In recent years, Cat Tien National Park has become a popular destination for those who love living with nature and joining outdoor activities. This national park will bring you a journey full of memorable experiences with the new airy space and exciting sights. If you would like to immerse yourself in the magnificent nature and catch up with diversified types of flora, fauna, and animals, Cat Tien National Park will be a suitable choice for you. Let's find things you need to know before traveling to Cat Tien National Park.

Crocodile lake- Cat Tien National Park

General Information

Cat Tien National Park is a nature reserve located in three provinces, including Lam Dong, Dong Nai, and Binh Phuoc.

About 150km from Ho Chi Minh City, Nam Cat Tien is one of Vietnam's largest protected areas – a complicated network of wetlands and tropical forest nearly 74,000 hectares in two sections bisected by a river, the larger about fifty or sixty kilometers across in both directions. Its bio-diversity is considerable with over fifty endangered species listed in the 'Red Book,' including the Siamese Crocodile and the Indochina Tiger. Of particular interest is its vast bird population – well over three hundred species have been identified so far. In addition to the abundance of animals, Cat Tien is also an area of 62 types of orchids.

There are several trails for visitors to explore the forest. Although they avoid the deeper areas that are, the rarer species habitat, they are well designed and offer excellent opportunities to see a wide range of flora and fauna.

Best time to visit Cat Tien National Park

As Cat Tien has a refreshing and mild climate all year round with an average temperature of 27 Celsius degree, you can come to visit the national park at any time of the year. However, during the rainy season from June to November, the road is marshy, slippery, and hard to trek or go by bicycle. If you have the intention to visit the national park these days, you will have to check the weather forecast to avoid the rain, which may ruin your trip.

The best time to visit Nam Cat Tien National Park is the dry season from December to late May. In this dry season, the rainfall is low; the paths are dry and convenient for traveling as well as exploring the wild natural beauty. You will have an opportunity to enjoy your journey in this land fully.

How to get Cat Tien National Park

Departing from Ho Chi Minh city, you can choose to go either by bus, by private car, or drive on your own by your motorbike.

If you drive your motorbike from Ho Chi Minh City, you will have to follow National Highway 1A about 67 km to Dau Giay intersection. Then, you continue to turn left and follow the Highway 20 about 58 km until you see the Ta Lai crossroads. At this intersection, you turn left and go another 24 km to the gate of Cat Tien National Park.

However, if you are not familiar with the road, it is better that you go to the national park by bus, which will take you about four hours. Many buses go straight to Cat Tien National Park from Ho Chi Minh City, with a price range of 80,000VND to 100,000VND. You can catch the bus from the Eastern bus station. Thanh Buoi Tourist Bus Company and Phuong Trang Tourist Bus Company are the two most popular and comfortable bus company to get the national park.

What to do in Cat Tien National Park?

Entering the national park, you can choose to visit by jeep car, bicycle or trekking yourself. Trekking is the most favorite activity among tourists with long trekking road. By trekking, you will have a chance to visit more places in the national park and to sightsee the magnificent nature. You can follow the map below to explore the park on your own.

 

Cat Tien National Park Sites Map

Besides following the map, you should take your time to visit some attractions you should not miss when you are in Cat Tien National Park that we recommended here.

1. Dao Tien Island

Beautiful Dao Tien Island is located upstream, about 5 minutes by boat from the Garden headquarters. It's a big primate rescue center to rescue the endangered primates such as silver languor and douc languor, black, small Loris, and yellow-cheeked gibbons. Visiting the center gives you an excellent opportunity to see and discover these cute primates. There is currently a special route to see wild gibbons (a maximum of 4 people per group).

Dao Tien also features a semi-wild park where the rescued animals are released before they go to their new home in one of the National Park throughout Vietnam. On the island, besides the animals, you will have a chance to immerse yourself in the lush primary forest by walking through the paths under the green canopy of the woods.

Timeable of the tour:

• 05:00 - 08:00: observe gibbon in the wild.
• 0800 - 0900: relax and have breakfast.
• 0900 - 10:00: Visit Tien Dao Primate Rescue Area

Gibbon in Dao Tien- Cat Tien National Park

2. Bear Rescue Station

Cat Tien's bear rescue station is a favorite place for children in Nam Cat Tien National Park. If you have the intention to go on a family trip to Vietnam, you can add this national park to your list of destinations. Visiting the bear rescue station will allow you to see bears in distress or injured taken care of and well-treated so that they can grow and develop best. Thanks to the caring, the bears in the rescue station are quite active.

3. Bau Sau – Crocodile Lake

Bau Sau or Crocodile Lake is one of the most popular tourist sites in Cat Tien National Park. It is a large wetland area, inhabited by many birds and other animals. The most featured characteristic in Crocodile Lake is the Siamese crocodile. To get to Bau Sau, you need to rent a jeep from the center of the forest management board for a distance of about 10km then hike in the primary forest for an additional 5km. It's a lovely path as you walk in a beautiful tropical jungle. The fauna and flora are so diverse and encounters with monkeys, langurs, and birds are high. Following the winding road, you will be stunned by the beauty of the primeval forest, the towering trunks of the trees or the Lagerstroemia stems.

Visiting the Crocodile Lake, you will see how crocodiles catch bait and live under the water. Besides, you will have an opportunity to admire the dance of peacocks, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the swamp between the primeval forest, and listen to the birds singing.

Let's go boating on the lake and enjoy your relaxation time in the majestic and poetic nature of the crocodile herd swimming surround.

If you can manage a pre-dawn visit to the lake, you'll have another opportunity to spy on the park's wildlife. If you'd prefer just 'normal' early, your row on the lake will be mainly to watch the park's feathered inhabitants.

You'll be able to watch the wildlife around the lake in the evening when the wild animals come to the lake to drink. From your hide, you're likely to see monkeys, deer, and other small mammals, and, if you have a good pair of binoculars, there's a chance of spotting native fauna like the Siamese crocodiles after which the lake is named.

When darkness falls, you'll row quietly on the lake with a large flashlight to see some of the nocturnal visitors to the lake and listen to the sounds of the forest. Your overnight accommodation can be in the park guesthouse near the Crocodile Lake (don't worry, they're not allowed to eat tourists!).

Bau Sau - Crocodile lake in the dry season

4. Bird Lake

Bird Lake is a good alternative for the Crocodile Lake for those who like bird watching. The Orange-necked Partridge is one of the rare bird species that live in the park. The best time for bird watching is from February to April.

5. Giant Tung Tree

Cat Tien National Park has more than 1,600 plant species. Many tall trees are hundreds of years old, especially the giant Tung tree at the height of 20 meters and a width of 10 meters. The roots of the trees float on the ground, looking like a giant python. Going deep into the forest, you can see many other big trees that are 3-4 people hugging.

The giant tree in Cat Tien National Park

6. Ben Cu Waterfall

Ben Cu Waterfall is located about 5km from the center of the garden and takes about 60 minutes to walk here. On the way, you can watch the colorful butterflies fluttering in the trails. After the rain season, you will have a chance to admire 450 types of butterflies in Cat Tien National Park gathering in the sky.

Ben Cu Waterfall is not a huge one; if you visit in the dry season, you will see the falls looking like small streams with rocky beaches scattered over a large area. In the rain season, those streams flow stronger through each rapid. The space surrounding the lush forests and the cloud covering the waterfall creates a mysterious and murky scenery.

Besides the charming beauty of the waterfall, coming here, you can hear about the legend of romantic love story associated with the falls.

Besides Ben Cu Waterfall, you can take your time to visit Troi Waterfall, Dung Waterfall, and Mo Vet Waterfall. Troi and Dung Waterfall have a unique beauty with white water flowing through the cliffs, among immense green forests. It creates an extraordinarily magnificent and stunning landscape. You can also admire the majestic scenery of the waterfall coming to Mo Vet Waterfall. You can also watch different types of birds, such as canaries, crows, kingfishers, hawks.

7. Cat Tien Sanctuary

Cat Tien Sanctuary is an archaeological site with a large scale stretching 15 kilometers. The place was discovered in 1985. This site was a holy showing effect from architectural components of Hindu temples such as temples, tombs, and metal artifacts by gold, copper sophisticatedly carved with images of Goddess, cow, elephant, etc. The ceramic and stone objects, especially the Linga - Yoni symbols, are meticulously carved and indicated.

Visiting the sanctuary, you will have a chance to learn about the culture of indigenous communities in Cat Tien National Park. In the park, you can find two indigenous communities, Ma and Stieng, with traditional ways of life. You will understand the legends and stories associated with the communities, the featured festivals, and the musical instruments connected with culture and religious life such as gongs, blanks, etc.

8. Ta Lai Ethnic Village

Ta Lai ethnic village has been in the national park for a long time. Visiting Ta Lai Ethnic village will allow you to learn about the history and traditional culture of Ma, Stieng, and Tay people. Staying in the "longhouse" which is the feature you should not miss when you are in the village, you will better understand the ways of life and cultivation methods of ethnic people. Besides, the Ta Lai memorial prison is a place to store valuable images of the American war that happened on this land.

With the airy space, Ta Lai is suitable for cycling through rubber plantations and grasslands and enjoy the majestic and stunning landscape. Ta Lai is also an ideal destination for those who are passionate about climbing, conquering the mountains. Besides, you can try to pass the suspension bridge, enjoy the sound of Monkhala as well as the sound of nature.

Let's go and discover local people's daily lives and take the brocade sheet dyed from leaves with beautiful as a souvenir to recall the mountain and the forest.

Unique activities to Cat Tien National Park: Night safari

Cat Tien is the only place in Vietnam where you can do this type of tour. During this two-hour tour, you will be able to spot the wild deer, rabbits, porcupines, wild boars, gaur, etc. peaceful roaming in the wild. The safari jeep leaves the park center every day at 7 pm and takes you back by 9 pm.

Night safari in Cat Tien National Park.

Accommodation in Cat Tien National Park

Traveling to Cat Tien National Park, you will not have to worry about the accommodation to stay overnight. There are many options for you to choose from, from the homestay to the resort. Below are some options for the accommodation in Cat Tien National Park you can choose to stay.

Ta Lai Long House

Ta Lai Long House, located near the national park, is built to support and improve the lives of local people and raise awareness about nature. Most of the staff in the house are ethnic people; therefore, you can feel their enthusiasm and friendliness. They will help you to have a memorable experience in this land. Staying in the house, you can join kayaking, bamboo rafting, hiking, camping, yoga classes, cooking, and many other exciting activities.

Green Cat Tien Hotel

Green Cat Tien Hotel is located in the central of Cat Tien National Park and managed by the park. The hotel is simple with a few blocks; rooms are with private bathroom and Air conditioning. The hotel has double, triple, quadruple rooms and an 8-bed mixed dormitory. If you travel in a small group to Cat Tien National Park and are on a budget, this hotel will be the right choice for you.

Cat Tien Jungle Lodge

Cat Tien Jungle Lodge is our pick for the best accommodation for overnight near the park; even its location is outside the park, on the river bank, it's only a few minutes to reach the park headquarter. The hotel has excellent rooms overlooking the river or the lodge's garden; all of them are en-suite with private bathroom and air conditioning. The lodge has an excellent restaurant with a river view, a lounge bar, swimming pool, and a sauna. Besides, it has a playground for children that makes it suitable for a family trip to Cat Tien National Park.

For more information about Cat Tien National Park, please visit our blog: The Best Outdoor Activities in Cat Tien National Park.