Vietnam’s landscape is dotted with national parks, ranging from the mountain ranges of the north to the white-sand islands of the south. Limestone peaks tumble over rambling rivers, and curving caverns twist through the dense jungle canopy. Nature at its finest in Southeast Asia. Below are best VIetnam National parks.
1. Phong Nha-Ke Bang
Phong Nha-Ke Bàng is home to some of the world’s largest caves and might be the most innately breathtaking and well-preserved area throughout Vietnam. The park, which shares a border with Hin Namno Nature Reserve in Laos, covers nearly 900 square kilometers (347 square miles) and is a popular stop for those traveling along the Ho Chi Minh Highway. The forests are home to gibbons and macaques, but it’s the spacious karst cave processes that have managed to earn Phong Nha a spot on the Unesco World Heritage list. Hundreds of miles of underground labyrinths run underneath the the towering limestone giants.
2. Phu Quoc National Park
Phu Quc, a gem nestled in the northwest corner of Vietnam’s most popular and unfortunately most overdeveloped island, is home to over 1,000 plant species and 200 animal species. Throughout the park, there are increasingly rare old-growth forests, and dipterocarp trees can reach heights of over 30m (100ft). Hiking and camping are both easy to get to from Gành Du village.
3. Nui Chua National Park
Nui Cha is located on the eastern edge of the Annamite Mountains, viewing one of the East Sea’s freshest and finest examples stretches of coastline. The region, like much of Vietnam, is best explored by motorcycle and is bounded by one of the country’s most beautiful beaches roads. Bears and primates roam the hillsides of the semi-arid park, while species and birds soar through the skies. The shoreline is especially important because it is home to the nesting grounds of several threatened turtle species.
4. Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park is the closest national park to Ho Chi Minh City and an underappreciated gem. The country’s lowland forests are the largest and most important, home to gibbons, deer, and wild boar. The nature trails are extensive and well-maintained, and most can be completed on a bicycle and without a guide. The park’s excellent lodging options, ranging from campgrounds to riverside bungalows, make it an excellent place to get away from the concrete madness of Saigon.
5. Cat Ba National Park
Cat Bà, floating in a sea of limestone peaks, is the focal point of the iconic H Long Bay. Any northern excursion should include a stop here. Much of the area looks like something out of Jurassic Park, with jungles shooting skyward into the mist. Within the park’s boundaries are a number of lovely moderate-difficulty hikes. Cát Bà is also home to the vast majority of the world’s white-headed langurs.
6. Ba Be National Park
Ba Be National Park is home to several ethnic minorities, including the Tay, Dao, and Hmong, and allows visitors to experience life in conventional homestays. The park is made up of mountain ranges mountains that crash down to pounding waterfalls before settling in Vietnam’s largest lake, Ba B. Trekking in the area is excellent and can be arranged through most homestays or guesthouses. Boats should also be used to explore the cavernous limestone grottos hidden along the water’s edge.
7. Yok Đon National Park
Yok Don, Vietnam’s largest national park, also occurs to be home to some of the country’s last remaining wild elephants and leopards. However, poaching and deforestation have annihilated their populations, reducing the chances of seeing one to almost nil. Despite this, the park maintains an off-the-beaten-path feel and is rarely visited by foreign tourists. Day and overnight treks through the dry forests are an excellent way to see everything.
8. Cuc Phương National Park
Cuc Phuong is one of Vietnam’s most accessible parks, located just over 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Hanoi. The region is best explored on foot, motorcycle, or bicycle over two or three days. Minority villages dot the landscape and are accessible via a variety of guided treks. The park also has a diverse range of flora and fauna, including some of Thailand’s most threatened turtles.
9. Con Dao National Park
It’s no surprise that pristine natural areas are dwindling in a country fast – growing emerging and popularity. Côn o National Park continues to be an outlier. This pristine archipelago of green is located 80 kilometers (50 miles) out in the East Sea and can be reached by ferry from the Mekong or plane from Ho Chi Minh City. The national park is located on the main island of Côn Sn and contains some of the country’s most pristine coral reefs and white-sand beaches. Endangered sea turtles nest along the beaches, and the peculiar and amiable dugong, a relative of the manatee, lounges in the park’s clear waters.
10. Bach Ma National Park
Bach Ma is concealed just west of the imperial palace of Hue, near Vietnam’s central coast. As mile-high peaks float in the distance, dilapidated French villas overrun by pine forests peer out through the wilderness. The park contains some of the most high – density and immaculate jungle ribbons in central Vietnam.
