Vietnam is a country filled with natural beauty, and its national parks are some of the best ways to experience this natural beauty. The parks are filled with forests, mountains, rivers, caves and lakes that will provide visitors with a truly unforgettable experience. This guide will highlight some of the best national parks in Vietnam’s North Central Coast and South Central Coast.

Northwest Vietnam’s National Parks: Exploring the Region’s Untamed Wilderness

Ba Be National Park

Located in Bac Kan Province, Ba Be National Park is known for its pristine lakes, waterfalls, and limestone mountains. Visitors can enjoy trekking, kayaking, and exploring the local culture of ethnic minority groups.

Bai Tu Long Bay National Park

Located in Quang Ninh Province, Bai Tu Long Bay National Park offers a quieter and more off-the-beaten-path alternative to its famous neighbor, Halong Bay. The park features stunning karst landscapes, hidden beaches, and diverse marine life.

Hoang Lien National Park

Located in Lao Cai Province, Home to the highest peak in Indochina, Fansipan, Hoang Lien National Park offers some of the best trekking in Vietnam. The park is also home to several ethnic minority groups and boasts breathtaking mountain scenery.

Tam Dao National Park

Located in Vinh Phuc Province, Tam Dao National Park is known for its lush forests, waterfalls, and picturesque landscapes. The park is a popular destination for hiking and birdwatching.

Xuan Son National Park

Located in Phu Tho Province, Xuan Son National Park is a hidden gem of Northwest Vietnam. The park boasts stunning landscapes of limestone mountains, dense forests, and tranquil lakes.

Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park 

Located in Cao Bang Province, Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park is a remote and wild area of Vietnam, featuring rugged mountain terrain, pristine forests, and impressive waterfalls.

Du Gia National Park 

Located in Ha Giang Province, Du Gia National Park is known for its stunning natural beauty, including waterfalls, caves, and highland forests. The park is also home to several ethnic minority groups.

The Red River Delta: A Hidden Gem of National Parks in Vietnam

Ba Vi National Park 

Located just outside of Hanoi, Ba Vi National Park is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The park features three mountain peaks, including the highest, Mount Ba Vi, and offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Cat Ba & Cat Ba Island National Park 

Located in Hai Phong Province, Cat Ba Island is the largest island in Halong Bay and home to a diverse range of wildlife. The island is surrounded by Cat Ba National Park, which offers stunning limestone landscapes, hidden beaches, and hiking trails.

Cuc Phuong National Park 

Located in Ninh Binh Province, Cuc Phuong National Park is Vietnam’s oldest national park and is known for its diverse flora and fauna. The park is home to several endangered species, including the Delacour’s langur and the Owston’s civet.

Xuan Thuy National Park 

Located in Nam Dinh Province, Xuan Thuy National Park is Vietnam’s first marine protected area. The park is home to a variety of bird species, including the endangered spoon-billed sandpiper.

Discover the Best National Parks in Vietnam’s North Central Coast

Bach Ma National Park 

This park is located on the border between North and South Vietna, and is a paradise for nature lovers. With unique landscapes, this park boasts a giant mountain overlooking many grasslands, waterfalls, flowering rhododendrons, countless rivers, and lagoons. There are five enchanting lakes of Ngu Ho Lake, where visitors can go for a swim and relax before continuing their journey.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park 

This park is situated in one of Vietnam’s most spectacular and interesting regions and is packed with opportunities to hike, bike, paddle, or relax. Fossils up to 300 million years old have been found in the park’s giant caverns, and the park boasts unspoiled jungles, caves, and underground rivers stretching over 885 square kilometers.

Ben En National Park 

This park is also known as the “Halong bay on land” and covers numerous bewitching lakes, caves, mountains, and forests extremely rich in flora and fauna. The tranquil landscape features two prominent rivers, the Ben En River and the Muc River. Visitors can enjoy river tours, swimming festivals, and exploring a variety of wonderful caves.

Pu Mat National Park

This park boasts impressive mountains, dense forests, and gorgeous rivers that bear witness to its enchanting beauty. Some of the rarest species can only be found in this part of the world, such as the white-cheeked crested gibbons. Visitors can experience the park’s untouched nature by booking a tour from bigger cities like Vinh.

Vu Quang National Park 

Located along the border with Laos, this park is ideal for nature enthusiasts and travelers who want to escape the crowds and see rare species such as the saola or giant muntjac. Visitors should hire a local guide to help them explore this remote and less traveled park.

South Central Coast: Where Natural Wonders Await in Vietnam’s National Parks

Nui Chua National Park

This park is famous for its diverse terrain, jungle-clad mountains, and white-sand beaches. Visitors can explore the park’s shorelines by renting a quieter vessel like a kayak, snorkel, or dive to see the park’s coral reefs, tide pools, and seaside caves.

Phuoc Binh National Park 

This park is a less visited national park that is home to some incredible natural beauty. Visitors can explore the park’s dense forests, tranquil streams, and cascading waterfalls. It’s an ideal spot for hiking, birdwatching, and enjoying the peace and quiet of nature.

Explore the Wild Beauty of Vietnam’s Central Highlands National Parks

Chu Mom Ray National Park: 

Located near the city of Kon Tum, this park boasts a vast mountainous landscape covered with tropical semi-evergreen forest. The park is named after the highest mountain in the region, Chu Mom Ray. Visitors can enjoy natural hot springs and admire the stunning scenery filled with rivers, bamboo forests, and grasslands.

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park

Known as the “Kingdom of Orchid”, this park houses nearly 250 species of orchids. It is 91% composed of dense woodlands, grasslands, and bamboo groves. Visitors can camp overnight, taste traditional rice wine, and dance with the local K’ho tribe.

Kon Ka Kinh National Park

This park offers many attractions, including the House of Specimen, where visitors can see an exquisite wild orchid collection and ancient trees. At Ha Dung village, visitors can learn about the “space of gong culture” and taste local delicacies. Trekking to the top of the Kon Ka Kinh mountain peak offers a chance to observe and learn about the behaviour of various animals.

Yok Don National Park

Famed for being the second-largest national park, this park offers unique elephant tours where visitors can learn about the life of elephants and how to find them based on the tracks they leave behind. Visitors can also cruise along the Serepok River, which is 200 km long, and explore the park’s vast terrain of tracks, trails, and roads.

Chu Yang Sin National Park 

Located in the Southern Annamite mountains, this park is characterised by steep slopes and narrow valleys. It offers one trail reserved for the boldest and most adventurous visitors. This park is ideal for backpacking, camping, and hiking, and it’s home to 876 plant species, 203 birds, and 46 mammal species.

Ta Dung National Park 

This park is spread over 40 islands and offers extraordinary views of the lake and islands, perfect for visitors who want to enjoy peace and quiet. Visitors can enjoy boating on the enchanting lake, hiking to the grand waterfalls, and camping on the towering peaks.

Southeast Vietnam’s National Parks: A Hidden Paradise of Biodiversity

Cat Tien National Park 

Known for its dense forests and rich wildlife, this park is home to many rare species such as the Javan rhinoceros, Indochinese tiger, and Asian elephant. Visitors can trek through the park, visit crocodile and bear sanctuaries, and take a night safari to spot nocturnal animals.

Bu Gia Map National Park 

Located near the Cambodia border, this park is famous for its rich flora and fauna. Visitors can trek through the park, enjoy waterfalls, and admire the stunning views of the lush green forests.

Con Dao National Park 

Located on the Con Dao Islands, this park offers stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rich marine life. Visitors can explore the park by trekking through the forests or diving to admire the coral reefs.

Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park 

The Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park boasts a diverse range of bird species, including rare ones like the green peafowl, Siamese fireback, and Germain’s peacock-pheasant. The park offers visitors the opportunity to hike along its numerous trails and also to visit various attractions within the park.

Experience the Mekong Delta’s Rich Biodiversity in Vietnam’s National Parks

Mui Ca Mau National Park

• Southern Vietnam’s hidden gem, known for its endangered habitats and species.
• Coastal reserve dominated by mangrove forests and bird nesting grounds.
• Lon River runs through the national park, overlooking two small islands that are important to migratory birds.

Phu Quoc National Park

• Free entrance to the park, allowing visitors to explore nature to the fullest.
• Biodiversity hotspot with rich flora and fauna, beautiful mountain landscapes, clear streams and wild waterfalls.
• Thousands of orchid and plant species scattered throughout the park.

Tram Chim National Park

• Recognized as a site of international ecosystem importance, ranked 2000th worldwide and 4th in Vietnam.
• Beautiful green oasis with stunning nature and a serene vibe, with a vast array of beautiful creatures.
• Boat tours available to observe blooming flowers and bird flocks hidden amid Melaleuca trees and lotus-covered rivers.

U Minh Ha & U Minh Thuong National Parks

• Family-friendly destinations declared “friendly for all ages”.
• Upper and Lower Park only 2 hours drive apart, featuring forested wetlands and multiple rivers and streams.
• Visitors can book a tour for an all-inclusive experience of both national parks in one go, and visit an animal rescue center run by park rangers and locals to help out those in need.