Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center: A must-visit in Ninh Binh

Right on the periphery of Vietnam’s most ancient national park is indeed an inspiring site: the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center. Over here, it’s first-of-its-kind gibbons that greet one to early morning with melodious calls and langurs that leap around gracefully through leafy enclosures – a vibrant reminder of the untamed beauty we still stand a chance to save.

1. Overview of Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center 

   
   

Just at the border of Cuc Phuong National Park, in Nho Quan District, Ninh Binh Province lies the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center. It is approximately 120 km from Hanoi and 60 km from Ninh Binh city and hence can be reached by private transport – car or motorbike and even by joining an eco-tour that has a guided visit.

• Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

• Entrance Fee (2025):

Adults: VND 60,000

Students: 20,000 VND

Children: 10,000 VND

Bicycle Rental: 30,000 VND

Optional Electric Car: From 100,000 VND

This center is not just a zoo or a show. Every visit to Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center is a step into an active mission to save rare lives.

2. Protecting Vietnam’s Rarest Primates- What makes it special

   
   

Established in 1993 through a collaboration with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center represents one of the first entities dedicated to primate conservation in Vietnam. Situated within one of Vietnam’s oldest and most biodiverse national parks, the center provides critical assistance in the conservation of species that are highly endangered.

Cuc Phuong National Park is home to many mammal species. Among them are 97 different species. Also, it holds 300 different bird species.

• About 6,000 insects and fish

• 20,000 flowering plants

And many other living organisms. Most of these species are listed in Vietnam Red Book of endangered fauna and flora.

Within its boundaries are found some of the most outstanding and rare primate populations found in Vietnam, including:

• Delacour’s langur, famous for its white ‘’pants’’

• Cat Ba langur, critically endangered and extremely elusive

• Northern white-cheeked gibbon, whose rueful morning songs ring from one end of the forest to the other

What makes them special is their semi-wild enclosures which allow them to be returned to the right habitat rather than just being on display. Read slowly or not These voices will never be raised for show purpose, in the future.

3. What You’ll Experience at Cuc Phuong Rescue Center

   
   

All visits to the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center are led by knowledgeable on-site staff, providing one-hour tours available in Vietnamese as well as in English. Such tours go beyond mere information provision to in-depth engagement with the site’s flora and fauna, allowing visitors to understand the play of behaviors and rescue stories — and the conservation commitment — for every endangered primate.

Langurs will be seen swinging through the trees, and gibbons heard calling to each other across the canopy as you stroll by semi-wild enclosures, with other rare species foraging or resting in peace. Every moment is like a peep in the heart of the forest.

The Conservation Education Center will provide another dimension to the experience, consisting of posters, skeletal displays, photographs capturing rescue stories; and some did you know kind of revelations on illegal wildlife trade, and Vietnam’s conservation challenges.

Based on timing and availability, you may also:

• Stand by and watch a feeding session

• Take out an ‘Adopt a Primate’ membership to help an individual

• Plant some shade trees for forest habitat restoration

4. Best Time to Visit Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center

   
   

   Ideal season: Dry months from November to April

   In the mornings: Active time for gibbons and langurs; cooler and more pleasant

   Avoid rainy months if combined with trekking or visiting other park attractions.

   
   

5. Other Attractions near Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center

   
   

Combine your visit to the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center with other great attractions in the park:

• Thousand-Year-Old Tree Trek: a walk into ancient forest beauty

• Prehistoric Cave: ancient human remains

• Botanical Garden: regional flora on display

• Turtle Conservation Center: Yet another essential rescue effort

• Butterfly Valley: best in April-May when thousands take flight

  
  

Sleep in a warm forest bungalow or an old-style stilt house for the night, and wake up to the sounds of nature – something so rare these days.

6. A Meaningful Stop Along the Way

   
   

Primate origins are mostly vocalized by the Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center, and this is all reflective of the silent contribution that the Center provides in safeguarding rare Vietnamese primates. Most of the animals here were once prey to illegal hunters or illegal traders, yet with proper care, some can be released back into the wild.

When you come, it’s not just about finding out — it’s also about giving. Every ticket, every query, every moment here is contributing towards something.

This would be an excellent choice for environmentally conscious travelers.

That’s the kind of place where one can enjoy the quiet, everyday work of preserving wildlife. So next time you’re anywhere near Ninh Binh, why not take a detour and experience something truly special in Cuc Phuong Primate Rescue Center?