Woman walking in front of A-frame hut accomodation.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Cuc Phuong National Park

Ninh Binh Province


Established in 1962, this national park is one of Vietnam’s most important protected areas. 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 animal and plant life: 336 species of bird, 135 species of mammal, 122 species of reptile, 2000 plant species and counting. The Endangered Primate Rescue Center is one of the main draws for visitors.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ninh Binh Province attractions

1. Turtle Conservation Center (TCC)

0.31 MILES

The Turtle Conservation Center houses more than 600 terrestrial, semiaquatic and aquatic turtles representing 19 of Vietnam’s 25 native species. Many have…

2. Endangered Primate Rescue Center

0.34 MILES

The Endangered Primate Rescue Center is supervised by the Frankfurt Zoological Society, and is home to around 180 primates (15 species in total),…

3. Chua Bai Dinh

10.03 MILES

Chua Bai Dinh is a bombastic Buddhist complex, built on a vast scale, that rises up a hillside near Ninh Binh. Construction was completed in 2014, and it…

4. Hoa Lu Temples

12.6 MILES

Yen Ngua Mountain provides a scenic backdrop for Hoa Lu’s two surviving temples, both spaces dominated by dark-red lacquered pillars. The first, Dinh Tien…

5. Trang An

13.17 MILES

Rowboats bob along the Sao Khe River through limestone caves. It's a relaxing trip, but many caves have also been enlarged to accommodate boats. Boat…

6. Bich Dong Pagoda

13.25 MILES

This charming sequence of cave temples is a couple of kilometres west of Ninh Hai village. The Lower Pagoda is located at the base, from which 100 steps…

7. Van Long Nature Reserve

13.3 MILES

Set amid glorious limestone pinnacles, this tranquil reserve comprises a reedy wetland that’s popular with birdwatchers. Among the bird species that have…

8. Mua Cave

14.26 MILES

Down a sleepy road between rice paddies, this cave (the name means 'Cave of Dance') is not terribly impressive, but there are panoramic views from the…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "vietnam/ninh-binh-province/attractions/cuc-phuong-national-park/a/poi-sig/1142988/1325758",
      "destination": "Ninh-Binh-Province",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Vietnam",
      "region": "Ninh-Binh-Province",
      "position": "superzone"
    }