Xuan Son National Park: Tourist Attraction on the Rise

Xuan Son National Park: Tourist Attraction on the Rise

Recognized as the 12th biggest national park in Vietnam covering over 15,000 hectares or about 84 percent of forest area in the whole country, Xuan Son National Park is a beautiful fusion of diverse ecosystems, pure natural beauty and authentic cultural groups.
Located at Tan Son District of the Northern midland province of Phu Tho or about 120 kilometers from Hanoi, Xuan Son is a haven of pure water and fresh air with an average temperature of 22-23 degree Celsius the whole year round. In fact, it's said that even one day at the park makes up the four seasons wherein “the morning is as cool as spring, noon is as warm as summer, the wind in the afternoon is as gentle as that in autumn and the evening has a little winter coldness.”
Xuan Son National Park is home to a number of flora and fauna. 365 animal species can be found at the area, such as langurs, gibbons, civets, bears, squirrels, bears, leopards, pheasants, and peacock pheasants, species that usually come from the Northwestern region. Rare and endangered species are also preserved at the park, including 46 listed in Vietnam's Red Book and 18 in the World Red Book.
726 species of vascular plants grow abundantly at the park. Chestnut trees, oaks, and magnolias make up the most of the flora at Xuan Son while plansts such as “tau muoi” (Vatica odorata), “sao mat quy” (Hopea mollissima), “cho chi” (Parashorea chinensis), “nghien” (Burretiodendron hsienmu) and “kim giao” (Nageia fleuryi) can also be found at the park.
While it is already replete with flora and fauna, Xuan Son is also endowed with natural beauty such as stunning mountains, caves, streams and waterfalls. Mount Voi, Mount Ten and Mount Can are among the most popular mountains at the park with their more than 1,000-meter high peaks. Hundreds of such caves, streams and waterfalls can be found all across the park.
Ethnic groups also reside at the park, able to preserve their culture in terms of costumes, festivals, handicrafts, brocades, dances, and food. Moreover, together with Tam Dao in Vinh Phuc Province and Ba Vi in Hanoi, Xuan Son form a triangle of naturally breathtaking landscapes and historical sites.
Xuan Son National Park is an ocean of possibilities with such areas as adventure, eco-tourism, medical and community tourism in agreeable conditions to be opened at the park. It is also receiving investment to transform it into a “tourist hotspot,” pulling up the socio-economic growth of the area. However, the business side of the park doesn't really have a solid structure, thus attracting less number of visitors than it should and perhaps most especially earning less profits than it deserves. At present, the establishment receives only about 5,000-10,000 guests annually.
At present, the Phu Tho People's Committee is drawing up a short-term plan of developing basic infrastructure and establishing policies encouraging business sectors to invest in Xuan Son National Park. Specific projects are currently underway at the area such as constructing a route from Lap Hamlet – Tho Than Cave – Na Cave – Lung Troi Waterfall; a VND105 billion project to construct a tourism informtion centre, lodging, nature museum and roads; and a VND6.772 trillion project to build a 54-kilometer road joining the park and the Hung Kings Temple. A plan to construct a cable route connecting the three aforementioned mountains are being worked up to give visitors an amazing view of the park and other nearby structures.
Xuan Son National Park foresees welcoming more tourists, both domestic and foreign, in 2015 and 2020. If it will be able to attract enough investment for its development, this will also spell the betterment of life in the district as a whole.