone implements. You would have similar findings at the following caves: Trang Khuyet (Crescent Moon), Thanh Minh and Con Mong, and Hang Dan (well known for Bat).

Vietnam travel
Does such a natural landscape have a cultural value? The answer is YES. In earlier times, Cuc Phuong was home to the Muong minority people and today, you can still see their traditional stilt houses. The rocky outcrops of Cuc Phuong contain very valuable archeological vestiges such as a fossilized sea reptile, dated at 200 - 230 million years old and evidence of prehistoric people, who lived in the forest some 7500 years ago.
As the oldest national park of Vietnam, Cuc Phuong is attached to a long-lasting history.In 1960, Cuc Phuong was turned into a forest reserve, and then granted a “National Park” 2 years later by President Ho Chi Minh for reminding his people of the environment’s core role in their life. Yet there had already been some relationship between mankind and Cuc Phuong before this event. The remains of prehistoric men dating 7,000-12,000 years ago have been found in the numerous caves in the park.

Diversity of Flora-Fauna. Cuc Phuong is also popular for being home to a huge diversity of flora and fauna. The botanical richness of the forest is impressive since it supports a wide variety of flora species and patches of primeval forest, including ancient trees with thick clusters of roots, parasitic plants and ligneous creepers. Surprisingly, some plant species have been introduced from Burma, India, and Borneo. Stepping to the caves, you can find at entrances the ideal moisture conditions and light, you will feel relaxed when seeing clusters of growing orchards as well as vanilla, snow-white and butterfly orchids.
As regards fauna, the park has 97 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 36 reptilian species, 17 species of amphibians, 11 species of fish and thousands of species of insects, most of which do not bite. A number of species in the park are listed on Vietnam Red Book of endangered species.
Visiting the park, no one could help keeping an eye on the primates; including macaques, gibbon, Francois' leaf monkey and slow loris. Besides, this park is the home for other mammals including bats, porcupine, squirrel, leopard, clouded leopard and jungle cat in Cuc Phuong. Migrant species include thrushes, flycatchers, tits, finches, pipits amongst others. Hornbills can also be spotted in the forest.

Entertainment activities. Should you are keen on cultural aspects, do not hesitate to join in the community-based eco-tourism and home-stays. Why don’t you take a trek to the Muong village where the hospitable local people offer you 1 or 2 nights' home-stay in their traditional stilt houses? This does bring you an opportunity to explore their culture and try out bamboo river rafting!
You can also discover excellent hiking opportunities, and spend some days trekking though the forest. Popular trails to 1000 year old tree, other ancient trees, silver cloudy peak and Muong village. Tourists may join night-spotting trips into the primary forest. These offer opportunities to see the more exclusive mammal species of the park, including the black giant squirrel, the Indian flying squirrel, samba deer and several small carnivores.Do not forget to bring with you the binoculars because Cuc Phuong is home to a wealth of beautiful tropical birds, many of which are endemic in Vietnam and Indochina. Some of the 307 species of rare birds that you might encounter are the silver-pheasant, red-collared woodpecker, brown hornbill, bar-bellied pita, and so forth.
For further interests, we suggest you take a tour to biodiversity hotspots. At the moment Cuc Phuong has a total of 43 biodiversity hotspots. All of these are recognized by the scientific department of the national park and they offer you and excellent opportunity to study and see many different species of tropical plants.
One of the fantastic ways to experience Cuc Phuong is by cycling through the forest. Biking offers the visitor not only silence and a cool breeze, but it is also a great way to discover the more secretive animals and birds of the national park

Suggested means of transport. Take a bus from Hanoi at Giap Bat Bus Terminal- the city’s southern bus terminal, at around 20,000 VND, to Nho Quan, then catch a motorcycle taxi to the park headquarters for about 30,000 dong. The total travel time is 2.30 to 3.30 hours. If you plan on making only a day trip to the park, you should go through a travel agency. However, if you’re going to stay for one or more nights then the public bus option is viable.

Xuan Thuy National Park

Being the home to many important species, Xuan Thuy National Park plays an important role in preserving ecological system and developing eco-tourism of the Red River Delta.

An overview
Located in the Giao Thuy District, Nam Dinh Province, Xuan Thuy National Park was declared Vietnam's first Ramsar site of Vietnam in January 1989. More than one quarter of the park's 12,000ha is covered with mangroves that support many aquatic species - including fish, crustaceans and molluscs. These species provide food and livelihoods for the poor, local people of the area. The park houses the “Cá Mòi Co” (Clupanodon thrissa), a fish listed in Vietnam's Red Book as vulnerable and at risk of extinction. It is also recognized as a platform for migratory water birds, including the “Cò thìa” (Black-faced Spoon-Bill), and eight other listed endangered species.

The Biodiversity
To date, more than 200 bird species have been recorded at Xuan Thuy. The site is the most important staging and wintering area for migratory waterbirds in the coastal zone of the Red River Delta. It regularly supports large numbers of commoner migratory waterbird species, including Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Eurasian Curlew. Many rare species can also be found at Xuan Thuy, including the largest wintering population of Black-faced Spoonbill in Vietnam, with around 60 birds each winter in recent years. Other rare species that regularly occur at the site include Saunders's Gull, Spotted Greenshank, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Asian Dowitcher. In addition to its importance for waterbirds, Xuan Thuy is also an important migratory stop-over for non-waterbirds, with large numbers of passerines and cuckoos passing through the site during the spring and autumn migrations. During the summer months, small numbers of Painted Stork and Spot-billed Pelican occur as non-breeding visitors.
The park has a rich, biodiverse coastal wetland environment that is home to about 110 aquatic plant species, 500 species of benthos and zooplankton. Many aquatic species of high economic value, like shrimps, fish, crabs and oysters, are also found in the area. Fish, shrimps and crabs provide the main income of the local community.

The tourism
As a staging and wintering site on the East Asian-Australian flyway, the best time to visit Xuan Thuy is September to April. In August and September, it is still possible to see non-breeding Painted Stork, as well as early migrants, such as Black-winged Stilt. Later, from October onwards, it relatively easy to find wintering Black-faced Spoonbills, particularly at their roost sites in the shrimp ponds.
In Xuan Thuy National Park, you can ask for the assistance from park staff, who know the site very well and are able to show us where to watch particular bird species. It will be so good if you can get a guide from the park. Basically, you can take the hiking routes or boating routes to the sites of interest. It means that you can travel by foot to some places of interest; or you can only be reached by boat at high tide.
Hiking Routes: Walking through the natural and artificial habitats along the dike system in Con Ngan Island, where the park headquarters is located. Especially, in the high tide time, you can find numerous bird roosting in the shrimp ponds, including Black-faced Spoonbill, gulls, ducks and waders.
Boating Routes: In the high tide time, you can get boat to reach the offshore mudflats and sandy flats, where Spoon-billed Sandpiper can be found among large flocks of waders. An alternative boat route involves visiting Con Xanh island, which supports some Casuarina forest, where is very suitable for the migrating non-waterbirds. In the island, you can find the pittas and other passerines during migrating season. Another way, you can take boat to the off shore mudflats and sandy flats areas of Giao Xuan Commune, where is the best area for watching the shorebirds. In this site, you can find big flocks of waders and especially Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, many species of gulls including Saunders's Gull, duck species and sometime Black-faced Spoonbill and Black-headed Ibis.

The preservation matter
In terms of preservation matter, Xuan Thuy National Park has the following objectives and tasks:
+ To preserve the typical submerged land ecological system of the Red river-mouth region, the specific fauna and flora species of the submerged land ecological system, especially aquatic species, water birds and migration birds.
+ To build material and technical bases in service of training, scientific research, environmental education and eco-tourist development, thus contributing to socio-economic development and creating jobs for local population communities.
+ To serve scientific research, environmental education and eco-tourist development.
+ To maintain Xuan Thuy National Park as a Ramsar site through conservation of biodiversity and responsible fisheries.
+ To raise public awareness and also recognized local community efforts in the conservation of Xuan Thuy National Park, the sustainable and wise-use of the park's resources, and responsible fisheries and management.

Xuan Thuy National Park is the pride for local people in their wetlands area, its relevance as a Ramsar site, its importance for their eco-tourist development...

Note for Birding: best time for bird watching in Xuan Thuy National park from September this year till April next year. The birds watching activities are depending a lot on the weather and surrounding factors.

Ecotourism Guidelines For Responsible Travelers

The conscious attitude, actions, participation and interactions on the part of the individual traveler directly affect the outcome for all involved. As a thoughtful and responsible traveler there are several things you can do before, during and after your journey to ensure the experience is in line with the values of "ecotourism" and minimize your impact on the host country. It is far easier to simply go on vacation as an uninformed tourist but making the choice to be an informed traveler can have far reaching impacts on the world around us. The more you put into your trip the more you'll get out of it. The following is a code of conduct for responsible travelers.
1) Prepare for your trip:
Educate yourself about your destination. Be on the lookout for news and current events about the area. Learn about local history, customs and culture as well as vital ecosystems. Learn at least the basics of the local language. A simple hello, please or thank you goes a long way. Approach travel with the desire to learn rather than just observe.
2) Respect local traditions and etiquette:
Wear clothing that is accepted by the local culture. Be aware of people's sensitivity to being photographed; always ask first. Observe local customs. Be perceptive of your own cultural values and how they affect your judgment of others. Remember that you are the visitor. There are many different concepts of time, personal space, communication etc. which are not wrong or inferior, just different. Act as an example for other travelers who are less informed than you.
3) Avoid ostentatious display of wealth:
What may not seem a display of wealth to you may be considered extravagant by another culture. For example, a camera hanging around your neck or something as simple as a wristwatch or wedding band. Tuck these items away when visiting rural communities. Leave jewelry and other unnecessary valuables at home. They only create barriers and inhibit genuine interactions. Don't hand out sweets and loose change, this only serves to corrupt and create a begging mentality where none existed before.
4) Be flexible in your expectations:
Approach your adventure with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. Sometimes plans change and an opportunity for more in-depth learning or a unique cultural experience presents itself. Adapt yourself to the situation rather than trying to adapt the situation to you.
5) Conserve resources:
Often times the resources in an area visited by tourists are under a great deal of pressure already. Be aware of the resources that are being used because of your visit. This includes your personal consumption of items like water and wood for building fires or specialty foods that had to be transported from afar. Don't allow your guide to hunt endangered or threatened species or harvest rare plants for your consumption. A large luxury hotel in the middle of nowhere takes far more resources to build and maintain than does a small family run inn.
6) Practice environmental minimum impact:
Follow the International Leave No Trace Rules. Pack out everything that you bring in including toilet paper (if there is no toilet) or plastic water bottles (use purification tablets or a filter). Go to the bathroom at least 200 feet (70 paces) from any water source. Remove litter that others left behind. Do not remove any objects, plants or animal products from nature. Be aware of local endangered or threatened species so as not to purchase souvenirs made from their skin, feathers etc. Not only is this impactful on the environment but it is illegal.
7) Choosing a tour operator or guide:
Thoroughly research your tour operator or guide by asking them pointed questions about specifically what they do that is "eco" and how they involve the local communities and economies. The "greening of tourism" has led companies to promote themselves as "eco" simply to sell trips. The larger the company with more luxurious accommodations, the less likely it is to be true ecotourism. Be persistent in your inquiries of an international or local tour operator.
8) Support local economies:
How will your visit directly benefit the local economy or entire community? This is an integral part of true ecotourism. Use local transportation, guides, inns, restaurants and markets. This helps create a buffer zone for the environment surrounding protected natural areas by giving locals an economic alternative to potentially destructive practices. Community based ecotourism spreads the wealth and workload.
9) Bridging cultural gaps:
Take the opportunity to be a cultural ambassador. Much of the world's image of western tourists is based on the unrealities of television and magazines. Look for situations for cultural exchange whereby learning about each other's lives is mutual. Getting to know the person sitting next to you on a local bus or the person cooking your food takes some effort but is often a rewarding experience.
10) Continued ecotourism:
Ecotourism doesn't need to end with your flight home. Follow through on your commitment to conservation in your everyday life. Share your experiences with others to foster a greater understanding of our world. You will have seen and learned much from your journey. While it is still fresh in your heart and mind take action using the various agencies, grassroots organizations and resources available to you. (Source: Untamedpath)

"Leave No Trace" Principles

Plan Ahead and Prepare
+ Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
+ Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
+ Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
+ Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
+ Repackage food to minimize waste.
+ Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
+ Durable surfaces include established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
+ Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
+ Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.
In popular areas:
+ Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
+ Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy.
+ Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent.
In pristine areas:
+ Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and trails.
+ Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

Dispose of Waste Properly
+ Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
+ Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when finished.
+ Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
+ To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

Leave What You Find
+ Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
+ Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
+ Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
+ Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches

Minimize Campfire Impacts
+ Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
+ Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
+ Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand.
+ Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cool ashes.

Respect Wildlife
+ Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
+ Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
+ Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and trash securely.
+ Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
+ Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, raising young, or winter.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors
+ Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
+ Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
+ Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering pack stock.
+ Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors.
+ Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises

(Source: Int, for futher "Leave No Trace" Principles, visit website: Int)

Ba Be National Park

Location: Ba Be District, Bac Kan Province, Vietnam (about 250 kilometers north of Hanoi, about 70 km northwest of the provincial capital Bac Kan, and about 14 km west of the town of Cho Ra)
Established: 1977, as a national park in 1992
Area: 10,048 ha
Lake area: 500 ha
Coordinates: 22° 24′ 19″N, 105° 36′ 55″E
Agro-ecological zone: North-eastern
Biodiversity: The vegetation in Ba Be National Park mainly consists of limestone and evergreen forest. The dominating tree species of the lime stone forest are Burretiodendron hsienmu (Tiliaceae) and Streblus tonkinensis (Moraceae). Climbing bamboo (Ampelocalamus) is a regional endemic plant common on the hill slopes near the lake shore.
65 mammal species have been recorded in the park, among them: Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang), Rhesus Macaque, Stump-tailed Macaque, Francois' Langur, Asiatic Black Bear, European Otter, Owston's Palm Civet, Asian Golden Cat, Mainland Serow, Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Particolored Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger), Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel as well as 27 bat species.
Furthermore, 233 bird species, 43 reptile and amphibian species among them the King Cobra and the Vietnamese Salamander (Paramesotriton deloustali), have been recorded. In Ba Be lake, 106 fish species from 61 genera, 17 families, and 5 orders have been recorded. The park is also noteworthy for its diversity in butterflies for which 354 species have been recorded.

Highlights and Activity: Trekking through the park and visit villages of ethic minority people , boat tour around lake to visit cave and waterfall, and whitewater kayaking on lake or river.

Getting there: Take bus from Hanoi to Phu Thong town via Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan city, and from there take another bus to Cho Ra, arrange a motorbike taxi from Cho Ra last 18km to the park. (or by car: It takes about 6-7 hours to drive to Ba Be National Park from Hanoi. Follow the route Thai Nguyen - Bac Kan - Cho Ra and then on to the national park.)

Accommodation: The national park has a range of comfortable accommodation to choose. It costs from 10 to 20 USD per room. All rooms have en-suite bathroom facilities and air-conditioning. (Include: two blocks of standard guesthouse (A1 & A2); Standard Bungalows area has 07 double rooms; VIP Bungalows area has 10 double room ). Homestays in Pac Ngoi / Bo Lu villages within the national park, prices range from 4 to 5 USD per person per night.

Nearest Town: Cho Ra
Climate & Weather conditions: Temp: 14 c to 32 c; Rainfall: 1,800 cm; Elevation: 1,098m

(photo source: Ba Be National Park Management)

Vietnam Ecotourism

What is Ecotourism? Definition of TIES: Ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Principles of Ecotourism:
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:

• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

Vietnam Ecotourism:
Lying on the eastern part of Indochinese peninsula, Vietnam retains an impressive wealth of natural environment ranging from mountain to marine. The area of mountain and sea account for ¾ of total area, there are 107 special use forests with the total area of more than 2.3 million hectare, including 24 National parks, 61 natural reserve and 34 cultural, historical and environmental forests. Thus, Vietnam has more advantage in developing eco-tourism than other countries in the region.

Ecosystem in Vietnam: Coral Reef Ecosystem; Costal sandy ecosystem; Dry forest ecosystem; Tropical Forest ecosystem; Mangrove forest ecosystem; Ocean and Islands ecosystem; High mountains and lakes ecosystem; Agricultural ecosystem.

Type of ecotourism activity in Vietnam: Study tour; Forest walking; Mountain climbing; Visit to ethnic minority villages; Sea diving; White water rafting/ sea kayaking; Adventure trip; Bird watching; Visit to fruit gardens; Boating/ cruising
Camping/hiking; Fishing and hunting….

Vietnam National Parks List!
1. Ba Be (Bac Kan - 1992)
2. Ba Vi (Ha Tay -1991)
3. Bach Ma (Thua Thien Hue - 1991)
4. Ben En (Thanh Hoa - 1992)
5. Bu Gia Map (Binh Phuoc - 2002)
6. Cat Ba (Hai Phong – 1991. was recognized as World Biosphere Reserve in 2004)
7. Cat Tien (Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Lam Dong – 1992; was recognized as the World Biosphere Re­serve in 2001)
8. Cham Chim (Dong Thap - 1998)
9. Chu Mom Ray (Kon Tum - 2002)
10. Chu Yang Sin (Dak Lak - 2002)
11. Con Dao (Ba Ria Vung Tau - 1993)
12. Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh - 1962)
13. Hoang Lien (Location: Lao Cai Province; Establish: 2002. ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks and Reserves, Yangon Myanmar, 18/12/2003 & ASEAN Heritage Park list)
14. Kon Ka Kinh (Gia Lai - 2002)
15. Lo Go Sa Mat (Tay Ninh - 2002)
16. Phong Nha - Ke Bang (Quang Binh – 2001; was recognized as World Natural Heritage Site in 2003)
17. Phu Quoc (Kien Giang - 2001)
18. Pu Mat (Nghe An - 2001)
19. Tam Dao (Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen - 1996 )
20. U Minh Thuong (Kien Giang - 2002)
21. Vu Quang (Ha Tinh - 2002)
22. Xuan Son (Phu Tho - 2002)
23. Xuan Thuy (Nam Dinh – was declared Vietnam's first Ramsar Site in January 1989 by UNESCO)
24. Yok Don (Dak Lak - 2002)
Vietnam travel

Planting rice in Mu Cang Chai

On arriving in Mu Cang Chai in June, visitors will have a fantastic view of local ethnic minority people working the terraced paddy fields. Mu Cang Chai is located in a remote mountainous district in the northern province of Yen Bai. Its terraced paddy fields are amazingly beautiful at this time of year.

And on the mid-September to beginning of Octobor, Visitors will see local people havest ripen-rice plus amazing "yellow" valley. The terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai mountainous district in northern Yen Bai Province have been recognised as a national heritage site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

(Excerpt: VOV)