Natural Wonders: Vietnam National Parks in Central and North Vietnam
By Theresa Yiju Lin
I
usually think about how people draft their trips and vacations. Things like
choosing a destination, selecting airlines and planning entertaining
activities. Most times, I am kind of a random traveler. Living in Taiwan for
such a long time, my travel pattern is that if the airfare looks right and the
place sounds fun, I wouldn’t mind pay it a visit. Reading about Vietnam, I
would choose Vietnam as a destination because it means a mysterious cultural
discovery.
National Park in Vietnam
Although
Vietnam is a quite well known country because of its media coverage in films,
news and television programs, Vietnam did not open its gate to the rest of the
world until the end of the Vietnam War. The media exposure did not ensure an
accurate report of Vietnam, and not many travelers’ found the way to share
their indescribable experiences.
For
a long time, Vietnam was occupied by various countries: Chinese Empire, France
and Japan. During the Cold War, the North was controlled by China, and the
South was supported by United States. Since the Vietnam War ended in 1975,
Vietnam has been shaping its new identity. Under the influences of many other
cultures, Vietnam blended them into their ancient traditions and made their own
personality. Today Vietnam is welcoming visitors to show off its unique traits
and share its national treasures.
National
parks in Vietnam are one of the country’s most valuable resources. From north
to south, there are 87 national parks scattering around. They are nature
reserves, historical sites and natural areas. The common issues among the
national parks are the illegal hunters and traders. They endanger the nature
cycles of Vietnam. The Vietnamese government and international organizations
are doing the best they can to stop these harmful actions and to educate the
public the importance of preserving the lands.
1. Cat Ba National Park - a national park in North Vietnam
Cat Ba national park |
Cat
Ba Island is the largest island in the Cat Ba Archipelago in Ha Long Bay in the North Vietnam. About
16 kilometers away from Cat Ba Town, there is the Cat Ba National Park. The
park’s headquarter is located in Trung Trang. One-third of the park is the
marine zone, and the rest is the forest. Although there are many wild animals
such as wild boars, macaques, deer, white-headed langurs, bird species and
reptile species and over 600 plants in the park, they are not well protected.
Some local people hunt them or make traps to capture them for their high prices
in the market.
Cat
Bat is a great place for hiking and outdoor activities. However, if you are not
an experienced hiker, trails at Cat Ba might be quite a challenge for you. In
this situation, a sophisticated tour guide is highly recommended for the
purpose of safety. Exploring Cat Ba, you will see one of the most beautiful
landscapes in Vietnam and the copious ecosystem. Oriental pied hornbill, a very
rare species in Northern Vietnam, can be seen in the park. Other attractions
include limestone formations, numerous waterfalls, caves and grottoes. Human
history dates 6,000 to 7,000 years back, and the entire Ha Long Bay region was
listed as the World Heritage Site by United Nation Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its biological significance.
2. Cuc Phuong National Park - the first national park in North Vietnam
Cuc Phuong National Park |
Cuc
Phuong National Park was founded in 1962 in Ninh Binh province in Northern Vietnam . It is the first national
park of Vietnam. The park is about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital. 90
percent of the park is covered by forests, and about 2,000 plant species grow
in the park. More than 60 mammal species are in the park and the special residents
in the park are the Red-Bellied Squirrels. The highest mountain is 648 meters
above the sea level.
Cuc
Phuong is where the Endangered Primates Rescue Centre is located; the Center
rescues the animals from illegal trading. Cuc Phuong National Park is also a
main attraction for botanists. Researched done by United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) distinguished the
complexity of the tropical forest and the monsoon influence on Southeast Asia
in Cuc Phuong National Park.
At
the park’s surroundings you will see limestone cliffs, plenty of plants and
mammals. The summit May Bac (silver cloud) is 656 meters in elevation. The
limestone caves in the park are eminent attractions and include Thang Khuyet
Cave, Con Moong Cave, Pho Ma Cave, and Nguoi Xua Cave. Quen Voi Cave presents
diverse aspects of the limestone after its long-term weathering process. The
best time to visit the park is during the dry season from April to November.
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