Nature lovers can find lots of sightseeing opportunities throughout their trip to Vietnam, ranging from unspoiled steppes and tropical forests to pristine beaches and towering mountains. There are several national parks in the country that are home to thousands of rare wildlife species. So, if you are a nature enthusiast looking for a forest escape, you will be glad to know that there are plenty of options available. Following are some recommendations:
Cuc Phuong, Ninh Binh
With an area of 25,000 hectares, the Cuc Phuong, Ninh Binh is the perfect forest escape because it’s like a huge natural museum, where rich flora and fauna is kept. It is at the peak of its beauty in the dry season. During this time of the year, you can enjoy the biodiversity here and navigate the dense foliage without worrying about leeches or mosquitoes. The forest has many species of rare plants.
Ba Be, Bac Kan
Ba Be National Park is a harmonious combination of the river and the mountains, creating a romantic picture of the nature. You can travel to Ba Be any time of the year to enjoy the tranquility, the pristine scenery, and airy atmosphere. Apart from the stunning landscape, Ba Be also boasts a very rich ecosystem of about 1,300 species of flora, including some of the rarest plants in the world. There are also many species of orchids here.
Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Quang Binh
Phong Nha – Ke Bang was assessed as the most diverse ecosystem among the biosphere reserves and national parks in the world. You can see a lot of plants here, including some endangered species, e.g. slipper orchids, green cypress, etc. There are also variety of primates here, such as white cheek black gibbon, five colored langurs, and black monkeys.
Bach Ma, Thua Thien Hue
This national park is popular for its variety of rare plants. The road from the forest’s gate to the Bach Ma top is very steep and winding but offers an amazing natural scenery. With diverse flora and fauna, wildlife, and an impressive natural scenery, Bach Ma is an appealing forest escape.
Nam Cat Tien, Southeast of Vietnam
Featuring a stunning natural scenery with murmuring streams, riverside dunes, and green hills, Nam Cat Tien is a popular tourist attraction for nature enthusiasts. When traveling to the park, you can watch the wild orchids blooming or admire the white foam waterfall. Apart from this, the region is home to many rare species of both plants and animals. It is an ideal ecotourism destination for tourists.
Tra Su, An Giang
Home to many species of flora and fauna, Tra Su is another recommended forest escape in Vietnam that attracts numerous tourists to An Giang Province every year. You can explore the Melaleuca forests by the motorboat or the rowboat. After the trip, you can spend time resting in the forest’s center, where specialties of the regions, e.g. coconut juice, jaggery, roasted fish, grilled fish, hot pot, etc. are served.
As you can see, you have a number of options when it comes to forest escapes in Vietnam. All of the above-listed nature reserves and national parks offer tremendous diversity. The only thing you will have to worry about in these forest escapes is forcing yourself to leave at some point.
Photos by: Dương Nhân, Jonathan Ouimet, Hồn Du Mục, Dai Phong, Q. Hưng Phạm, Hiep Nguyen, Hugo Heimendinger