Cat Tien National Park, a paradise for nature and outdoor activities lover, is one of the six UNESCO biosphere reserves in Vietnam. Cat Tien National Park is responsible for protecting one of the largest rain forest areas in Vietnam. It is home to many rare and precious plants and animals. With the airy and fresh atmosphere, visiting the national park, you will have unforgettable experiences. Below are five activities you should not miss when visiting the Cat Tien National Park.

 

Trekking or biking through the forests:

The longer routes in Cat Tien include botanical gardens, Tuong hill, Bau Sau, Bat Cave. It's ten kilometers away from the center, which is an ideal place to experience trekking. You can follow the trail or cross the forest to explore the magnificent nature of the national park.

Trekking across the forest, under the sunlight, you will have a chance to enjoy the fresh air. It's fantastic to listen to the sound of the insects and the birds singing in the lush jungle.

You can also admire different types of strange mushrooms, the charming forest flower branches, hundreds of medicinal plants, precious orchids.

Biking is also a favorite activity for tourists when they come to Cat Tien National Park. You can bike through the forest around the short sightseeing routes and see many exotic plants:

• The 500-year-old giant Tung tree.
• The Acacia tree with an extensive root system divided into many branches growing among the clear, murmuring stream
• Lagerstroemia tree with six soaring tops straight up to the sky, the rare and precious trees with a trunk diameter of over 2 meters.

Cycling far more 6 kilometers from the giant Tung tree, through a beautiful and rugged rock riding road, you will see the Heaven Waterfall flowing over the rocks.

Relaxing after trekking and biking, you can sit down, talk with the guide, and listen to the legend associated with the national park.

The wooden bridge over a wetland on the way to Crocodile Lake.

Exploring Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake)

Bau Sau or Crocodile Lake is one of the most popular tourist sites in Cat Tien National Park. It is the largest wetland in Cat Tien National Park, with a total area of more than 2500 ha in the rain season. There are more than 60 types of freshwater crocodiles.

To get to Bau Sau, you need to rent a car from the center of the forest management board for a distance of about 10km then hike an additional 5km. Following the winding road, you will be stunned by the beauty of the primeval forest surrounding the swamp, the towering trunks of the trees, or the Lagerstroemia stems.

Visiting the Crocodile Lake, you may see how crocodiles catch bait and live under the water. Most of the crocodiles here are the Siamese crocodiles; mature ones can get up to 2.2 meters with sharp teeth and a long stiff tail. 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. It will indeed an exciting experience that you cannot forget when you leave the national park.

Bau Sau - Crocodile Lake: A popular site to visit in Cat Tien National Park.

Admiring and taking pictures with butterflies:

Hunting forest butterflies is a new experience when the rainy season ends in Cat Tien National Park. Butterflies are one of the factors making the charming beauty of the Cat Tien National Park.

Coming to the national park on these days, you will be amazed by the countless colorful forest butterflies flying in the air. You will see them gathering in a dense group on the edge of the forest, splitting cocoons or parking in the small ponds after rain to absorb mineral salts.

In Cat Tien National Park, there are nearly 450 butterfly species discovered, accounting for more than half of the total number of butterfly species found in Vietnam. The most different ones are the precious phoenix butterfly and the tropical butterfly system in Vinh Cuu Nature Reserve. The silver butterfly Bien Hoa is endemic to Dong Nai.

The most beautiful road to take pictures with butterflies is the trekking road to Bau Sau. The deeper you go to the Heaven Waterfall, the denser the butterflies become. You will find the butterflies perching on your shoulders, wrapping around you and chasing your footsteps. Besides taking photos, you should have an awareness of protecting the butterflies. Catching and stepping foot on the butterflies are not allowed to do.

Let's experience seeing the butterflies on your own. Do not forget to bring your camera and binoculars so that you can observe and capture the most beautiful pictures of wildlife.

Bird watching:

Cat Tien National Park is the "kingdom" of 353 bird species, ringing over one-third of the number of birds in Vietnam. There are three tenth unique species of Southeast Asia. Thirty-one species have listed in the Red book of Vietnam.

The bird-watching tours in Cat Tien National Park usually last three days two nights or longer. The best time to see birds is in the dry season from December to May. It's ideal for joining a small group or going on a private trip. An expert birding guide is available from the park.

Excellent trails are starting right at the park's headquarters, and areas further afield, such as Crocodile Lake. The 5 km walk through the forest to Crocodile Lake can be ideal for the near-endemic Germain's Peacock-pheasant and Blue-rumped & Bar-bellied pittas. At the same time, the beautiful Siamese Fireback can often be seen on an early morning drive to the start of the Crocodile Lake trail. Among the many other avian treats to be found at Cat Tien are Scaly-breasted Partridge, Woolly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, White-bellied, Great Slaty, Pale-headed, Black-and-buff & Heart-spotted woodpeckers, three species of broadbill and the Indochinese-endemic Grey-faced Tit-Babbler.

                                    Bar-bellied pittas                                                               Blue-rumped

                                   Siamese Fireback                                                   Germain's Peacock-pheasant

Night Safari

Night safari in Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is the only place in Vietnam that allows you to witness the natural life of wildlife. The ideal time to visit is around 19 - 21h in the dry season. The convertible jeep and the guide will take you to the vast grasslands and admire the wildlife at night.

The nightlife tour in Nam Cat Tien forest is an exciting activity in Nam Cat Tien that you absolutely cannot miss. The rich fauna of the jungle includes deer, squirrels, weasels, wild boars, etc., with many different ways of foraging and living. You will have a chance to witness the wild deer grazing on the grass, the boars, the flock of bulls finding food or ferrets passing from this bough to another to find ripe fruits.

Besides those above activities, you should refer to the attractions to visit in Cat Tien National Park and general information about the weather and the means of transport to the national park.

If you are planning your trip to Cat Tien National Park, please visit this blog too: Everything you need to know before going to Cat Tien National Park.