Manh’s body, bearing some injuries, was discovered about 500 metres from Son Cung Cave, where he had left his backpack and personal belongings, a search team representative said. The location was on a steep mountainside in the park’s core zone with rugged terrain.
Police in Ninh Binh and related agencies are examining the scene and conducting a forensic investigation. Due to difficult terrain, it is expected to take hours to recover the body.
An overview of the Cuc Phuong National Park’s core zone
According to Cuc Phuong National Park, on August 13, Manh, 33, from Nam Sach Commune, Haiphong City, arrived at Bong area, about 20 kilometres from the park gate, and rented a room for the night. On the morning of August 14, he set out for a site about 3 kilometres away, stopping at Son Cung Cave where he left his backpack at the entrance.
Later that afternoon, a group of tourists passing by discovered his backpack, identity papers and phone, took photos and reported to authorities.
Over the past six days, hundreds of forest rangers and police officers, along with sniffer dogs, searched for him. The effort was hampered by heavy rain, dense forest, slippery terrain and a lack of phone signal in the core zone.
Park officials believe that after visiting the cave, Manh may have taken the wrong path on his way back and became lost.
A file photo of Nguyen Quoc Manh taken before his trip to Son Cung Cave in Cuc Phuong National Park on August 14, 2025.
According to his family, Manh was passionate about travel and had trekked in forests many times. He was on a one-week vacation and had planned to visit Cuc Phuong with two friends, but when they could not join, he went alone.
Covering more than 22,200 hectares across Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Phu Tho provinces, Cuc Phuong was Vietnam’s first national park, established in 1962. It is known for its tropical rainforest ecosystem and attracts both eco-tourism and scientific research.