Cuc Phuong National Park

The first national park in Vietnam and still one of its most important, Cuc Phuong is a refuge for diverse animal and plant life and an idyllic place to spend a couple of days. Hiking is a major draw and there are numerous trails that cut through the forest. Bird watchers flock here to catch a glimpse of silver pheasants and red-collared woodpeckers among other species. In the early part of the last decade the Ho Chi Minh Highway was rerouted through the park, cutting off some 371 acres from the main area of the park. The construction of the road has aided connectivity, but environmentalists maintain it has also harmed the biodiversity of the park.