Three national parks and a nature reserve of Vietnam have been added to the list of ASEAN heritage parks, taking the country's number to 10. — VNA/VNS Photo

The parks are Vu Quang National Park in Ha Tinh Province, Bidoup Nui Ba in Lam Dong Province and Lo Go-Xa Mat in Tay Ninh Province, while Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve in Kon Tum Province rounds off the list.

Vu Quang National Park in central Vietnam is still off the beaten track but is home to many rare species such as the saola and giant muntjac.

Bidoup Nui Ba National Park is around 50km from Da Lat City in the Central Highlands and is an ideal place for trekking and camping overnight.

Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park in southern Vietnam boasts lowland evergreen forests and a variety of wetland habitats, including seasonal flooded grasslands and forests, permanent lakes and watercourses.

Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve in the Central Highlands spreads over 41,420 hectares, and is considered one of Vietnam’s four major biodiversity treasures.

To achieve such recognition, they had to meet criteria: maintenance of ecological processes and life support systems; preservation of genetic diversity; guarantee of sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems; and a wilderness area with scenic, cultural, educational, research, recreational and tourism values. VNS

Exploring Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong province

Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park, 50 km from the downtown of Da Lat city to the north, is a perfect destination for a weekend trip for nature lovers, thanks to its most beautiful and pristine pine forest in Lam Dong province.

Vu Quang National Park receives rare monkey

Vu Quang National Park yesterday received a nine- kilogram monkey with the scientific name of Macaca assamensis or Assam macaque from the Forest Management Board of Huong Son District in the north central province of Ha Tinh.