Ben En National Park

Ben En covers about fifteen thousand hectares in Thanh Hoa around the Song Muc reservoir, built in the 1970s and holding a couple of dozen wooded islands, which is why the inland Ha Long comparison gets made - it is about the shape of the water rather than the geology, since these are drowned hills. The forest around holds lim, the ironwood the region was logged for, and a bird and primate list including gibbons that have declined heavily. Thai and Muong villages live around the boundary. It is one of the least visited national parks in the north and boats are arranged at the headquarters.

Highlights

• A reservoir with wooded islands - about two dozen drowned hills.
• Ironwood forest - lim, the timber the region was cut for.
• Thai and Muong villages - around the park boundary.
• Very few visitors - one of the quietest parks in the north.

When to go

September to November and March to May. Two days.

Before you go

Wildlife is much reduced by past hunting and gibbon sightings are very unlikely. Boat trips are informal. Facilities are basic. Roads in are rough in the last stretch.

Nearby

Thanh Hoa is north-east; Pu Luong is north-west.

Key facts