Short description: Established in 1962, Cuc Phuong, as the oldest National Park in Vietnam, is nestled between the 3 big provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa. Comprising 22,200 hectares of primary forest and represents a typical limestone forest ecosystem with the highest concentration of biodiversity in Vietnam, Cuc Phuong boasts engaging cultural and wildlife heritage and enchanting scenery. Magnificent limestone mountains rise up majestically from the green rice-terraces and traditional stilt houses of the Muong hill-tribe. Covered in a dense forest, they form a habitat for some of Asia's rarest species.

Bird species: Palcaniformes; coconiiformes; anseriformes; falconiformes; podicipediformes; galliformes; gruiformes; galliformes; charadriiformes; columbiformes; psittaciformes; cuculiformes; strigiformes; apodiformes; coraciiformes; piciformes; Passeriformes.

Wildlife: Macaque, Gibbon, Francois' Leaf Monkey, Slow Loris, Bat, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Small Striped Squirrel, Belly-banded Squirrel, Black Giant Squirrel, Asiatic Black Bear, Wild Dog, Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Jungle Cat, Bar-backed Partridge, Scaly-breasted Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Red Junglefowl, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Laughing Thrushes, Red-vented Barbet, Green-eared Barbet, Scimitar-billed Babbler, Brown Hawk Owl, Scarlet Minivet, Racket-tailed Drongos, Racket-tailed Treepie, White-winged Blue Magpie, Thrushes, Flycatcher, Tit, Finches, Pipit and Hornbill.

Location: Lying at the south-eastern extent of limestone range that runs north-west, The Cuc Phuong Natiaonal park is located in Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa Provinces, Vietnam and 150kms from Hanoi international Airport (or more than 3 hours by car).

Actitivities: Caving, River Rafting, Trekking, Night-spotting, Bird Watching and Biking.

Best Time to Visit: All year round, but strongest recommendation is from early November to end of February.