9th & 10th Day: Illness and Cuc Phuong National Park

Vietnam | Asia
Feb 24
3 min read

I got it today too - I was sick early this morning and had Diarrhea.

Amanda also had stomach cramps. We slept until noon and then talked to Nam about going to the pharmacy. Amanda went with Nam's husband Man and got some medication. We were recommended Berberil. It helped a little, and two hours later we mustered up the energy and drove around a bit, despite the stomach cramps. We bought some tea and went to bed early to be fit for Cuc Phuong National Park.

10th Day: Cuc Phuong National Park

We felt a bit better this morning. We swapped the scooter because it was having problems. We had a light breakfast. You never know what you might eat.

We set off at 8:30. The route was very scenic, and it took an hour to reach the park and another 30 minutes to the tours.

There are various routes to choose from there. We paid 60.000 Dong per Person.

The Cuc Phuong National Park covers 22,200 hectares and is the sixth largest in Vietnam. And here´s a lot of Flora and Fauna.

Cuc Phuong National Park

Entry

We hadn't walked 5 meters and already there were Insects. Amazing!

Leaf footed Bug / Golden Orb Weaver

Rhamnomia dubia
Rhamnomia dubia
Nephila pilipes, Male
Nephila pilipes

Stick Insect / Long winged Conehead

Undetermined sp.
Conocephalus sp.

Carpenter Ant / Moth Caterpillar

Camponotus nicobarensis
Areas sp.

These Stick Insects were everywhere, and so were spiders.

Orb Weaver / Golden Orb Weaver

Argiope sp.
Nephila pilipes

Stick Insect

Undetermined sp.

So we go on...

Orb Weaver / Harvestman

Macracantha hasselti
Undetermined sp.

Ants / Moth Caterpillar

Leptogenys kitteli
Macrobrochis gigas

A nice Road full of nice Insects and Jungle.

Now we walk the 6km long Old Tree Route. Deep Jungle!

Stick Insect / Harvestman

Undetermined sp.
Undetermined sp.

Pure Jungle.

The deeper you go into the Jungle, the more Insects you encounter. They're on almost every Leaf, under every Leaf, and on every Tree. Flying Insects are as loud as a Drone in the Air. The humidity is very high, and the feeling of untouched Nature is intense.

1000 year old Tree

Terminalia myriocarpa
Terminalia myriocarpa
Terminalia myriocarpa
Terminalia myriocarpa
Terminalia myriocarpa
Terminalia myriocarpa

We took a short break here and I "looked" for Insects.

Aphid / Click Beetle / Moth Caterpillar

Aphididae
Campsosternus sp.
Areas sp.

In the meantime, Amanda had to take more pictures...

Harvestman

Undetermined sp.
Undetermined sp.

We continued along the Path.

Beetle / Air-breathing Land Snail

Epicauta hirticornis
Megaustenia siamensis

Jungle Jungle Jungle!

Nymphalid Butterfly

Cyrestis cocles

The loop is finished and we're back at the parking lot to drive back to the entrance in 30 minutes. We stopped several times along the way.

There was a wet spot along the Path, and Butterflies gathered there...also Stick Insects

Nymphalid Butterfly / Stick Insect

Cyrestis cocles
Cyrestis cocles
Cyrestis cocles
Undetermined sp.

Ho Mac Lake

Near the entrance is the Endangered Primate Rescue Center.

Red-shanked Douc

Pygathrix nemaeus

And also around...

Stick Insect / Lychee Giant Stink Bug

Undetermined sp.
Undetermined sp.
Undetermined sp.
Tessaratoma papillosa

And last but not least the Turtle Conservation Center.

Vietnamese Pond Turtle / Asian Taro

Mauremys annamensis
Mauremys annamensis
Mauremys annamensis
Alocasia odora

It's lovely here. There are many more Animals to discover, but that always depends on the Time of Year, and unfortunately, we lost a day due to Illness. Now, off to the supermarket along the fields.