Vu Quang National Park

Vu Quang lies along the Lao border in Ha Tinh and covers over fifty thousand hectares of the Truong Son range, and it is where a joint Vietnamese and international survey team found the horns and skulls in village houses in 1992 that led to the description of the saola - Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, named for the two provinces - the first new large mammal described anywhere in over half a century. The giant muntjac was described from the same forests shortly after. It received ASEAN heritage park status in 2019. Visitor infrastructure is minimal and most access is for research.

What you actually see

• Where the saola was found - from remains in village houses in 1992.
• Named for two provinces - Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
• The giant muntjac too - described from the same forests.
• Very little visitor infrastructure - most access is research.

When to go

October to April. Two days, with arrangements made in advance.

Honest expectations

This is not a set-up visitor park - access to the interior requires park permission and guides. Roads are rough. Leeches, heat and rain are constant. Wildlife sightings of any kind are unlikely.

Nearby

Pu Mat park is north along the border; Ha Tinh is east.