Cúc Phương National Park

Artifacts from that time have been found in numerous caves within the park, including human graves, stone axes, pointed bone spears, oyster shell knives, and tools for grinding.

In 1789 the Quen Voi section of the park was the site of a major battle in the civil war between Nguyễn Huệ and Thăng Long.

In the past the park was home to Asiatic black bears, wild dogs, elephants, rhinos, and tigers, but over hunting and lack of prey have most led to the loss of these species.

[1] Bird species include bar-backed partridge, scaly-breasted partridge, silver pheasant, red junglefowl, grey peacock-pheasant, laughingthrushes, red-vented barbet, green-eared barbet, scimitar-billed babblers, brown boobook, scarlet minivet, racket-tailed drongos, racket-tailed treepie, white-winged blue magpie.

Flora in the park includes multi-layered canopy, with a diversity of trees (some showing cauliflory) and large specimens growing up to 70m in height (illustrated), with labelled Tetrameles nudiflora and Carya sinensis.

The flora consists of some 2000 recorded species[3] with lianas and epiphytes including orchids and ferns such as Asplenium, with amazingly long leaves.

The CPCP aims to conserve these threatened species of mammal through the rescue and rehabilitation of trade confiscated wildlife, education and awareness and field research.

The CPCP also runs the region's only conservation breeding program for the Owston's civet, a species that is endemic to Indochina, and whose main range is within Vietnam.

The CPCP's main centre is within Cúc Phương National Park, but operates a nationwide rescue program and has active field sites in Central and Southern Vietnam.

Other nearby tourist destinations located in Ninh Binh Province include Phát Diệm Cathedral, Hoa Lư Ancient Capital, Tam Cốc – Bích Động, Tràng An, and Bai Dinh Pagoda.