Bai Tu Long National Park became the 38th ASEAN Heritage Park in 2017 after meeting 5 criteria regarding ecological integrity, representativeness, naturalness, uniqueness of rare and endangered species and habitats, and legality.
Bai Tu Long National Park – The "Rough Diamond" of Ecotourism
Photo: QTV/Lao Dong Newspaper.
Bai Tu Long National Park covers a total area of 15,780 ha, encompassing both forest and marine ecosystems. The park features 6 primary forest and marine ecosystems, including: coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, intertidal zones, lake-cave ecosystems, and tropical rain forests.
Migratory bird season at Minh Chau Beach. Photo: N.H/Thanh Nien Newspaper.
Orchid flora. Photo: realtimes.vn.
The park is currently home to 2,247 species of organisms, of which terrestrial species account for 1,004 and marine species account for 1,244. The forest ecosystem includes: higher vascular plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The marine ecosystem consists of: seaweed, annelids, mollusks, crustaceans, plankton, echinoderms, fish, corals…
Ancient sea hibiscus tree. Photo: realtimes.vn.
Ancient Syzygium forest. Photo: N.H/Thanh Nien Newspaper.
The number of species listed in the IUCN Red List and the Vietnam Red Data Book is 180. In particular, the park is home to several rare and precious species of high conservation, scientific, and economic value: Chukrasia tabularis, Garcinia fagraeoides, rhesus macaque, Morinda officinalis, corals, abalone, sea turtles, peanut worms, dolphins, brown pigeons, clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, serows…
Keeled box turtle. Photo: realtimes.vn.
Unique bird species on Ba Mun Island. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Due to its special geological structure, rocky islands such as Ba Mun, Tra Ngo Lon, Tra Ngo Nho, Dong Ma, Sau Dong, Sau Nam… lie adjacent to one another to form an enclosed arc, within which lies a habitat for numerous rare and endangered animal and plant species.
Long-tailed macaque. Photo: N.H/Thanh Nien Newspaper.
In addition to forests and limestone mountains, Bai Tu Long National Park also features caves located beneath the karst mountains, among which Cai De Cave, a vast limestone cavern, attracts a large number of visitors.
Thien Nga (Swan) Islet, part of Tra Ngo Lon Island. Photo: realtimes.vn.
Ba Mun Island is the largest, most picturesque island cluster with the richest flora in Bai Tu Long National Park. It is the only schist island in the bay with a primeval forest covering approximately 1,800 ha, possessing exceptionally diverse flora and fauna, including many rare species, most notably Syzygium zeylanicum and ironwood, Madhuca pasquieri, Vatica odorata…
Population of ancient Excoecaria agallocha and Calophyllum inophyllum trees. Photo: realtimes.vn.
Notably, Ba Mun Island is home to populations of sambar deer, serows, barking deer, monkeys, langurs… alongside seabirds and migratory birds. With its rich diversity of fauna, Ba Mun Island is the largest natural wildlife sanctuary in the Northeast region.
Triton trumpet snail, representing the marine ecosystem. Photo: realtimes.vn.
With its diverse and unique ecological resources, Bai Tu Long National Park has been and continues to be a favorite destination, likened to a "rough diamond" with immense tourism development potential right alongside the Ha Long Bay heritage site. Stay updated with more helpful articles for a wonderful vacation on the iVIVU blog!
