Ben En is one of the ten national parks boasting the most magnificent natural landscape in Vietnam. The park also preserves a large number of rare and precious flora and fauna species, which are on the verge of extinction.
Located in Nhu Xuan and Nhu Thanh districts, Ben En National Park is about 50 kilometers from Thanh Hoa Province. It takes tourists some one hour to travel there from Thanh Hoa, so Ben En is gradually becoming an ideal destination for those who want to immerse themselves in wild nature.
The Muc Lake covers 15,000 hectares of the Ben En National Park. Along with 20 large and small islands, the deep crystal blue lake surface creates a charming landscape. In recent years, the management center of Ben En has organized many cruise tours around Muc Lake to attract tourists.
The park has wide and diverse cave systems, limestone mountains, and primeval forests. Therefore, the park provides a favorable habitation for migration. There are 462 plant species, 62 mammals, and hundreds of insects and birds. Of these, 19 mammals are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among them, tigers, Asian elephants, northern white-cheeked gibbons and sun bears are on the verge of extinction.
The atmosphere at Ben En is cool and peaceful, with poetic and majestic scenes around the Muc Lake for tourists to take photos. The park has hills and grasslands that are also suitable for camping. The management center also has services which provide tents and food for tourists to enjoy picnics there. Overnight camping along the shore of the Muc Lake is a great experience.
Some popular activities in the park include canoeing and kayaking on the Muc Lake, visiting Ngoc Cave – the most mysterious and unique cave at Ben En, visiting Ben En Museum and meeting locals living in the villages. In addition, visitors can explore the unique traditional culture of the locals and enjoy specialties there.
Ben En is considered a rare national park with diverse potential to develop ecotourism and many tourism services and contribute to studying the nature of Thanh Hoa Province. Entry to the Ben En National Park is free. However, tourists need to pay for the tourism services there.
