• Get out of Vietnam’s big cities and head to one of Vietnam’s national parks instead

• Phu Quoc National Park is great for marine life

• Cat Tien is the place to go if you want to stay close to Ho Chi Minh City

• Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is best for exploring caves

• Ba Be National Park is a waterfall wonderland

• Vietnam’s Con Đao National Park is a protected wildlife sanctuary

• Cuc Phuong National Park is close to Hanoi and was Vietnam’s first national park!

national parks in Vietnam Image source: blogspot.com

When people speak about destinations in Vietnam, many people will recommend big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, or beautiful islands such as Co To, Phu Quoc, Cat Ba etc. However, Vietnam is also famous for its many national parks. We introduce to you some well-known ones.

1. Phu Quoc National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Phú Quốc)

Phu Quoc is now one of the most overdeveloped islands in Vietnam, but more than half of Phu Quoc island is a national park, which is home to a diverse ecosystem with more than 200 kinds of animal and 1000 pieces of plant. Here, you can see some rare old-growth forests and Dipterocarp trees more than 100 feet high. From Ganh Dau village (làng chài Gành Dầu), you can reach Phu Quoc national park very easily for hiking, camping, scuba diving and so on. Dive deep into the clear water to see the abundant marine life, or explore this national park by riding a motorbike along its paths.

From Phu Quoc international airport, you can hire a motorbike to get to Phu Quoc national park.

national parks in Vietnam Image source: uminhnationalpark.com

2. Cat Tien National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Cát Tiên)

Cat Tien national park is in Dong Nai province (tỉnh Đồng Nai), not too far from Ho Chi Minh City. It is said to be one of the most worthwhile parks in the south of Vietnam. This area is home to many primates and a great trekking destination. Going into this park in the early morning, you will hear the birdsong and cries of gibbons amongst the trees. Do not pack too much because this park nowadays offers tourism facilities for camping or paddling along the waterways. And, do not forget to get to Cat Tien Bear Rescue Centre, where you will see many amazing animals such as Asian black bears and sun bears.

You can travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Cat Tien national park by motorbike or coach, but the most suitable way for tourists is by coach. Buy a ticket at Mien Dong coach station (Bến Xe Miền Đông) and get to Cat Tien national park for only 150,000 VND.

national parks in Vietnam Image source: i-to-i.com

3. Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Phong Nha - Kẻ Bàng)

Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park in Quang Binh province (tỉnh Quảng Bình) is famous for the largest cave in the world with whole ecosystems and forests within, called Son Doong cave (Hang Sơn Đoòng). With more than 300 caves, many waterways, mountains and forests, Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park is now a famous destination for tourists from all over the world. It is one of the must-see places in Vietnam and will provide long-lasting memories.

From Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, take a flight to Dong Hoi airport and then catch a motor taxi to Phong Nha - Ke Bang national park.

Video source: National Geographic

4. Ba Be National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Ba Bể)

Ba Be national park is home to mountains, waterfalls, caves and rivers. It is a tourist attraction thanks to the diversity of ecosystems with protruding peaks, plateaus and vast lakes. Making a boat trip to explore the waterways is an excellent thing to do, and you can hike through the plethora of forests with stunning views down to the lakes. You can also visit local villages to gain an insight into daily life.

Ba Be national park is 240 km north of Hanoi in Bac Kan province (Tỉnh Bắc Kạn). In Hanoi, Mr. Linh's Adventures at No. 83 Ma May Street organises a range of tours and homestays in the region—see MrLinhAdventure.com.

Video source: Mr Linh's Adventures

5. Con Dao National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Côn Đảo)

Con Dao national park combines marine environments with tropical forests, pristine beaches, lush mangroves and coral reefs. The area is strictly protected and retains a wild and majestic beauty.

From Tan Son Nhat international airport in Ho Chi Minh City you can fly to Co Ong airport (Sân Bay Cỏ Ống) on Con Dao island.

national parks in Vietnam Image source: vietnamcoracle.com

6. Cuc Phuong National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Cúc Phương)

This national park in Ninh Binh province (Tỉnh Ninh Bình) south-west of Hanoi is a famous destination with pristine trails and beautiful landscapes. It was Vietnam’s first national park and is the country's largest nature reserve, with a wide range of flora and fauna. It an attractive area for adventurous visitors.

From Hanoi, hire a motorbike or catch a coach at Giap Bat station (Bến xe Giáp Bát) to get to the park.

national parks in Vietnam Image source: tripspoint.com

Have you been to any of these places? If so, share your experiences at xxxx.

Emily Pham shares her love of the country, including essential information on where to go and what to do, through her blog site vina.com.

Banner Image source: travelandinspiration.com

Emily Pham

Best National Parks in Vietnam