The body of Mr. Manh, bearing some injuries, was located under a large tree, about 500 m from the entrance of Son Cung cave where he had left his backpack and personal belongings, a search and rescue team representative said. The location, on a mountainside behind the cave, is in a remote and rugged area of Cuc Phuong national park.

Nguoi Xua cave in Cuc Phuong national park. Photo: Le Hoang

Nguoi Xua cave in Cuc Phuong national park. Photo: Le Hoang

Ninh Binh provincial police and related agencies are investigating the scene and conducting an autopsy. Due to the difficult terrain, it is expected to take several hours to recover the body.

According to a representative of Cuc Phuong national park, on the afternoon of 13/8, 33-year-old Mr. Manh from Nam Sach commune, Hai Phong, arrived at the Bong area – nearly 20 km from the park's gate – and rented a room for the night. On the morning of 14/8, he visited the thousand-year-old Cho Chi tree, about 3 km from his accommodation. On the way, he stopped at Son Cung cave and left his backpack at the entrance.

Later that afternoon, a group of tourists passing by discovered the backpack containing Mr. Manh's identification and phone. They took photos and reported it to the authorities.

Over the past 6 days, hundreds of park rangers, police officers, and search dogs have been searching for Mr. Manh. However, the core area of Cuc Phuong national park has no cell phone service. Recent heavy rains and the dense, slippery terrain made the rescue operation challenging.

Cuc Phuong national park management believes that Mr. Manh likely became lost after visiting the cave. The V-shaped entrance of Son Cung cave is low and dark, while the “skylight” at the rear of the cave is bright, so he may have followed this light and wandered deeper into the forest.

Cuc Phuong has a vast cave system that attracts tourists. Photo: Le Hoang

Cuc Phuong has a vast cave system that attracts tourists. Photo: Le Hoang

Cuc Phuong national park covers over 22,200 ha and spans Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, and Phu Tho (formerly Hoa Binh) provinces. Established in 1962, it is Vietnam's first national park and is known for its rich tropical rainforest ecosystem. It is also a popular destination for ecotourism and scientific research.