Top 10 Must-Know Travel Tips for Visiting Xuân Sơn National Park, Phú Thọ

Explore the Enchanting Forest Trails: A visit to Xuân Sơn National Park offers a relaxing experience as you explore its mystical, fog-covered forests. The park’s rocky mountain ranges are often compared to China's 'Stone Forest' or Vietnam's 'Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng'. With over 30 caves and cascading waterfalls hidden within the untouched forest, the area offers diverse walking trails, ranging from easy walks to more adventurous multi-day treks. Many visitors opt for guided tours to enhance their experience. The park also features camping routes and expeditions to the highest peaks, which are quite popular.

The Xuân Sơn National Park’s Nature Museum, located in the park’s office grounds, showcases a variety of flora and fauna specimens. It also features exhibits on the daily life of the Dao and Mường ethnic groups, including their farming tools, stilt houses, and more. The museum serves as an educational center, where visitors can learn about the park's history and the local culture, making it an enriching stop for all guests.

Explore the Cave Systems: The park boasts over 4,000 hectares of forested limestone mountains, often referred to as Vietnam’s version of 'Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng'. It’s home to more than 30 caves, including the famous Na Cave, Thổ Thần Cave, Lạng Cave, and Swan Cave. Some caves even feature underground rivers, such as the 7-kilometer-long Lang Cave and the 4-kilometer-long Cỏi Cave. Each cave has its unique rock formations and features, from stalactites resembling fruits to caves with vast, open spaces.

Discover the Majestic Waterfalls: Xuân Sơn National Park is home to some of Vietnam’s most stunning waterfalls, including the Nine-Level Cloud Waterfall, Ngọc Waterfall, and Mơ Waterfall. The cascading water creates a serene atmosphere, and the surrounding landscape with its clear streams, green forests, and rolling clouds adds to the magical ambiance. On hot summer days, the park’s cool climate remains refreshing, and morning sunlight creates a rainbow over the misty falls, making it a favorite spot for visitors.

Enjoy the Freshwater Springs: Visitors can relax in the park’s many natural spring pools. The crystal-clear water flows from the mountain cracks and offers a refreshing dip. Many pools, with vast areas accommodating hundreds of people, are surrounded by lush green forests, making them perfect for unwinding after a day of hiking.

Experience Community Tourism: Hidden within the dense forests of Xuân Sơn are the villages of the Dao and Mường people, who still preserve their traditional cultures. Visitors can engage in local customs like the Dao’s Sắc Ceremony or the Mường’s Đâm Đuống Festival. Many of these villages now offer homestay services, where tourists can stay with local families, enjoy traditional meals, and watch cultural performances, including campfire shows.

Currently, Xuân Sơn National Park does not charge an entrance fee as there are no official tourism operators in place. However, some cave sites within the park do have entrance fees, as follows:

• Entrance to Hạng Lạng Cave: 10,000 VND per person
• Entrance to Na Cave: 10,000 VND per person
• Other caves also charge 10,000 VND per visitor, although some caves are free of charge.
• Motorbike parking fee: 5,000 – 10,000 VND per bike; swimming area fee: 5,000 – 10,000 VND per person.

Currently, Xuân Sơn offers mainly eco-tourism and community-based tourism, so the best accommodation option is homestays. While there are no hotels or guesthouses within the park, these can be found outside the district center or along the route to Xuân Sơn.

Most homestays in Phú Thọ are located near Xuân Sơn National Park. Staying in this area allows visitors to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Dao and Mường ethnic groups who live in the nearby villages of Dù, Lấp, Lạng, and Cỏi. Visitors can enjoy traditional dances, songs, customs, local crafts, and vibrant festivals that are preserved in their authentic form.

For those planning a trip to Xuân Sơn National Park, visitors can choose between a 1-day tour or a 2-day, 1-night itinerary. Depending on the available time, tourists can tailor their visit accordingly.

However, based on Mytour's travel experiences, a 2-day, 1-night trip is often the most popular choice for a well-rounded experience. Here's an example of a typical itinerary:

• DAY 1: HÀ NỘI - THANH SƠN TEA HILLS - XUÂN SƠN NATIONAL PARK
  • 06:30: Departure from the meeting point with Dulich.Pro.Vn's tour guide. The journey begins with a stop at Thanh Sơn Tea Hills in Phú Thọ, where guests can enjoy breakfast along the way.
  • 09:00: Arrival at Thanh Sơn Tea Hills. The area is renowned for its serene beauty, with vast green tea fields and a peaceful atmosphere, offering a perfect opportunity to relax and take in the scenery.
  • 11:00: Check-in at the homestay at Xuân Sơn National Park and enjoy a traditional local lunch.
  • Afternoon: Explore the stunning flower path and visit Bản Cỏi, a Dao village nestled beneath a majestic mountain. The village is known for its tranquil beauty, terraced rice fields, and breathtaking landscapes. Visit the Cave of Bản Cỏi and learn about local myths. Along the way, you'll encounter the cool, clear waters of Bản Cỏi stream, offering a magical, peaceful experience.
  • 19:00: Dinner at the homestay, followed by an evening of cultural exchange with the locals, including traditional performances such as bell dances, bamboo pole dances, and drinking rice wine. This unique cultural experience adds a warm, personal touch to the visit. Overnight stay at the homestay.

• DAY 2: NATURE MUSEUM - NGỌC WATERFALL - XUÂN SƠN NATIONAL PARK - HÀ NỘI
  • Morning: Wake up to the sunrise and fresh air at Xuân Sơn National Park, enjoying a traditional local breakfast.
  • 08:00: Begin the day with a visit to the Nature Museum, where you can see preserved specimens of rare wildlife and plants from the park, along with traditional Dao tools and artifacts. Continue on to Ngọc Waterfall, a beautiful natural spot known for its crystal-clear waters.
  • 11:00: Lunch at the homestay, featuring expertly prepared local dishes. Afterward, check out and prepare to depart.
  • 13:00: Return journey, with time to shop for local specialties such as Phú Thọ sour pork, honey rice cakes, and cọ ỏm (a local dish).
  • 17:00: Arrive back in Hà Nội, marking the end of the tour.

Xuân Sơn National Park is not only a serene retreat offering cool air and picturesque scenery but also a place where you can experience the rich local cuisine. The region is known for its unique dishes that reflect the flavors of Phú Thọ's mountainous landscape:

• Nine-Crested Rooster: This rare bird, believed to be a part of the ancient legend 'Sơn Tinh - Thủy Tinh,' is a prized delicacy in the region. The rooster is known for its strength and majestic appearance, making it both a symbol and a culinary specialty during important local festivals.
• Grilled Mán Pig: Raised on corn and cassava, without growth-enhancing feed, the meat of this pig is firm and flavorful. When grilled with medicinal leaves, its rich aroma fills the air, awakening the taste buds of visitors. It's often served with chili sauce for a delicious, unforgettable experience.
• Stuffed Lam Duck: Similar to traditional lam rice or lam fish, this dish involves cooking duck meat inside a bamboo tube over an open flame. The duck is first marinated with local herbs like dổi leaves and combined with thinly sliced banana flowers. This unique method preserves the natural flavors of the duck, enhanced by the aromatic spices. The final dish is a perfect blend of smoky, savory goodness.
• Sắng Leaves: Xuân Sơn's sắng leaves are a rare and valuable local ingredient. The sắng tree, a small wooden plant, grows up to 10 meters tall and has a thick trunk. The leaves are carefully handpicked and used to make delicious soups, often combined with pork bones, shrimp paste, fresh sausages, chicken, or local fish. This dish is both aromatic and nutritious, offering a true taste of the region.

Souvenirs from Xuân Sơn National Park:

• Forest Ferns: A true gift from the mountains, these ferns resemble large, broad-leaved varieties, thriving in the lush environment of Xuân Sơn. Widely enjoyed by the Mường and Dao communities, this plant is a staple in daily meals and also serves as a natural remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats.
• Fermented Pork: A local delicacy you must try, this pork is mixed with rice powder and fermented with natural leaves. When paired with chili sauce, its tangy, chewy texture and mild, smoky fragrance will win over even the pickiest eaters.
• Betel Nuts: To eat, the ripe, dark betel nuts must be made into the famous “Cọ ỏm” dish. Typically dipped in fish sauce, this treat is often served with various condiments like seasoning powder, chili sauce, or crushed peanuts to suit individual tastes.
• Pickled Cassava Leaves: An essential regional dish, these pickled cassava leaves come from the young shoots of cassava plants grown on the rolling hills of Phú Thọ. The leaves are pickled and used in various dishes, from tangy soups to savory stews, offering a unique texture and flavor that stays with you long after the meal.
• Honey Glutinous Rice Cake: This sweet treat is made from pure glutinous rice and sugarcane honey. The rice is ground into flour and mixed with honey and water, then steamed to perfection. Wrapped in banana leaves, these cakes are a sweet, sticky delight, perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Here are some important tips for a safe and enjoyable trip to Xuân Sơn National Park, Phú Thọ:

• Pack Properly: As Xuân Sơn National Park has few shops, it’s recommended to bring your own clothes, personal items, and packed food. Also, remember to bring a phone charger, power bank, and camera.
• Accommodation: Xuân Sơn mainly offers community-based eco-tourism. For accommodation, you can choose a homestay or stay at a guesthouse or hotel located in the central area near the entrance to the park.
• Admission Fees: Entrance fees to tourist sites in Xuân Sơn are quite affordable. For instance, visiting Na Cave and Lạng Cave costs 10,000 VND per person, while entry to other caves is free.
• Food and Drink: You’ll have the chance to savor local specialties like stone crab, stream fish, cassava leaves, wild beef, and black pigs. You can also explore nearby Tây Sơn for dishes such as sour cassava leaf soup and fermented pork from Phú Thọ.

Xuân Sơn National Park is a natural ecological and cultural tourist destination with a strong environmental education focus. It also hosts community recreational activities. Established on April 17, 2002, under Decision No. 49/QĐ – TTg by the Prime Minister, the park covers an area of 15,048 hectares across the communes of Xuân Sơn, Đồng Sơn, Tân Sơn, Lai Đồng, Kim Thượng, and Xuân Đài.

The park features a forest ecosystem in limestone mountains, typical of northern Vietnam, with tropical and subtropical forests home to many rare plant and animal species unique to the northern mountainous regions. The area holds great value for scientific research, genetic conservation, and environmental education.

Several infrastructure projects have been developed to support tourism and conservation efforts, including patrol roads for eco-tourism, a natural history museum, a tourism center, guesthouses, and other facilities extending from the national park office to caves and waterfalls.

Xuân Sơn also serves as a watershed protection area for the Bứa River, which provides water for local residents' daily and agricultural needs. With famous natural landmarks like Voi Mountain, Ten Mountain, Cẩn Mountain, and the system of caves such as Lạng, Lun, Na, Thổ Thần, Cỏi, along with stunning waterfalls like Chín Tầng and Ngọc, the park offers tremendous potential for eco-tourism. Its rich natural resources provide significant economic, conservation, and cultural value.

If you're interested in experiencing local festivals, the best time to visit Xuân Sơn National Park is during the early months of the year, especially in spring. On the 7th of January (Lunar Calendar), the Mường people of Tân Sơn celebrate the traditional rice field festival. The highlight of the event is the rice procession, an ancient ritual to pray for a year of favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and good health for all.

In summer, Xuân Sơn's cool climate offers a refreshing break from the heat that often plagues northern Vietnam during this season. It's a perfect time to relax, enjoy the tranquility, and swim in the cool streams. Summer also coincides with school holidays, making it an ideal time for families to visit and explore the natural beauty of the park.

If you visit in November and December, the park comes alive with vibrant red poinsettias blooming across the villages, painting the landscape in a breathtaking display of color.

Private Transportation: To reach Xuân Sơn from Hanoi, approximately 130 km, you have several routes to choose from:

From Big C Thang Long, take the Thang Long Avenue directly to DT87a road (near Ba Vi National Park). Turn left and drive straight to the Dong Quang Bridge, then turn right onto Road 317. Continue straight through Thanh Thuy mineral spring area, and when you reach the end of this road, turn left towards Thanh Son bus station.

Alternatively, start from the National University of Hanoi, follow Road 32 across Trung Ha Bridge, then turn left following the dyke road until you see signs for Thanh Son.

At the Thanh Son intersection, turn right onto National Road 32 (signposted to Xuân Sơn, 40 km). Follow the signs to Xuân Sơn. This route is quicker, but you can also head towards Thu Cuc for another road to the park.

Public Transportation:

Xuân Sơn National Park is located in Tân Sơn, along National Road 32 from Hanoi to Yen Bai. Although buses from Hanoi to Tân Sơn are limited, you can also take buses from Hanoi to Lai Chau, which will take you to the central area of Tân Sơn (Tan Phu commune). From there, you can take a local motorbike taxi to the park.

Some bus routes travel directly to Xuân Sơn. If you choose public transport, you'll need to rent a vehicle from local residents or homestay owners to get between various points within the park.

Recommended Bus Companies:

SƠN VI

Route: Hanoi – Xuân Sơn National Park
Departure: Hanoi 8:30 AM – Xuân Sơn 1:00 PM
Phone: 0944 680 666

DUY THUẬN

Route: Hanoi – Xuân Sơn National Park
Departure: Hanoi 2:00 PM – Xuân Sơn 8:00 AM
Phone: 0976299355

HẢI QUÂN

Route: Hanoi – Xuân Sơn National Park
Departure: Hanoi 1:00 PM – Xuân Sơn 6:30 AM
Phone: 0989 049 633

TIẾN LINH

Route: Hanoi – Xuân Sơn National Park
Departure: Hanoi 11:45 AM – Xuân Sơn 5:30 AM
Phone: 0978 164 585

HOÀNG MY

Route: Hanoi – Xuân Sơn National Park
Departure: Hanoi 4:30 PM – Xuân Sơn 11:00 AM
Phone: 0989 622 141