Biodiversity values

The vegetation of Cuc Phuong National Park is dominated by limestone forest. In some places, the forest is stratified into as many as five layers, including an emergent layer up to 40 m in height. Due to the steep topography, however, the canopy is often broken and stratification is unclear. Many individual trees show well developed buttress roots in response to the generally shallow soils (Anon. 1991). The national park contains particularly large specimens of certain tree species, including Terminalia myriocarpa, Shorea sinensis, and Tetrameles nudiflora, which are developed as tourist attractions. There is an abundance of timber trees and medicinal plants. Cuc Phuong National Park has an extremely rich flora. To date, 1,980 vascular plant species in 887 genera and 221 families have been recorded at the national park. In terms of number of species, the best represented families in the flora of Cuc Phuong are the Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Asteraceae, Moraceae, Lauraceae, Cyperaceae, Orchidaceae and Acanthaceae. The flora of Cuc Phuong contains elements of the Sino-Himalayan, Indo-Burmese and Malesian floras. The high known floral diversity at Cuc Phuong can be partly attributed to the high level of survey effort directed at the site Floral surveys at Cuc Phuong have, so far, identified three endemic vascular plant species: Pistacia cucphuongensis, Melastoma trungii and Heritiera cucphuongensis. Cuc Phuong National Park is also considered to be one of seven globally significant Centres of Plant Diversity in Vietnam. 

Cuc Phuong supports populations of several mammal species of conservation importance, including the globally critically endangered endemic primate Delacour's Leaf Monkey (Semnopithecus francoisi delacouri) and the globally vulnerable Owston's Banded Civet (Hemigalus owstoni). In addition, the nationally threatened Leopard (Panthera pardus) has been recently recorded at the national park. Furthermore, 38 bat species have been recorded at the national park, including 17 species from a single cave. Unfortunately, several large mammal species, including Tiger Panthera tigris, Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and White-cheeked Gibbon (Hylobates leucogenys), are believed to have become extinct at Cuc Phuong in recent times, mainly due to high hunting pressure and the relatively small size of the national park.

Bird fauna - Birding

To date, 248 species of bird have been recorded at Cuc Phuong National Park, including two globally threatened species, Chestnut-necklaced Partridge (Arborophila charltonii) and Red-collared Woodpecker (Picus rabieri), and 12 globally near-threatened species. The national park supports populations of Red-vented Barbet (Megalaima lagrandieri), and Bar-bellied Pitta (Pitta elliotii), which are endemics to Indochina and Thailand. Cuc Phuong National Park is situated at the northern end of the Annamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area. However, none of the restricted-range bird species restricted to this EBA have yet been recorded at the national park.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in Cuc Phuong National Park

Most highlights

Red-collared Woodpecker, Pied Falconet, Rachet-tailed Treepie, Bar-bellied, Blue-rumped and Eared Pittas, White-winged Magpie, Limestone Wren Babbler.

Annam Limstone Babbler

Birding routes

Main road from HQ to Bong is range for many species, if you go through in the early morning in winter thruses are encountered. Malaysian Nigh-heron is easy to see along the road in April-July.

Forest trails around Bong such loops trail, village trail are Eared Blue-rumped and bar-bellied Pittas,  Pied Falconet, Red-collared Woodpecker, Limestone Warbler normally locating.

Botanical garden by gate HQ is a good spot for White-winged Magpie, Rachet-tailed Treepie and Blue-rumped Pitta 

Transportation

Cuc Phuong National Park is located approximately 135 km from Hanoi. Traveling by car or motorbike via the main road network typically takes around 2 to 2.5 hours.

Accommodations

Visitor accommodation is available at the park headquarters and inside the national park near the Bong ranger station. The forest is accessible on foot from both locations but some birding trails (such as the Cave of the Early Man for Limestone Wren Babbler) are only accessible by car.

Discover relevant tours

• Tam Dao – Cuc Phuong trio pittas
• Birding tour from Ha Noi
• North Vietnam (birding tour from Ha Noi)

More infomation about birding sites in Vietnam:

• Mang Den – Kon Plong
• Da Lat Plateau
• Cat Tien National Park
• Yok Don National Park
• Tam Dao National Park
• Sa Pa - Fansipan Mt
• Cuc Phuong National Park
• Lo Xo Pass
• Bach Ma National Park
• Sa Mu - Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve
• Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
• Tan Phu Forest (Thac Mai)
• Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
• Mekong Delta