Due to its beautiful cities, villages and a ton of national parks, Vietnam is one of the best places to travel. Most are easily accessed from Vietnam hotels, so you don’t have to camp in the woods. The market of ecotourism in Vietnam has risen steadily in the past few years; here are the best four parks and natural wonders of Vietnam.
1. Cuc Phuong National Park
One of the first parks nationalized in Vietnam, Cuc Phuong is situated at about 140 km south of Hanoi. The park features:
- 22 000 hectares of subtropical forest
- Famous karst limestones
- Wide range of species unique to Vietnam
- The Endangered Primate Centre with some of the rarest monkeys in the world
- Prehistoric caves
- Migratory butterflies in April and May
The park has a guesthouse and a restaurant in case you wish to extend your stay.
2. Bach Ma National Park
Situated at a 1.5-hour drive from Hue, the Bach Ma National Park is probably one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. Here’s why:
- The park has a 1,448m-high peak.
- The region is a favorite home of many rare bird species.
- The park is a mix of monsoon forest and sub-tropical vegetation.
- The park has a famous mountain waterfall – the Do Quyen
- The view from the Sea Observation Post is magnificent
This park also has a guesthouse. The Bach Ma National Park definitely deserves at least one day and a half to really take in all its natural beauty.
3. Nam Cat Tien National Park
For wildlife lovers, the Nam Cat Tien National park, 170 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, is the perfect choice. The park is home to:
- 230 bird species
- A great diversity of mammals
- Endangered birds
You can walk the birding trails or stick around and watch the endangered birds have their dinner near the park’s lodge. Another guesthouse is available if one day isn’t enough for you. If you enjoy bird watching, this is the perfect stop.
4. Sau Sau and Bau Sau
The forest is large and deep in Sau Sau and Bau Sau. While it’s not a national park, the region still features amazing vegetation and wildlife. At Sau Sau and Bau Sau you can:
- Trek the trails deep into the heart of the forest
- Canoe around a lake
- Observe nocturnal animals at the Nui Tuong forest
Another guesthouse is available for overnight stays. Even if smaller than other parks, the Sau Sau and Bau Sau regions are worth stopping by.
These are not the only parks in Vietnam: there are a variety of them in each of the regions of the country. If you don’t like elevation, visit the Mekong delta for a very flat trip through the U Mihn Thuong National Park, for example.
Tours and visits can be arranged through your hotel in Vietnam, or through an operator of ecotourism in Vietnam. You can choose the parks à-la-carte or enter an organized extended tour of a region. No matter how you get there, the diversity and the beauty of Vietnam’s natural parks will amaze you, thus, making it one of the best places to travel.