The Ben En National Park stretches in the territories of Nhu Xuan and Nhu Thanh Districts of Thanh Hoa Province.
Travel Guide Overview for Ben En National Park, Thanh Hoa
The national park is composed of a reservoir which is surrounded by a system of karst mountains, valleys and forests. The total area of the Ben En National Park is 14,735 hectares of which the primeval forest area is 8,544 hectares.
The reservoir has the total water surface area of 4,000 hectares, which was created in 1977 by a dam across the Muc River. The water of the reservoir is from 4 streams originating in the mountains. These streams supply water to the Muc River which flows eastward and merge with a few other rivers on the way, and discharges the water into the East Vietnam Sea at Quang Xuong, Thanh Hoa.
There are 21 islands on the reservoir that the visitors can have a glimpse of on a boat trip for 1-2 hours. There is one island which is called the Botanical Garden and which can be visited. The Botanical Garden, 56 hectares in area, has a 5km trail that offers a nice walk amid lovely nature.
Flora and Fauna
The Ben En National Park is home to over 91 species of animals, 201 bird species, 54 reptile species, 31 frog species, 68 fish species, 499 insect species. There are several species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam: douc langurs, wild boars, Tibetan black bears, Red-Faced Monkeys...
Things to do, travel activities, adventure tours, ecotourism at the Ben En National Park
1/ Boat trip on the Muc River Reservoir
A complete boat trip takes about 2 hours. The best moments are found in the early morning or late afternoon.
2/ Kayaking on the Muc River Reservoir
There are chances for you to hire kayaks and enjoy your own time on the serene water of the pristine nature.
3/ A walking tour of the Botanical Island
To get to the island you’ll need to take a boat trip from the national park headquarters. There is a trail of 5km through for the forest for you to find a relaxing time or exploring the ecosystem on the island.
4/ Suoi Tien Cave and Lo Cao Cave
Both caves are natural and the later was used to produce weapons during the Franco - Viet Minh War.
5/The Von Village – A Black Thai Community at the Ben En National Park
From the national park headquarters, you’ll have to take a boat trip to reach the village. There are traditional performances, homestay,… that you can engage into the local life and culture.
6/ Specialist tours
The specialist tours include bird-watching tours, butterfly-watching tours, jungle discovery tours on the ecosystem, biodiversity at the Ben En National Park… AdventureGreen could organize specialist tours for researchers, students… to the Ben En National Park. All tours are escorted by a Vietnamese specialist in the field of research.
How to get to the Ben En National Park
Ben En National Park is 210km southwest of Hanoi, 45km southwest of Thanh Hoa City. From Hanoi, there are 2 routes to the national park:
- Travel along Route 1A and turn left into Route 45 right after Thanh Hoa City;
- Travel along Ho Chi Minh Road and turn right into Route 45 at Yen Cat Township (Nhu Xuan District, Thanh Hoa).
Thanh Hoa Average Monthly Rainfalls and Temperatures
