Cat Tien National Park

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Explore Wildlife with a Wild Gibbon Trek on a Cat Tien National Park Tour

Cat Tien National Park: Embark on a day and evening trek to spot exotic animals, including the endangered Siamese crocodile and unique bird species found only in this region. Stay at Forest Floor Lodge, an eco-resort nestled in the jungle near the Ben Cu River, for an immersive nature experience. Visit animal rescue centers like the primate rescue center or bear rehabilitation center to learn about Vietnam’s wildlife conservation efforts. Don’t miss the park’s botanic garden, which showcases the rich biodiversity of this incredible ecosystem.

Things to do include: 2 variation of tour, wildlife Cat Tien Wild Gibbon Tour and Cat Tien Crocodile lake tour

Cat Tien National Park Tour: Top Things to Do

An overview of Cat Tien National Park Vietnam

Location: Nam Cat Tien Commune, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam

Opening hours: 7:30 am – 6:30 pm

Entrance ticket: 60,000VND (2.5USD), include boat to cross the Dong Nai River to enter to the park.

The Cat Tien National Park boasts an incredibly diverse 72,000-hectare lowland tropical rainforest, making it one of Vietnam’s natural treasures. Adventure travelers should include this destination in their Vietnam travel packages for hiking, mountain biking, and bird-watching—some of the best in southern Vietnam. Plan your visit in advance, as the park accommodates a limited number of visitors.

Explore the lush forest, wild gibbon trek along the Ben Cu River, and spot vibrant bird species and unique wildlife. Although large mammals like tigers, rhinos, and elephants are rarely seen, the park offers an immersive nature experience. Wrap up your tour by visiting wildlife rescue centers to learn about conservation efforts and Vietnam’s environmental challenges.

Cat Tien National Park: Wild Gibbon & Crocodile Lake Tour

To top it all off we take you on a very early hike to see the endangered Wild Gibbons in their natural habitat. See the botanic garden, crocodile lake and cycle around the local villages.

How to get to Cat Tien National Park

To reach Cat Tien National Park, take a bus (100.000 VND ~ 4USD), from Ho Chi Minh City’s Mien Dong, the eastern bus station to Dai Ninh, a town near the park. From there, continue by taxi or motorbike to the park entrance.

If you’re traveling from other cities, you should firstly get to cities like Bao Loc or Dalat, or Mui Ne and then travel by bus or train to Dai Ninh, then arrange a taxi or motorbike transport to the entrance of the park. With several options available, getting to Cat Tien National Park is straightforward.

Upon arrival, stop at the park office, located 100 meters before the ferry crossing the Dong Nai River to the park headquarters.

Best time to go?

Best Time to Go to Cat Tien National Park

Plan your visit to Cat Tien National Park during the dry season, from December to May, when the weather stays pleasant. This period offers the perfect conditions for trekking, bird-watching, and exploring the park’s lush trails and wildlife, specially seeing teh yellow cheeked wild gibbons. Check out when is the best time to visit Vietnam

Where to stay?

There are a few options to choose for where to stay overnight while trekking through the national park. Here are some suggestions;

Rent a Bicycle at Cat Tien Park

You can rent a bicycle at Cat Tien Park for 30,000 VND for 1 hour, 100,000 VND (~4 USD) for 4 hours, or 150,000 VND for 8 hours. The bicycle rental shop is located just on the left-side of the Visitor Center. Be cautious, as the bicycles are not in a good condition, so choose carefully.

Forest Floor Lodge

Located near the Ben Cu River, this eco-lodge offers a high-end jungle experience with riverfront tents and bungalows. It’s perfect for those seeking comfort while staying close to nature.

Green Bamboo Lodge

This budget-friendly option provides rustic wooden bungalows surrounded by greenery. The lodge offers on-site dining and easy access to the park’s main trails.

Cat Tien Jungle Lodge

This accommodation is just outside the park, this lodge combines modern amenities with nature. Guests can enjoy spacious rooms, a pool, and a restaurant serving local cuisine.

Thuy Tien Eco Lodge

Known for its friendly service, clean rooms, and fast internet, this lodge is ideal for budget-conscious travelers who need reliable connectivity. The owner is helpful in organizing park activities.

Homestay in Local Villages

For a loal experience, stay in one of the nearby villages, where villagers offer homestays with basic amenities and authentic Vietnamese meals.

Park Accommodation

For those wanting to stay inside the park, the guesthouses at the park headquarters offer simple rooms with basic facilities. Booking in advance is essential due to limited availability.

Best Do-it-yourself activities

Tung Tree

Explore the park’s towering, centuries-old trees, including the impressive Tung Tree, which stands 20 meters tall and 10 meters wide. Its breathtaking roots stretch across the ground, creating an unforgettable sight. Walking through the jungle and approaching this tree feels like stepping into a Tomb Raider adventure!

Ben Cu River Rapids

While the Ben Cu Rapids may not be very spectacular during the dry season, however, you can walk around the rocks to get closer to the river. Unfortunately, the area is littered with rubbish, which detracts from the natural beauty, especially within the National Park. It’s disappointing, as the park could benefit from more cleaning efforts.

Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden at Cat Tien National Park, the large area features a series of paths winding through the jungle, close to the riverside. Signs along the way identify various plants and trees. It’s a very pleasant walk, offering a great way to explore the park’s rich flora.

Heaven’s Rapids

Located about 12 km from the National Park’s Visitor Center, the series of rapids can be reached via a bumpy road, especially on low-quality rental bicycles. You can combine this visit with other nearby sights: Tung Tree, Ben Cu Rapids, the Botanical Garden, and Uncle Dong Tree (a small detour required). Unfortunately, like the Ben Cu Rapids, the water was littered with plastic bottles, which detracts from the natural beauty. It wasn’t quite the paradise I expected.

Crocodile Lake

Best Trekking Route in Cat Tien National Park – Start by cycling about 9 km on the main park road to the trailhead, then hike 5 km to reach the lake. Along the way, you may spot giant trees, rare peafowl, water birds, monkeys, and the well known Siamese crocodiles. Even if you don’t see them, the sounds of wildlife surround you. This hike is the highlight of the cat tien national park, despite the 250,000 VND entrance fee at the lake feeling a bit high. For a unique experience, stay overnight at the Ranger Station (with advance reservations) for the chance to observe nocturnal wildlife and the park at dusk.

Bear and Gibbon Rescue Center

Visit the Bear Rescue Centre Near the Visitor Centre – Located right next to the Visitor Centre, the Bear Rescue Centre is free to visit. However, it has a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The gate was open, but no staff were around, so I explored the area on my own. Although I didn’t spot any moon bears or sun bears, I did see a few yello cheeked wild gibbons in the cages. I hope they receive proper care!

Ta Lai Village

Visit the Local Villages Near Cat Tien National Park – Located 12 km from the Visitor Center, this area is home to the Ma, Stieng, and Tay people. The Ma and Stieng are the original inhabitants of the Park’s Core Zone. Experience the daily life of a rural community as you visit. You can reach the village by bicycle along the western bank of the Dong Nai River or by motorbike along the eastern bank.

Tour Highlights of Cat Tien National Park

Wild Gibbon Trek

Wild Gibbon Trek: A Memorable Experience with Yellow Cheek Gibbons – The Wild Gibbon Trek is a highlight of Cat Tien National Park. Limited to just 4 people per day, the tour starts at 5 AM with a boat ride to the visitor center, where we meet with tour guide. We then walk to the area near Tung Tree and venture deeper into the jungle. Soon, we hear the loud calls of the gibbons, and after following the sounds, we witness their singing for about 10-15 minutes before it quiets down.

We spot some yellow-cheeked gibbons high in the trees. The 2-hour trek, costing 1,150,000 VND (~50USD), was great for experiencing wild gibbons.

Boat ride to Ta Lai

Things to Do: Boat Tour on the Dong Nai River – If you enjoy water and birdwatching, take a boat tour on the Dong Nai River. The trip downstream to Tai Lai Village offers stunning views of the park from the water. While the village itself doesn’t offer much to do, the focus of the activity is on sightseeing along the river. The round trip lasts about 3 hours.

Night Safari

Night Spotting Tour: See Mammals in the Jungle – Night spotting offers the best chance to see mammals in Cat Tien National Park. Hop on an open-air truck for a ride through the jungle and observe wild animals like deer, wild pigs, snakes, porcupines, gaur, and weasels as they forage for food in the grasslands and bushes at night.

Dao Tien Engangered Primate Species Center

Visit Dao Tien Island: Primate Rescue Centre – Dao Tien Island lies just 5 minutes upstream from the boat landing. The centre focuses on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing endangered primates found in the park, such as golden-cheeked wild gibbons, black-shanked douc, silvered langurs, and pygmy loris.

Most of the animals are victims of the illegal wildlife trade. A local guide will share their stories and explain the centre’s important work. When I visited in April 2023, the centre offered one tour per day at 8 AM, so be at the visitor centre around 7:45 AM.

Is Cat Tien National Park Worth Visiting?

Yes, Definitely. Although spending time in nature is always rewarding, I left Cat Tien National Park with fair impression, feelings. The Wild Gibbon Trek, crocodile lake, botanic garden as the park’s top attraction, feels worth the vibe and trip from Ho Chi Minh City.

I also noticed trash scattered around Ben Cu Rapids and Heaven’s Rapids. Many park rangers were lounging in hammocks instead of addressing the litter. Where does the money from park attractions go? They could easily walk around once a week to collect the trash, but it seems like no one cares. Despite these drawbacks, the park’s natural beauty and wildlife still make it worth a visit.

Cat Tien National Park Tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Cat Tien National Park with Croccodile lake

Pick up at 8 AM from your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and drive for 170 KM [~4 hours] to Nam Cat Tien National Park.Arrive around mid-day, cross the ferry at Dong Nai river to enter Cat Tien National park which covers an area of 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam. Transfer to home-stay or eco-lodge.

In the afternoon, you will be picked up to explore botanic Garden Trails circumnavigate an area where the Chau Ma minority people once had a settlement before being moved to Talai after the American war. The path cut through a couple of areas of relatively primary forest, with a wide range of trees species; in more open ground gingers are in flower during June – September. The path can be excellent for birds and mammals including primates.

In the evening: A jeep car will take you through the forest to the grass land Nui Tuong, this is the opportunity to see the wild life, the guide will use a spot light to try and spot samba deer and wild boar feeding at night. There is always the chance to see: civets, fishing cats, loris, pangolin, gaur and nocturnal birds.

Croccodile lake tour

After breakfast, we head to Crocodile lake from where you will be taken by a jeep car for 9 km then walk for 5 km. This walk gives you the good chance to see the primates and plenty of opportunities to see the wide variety of birds and other jungle life including primates. You will return in early afternoon. Picnic lunch is included on your tour.

Visit rescue center

~ 8 AM we will visit the Bear and Wild Cat Rescue Centre after breakfast. The aim of this centre is to rescue, train and release the bears and wild cats the wild. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City, end of the trip.

Cat tien tour with trek to see wild gibbon

Pick up at 8 AM from your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City and drive for 170 KM [~4 hours] to Nam Cat Tien National Park. Mid-day arrival, cross the ferry at Dong Nai river to enter Cat Tien National park which covers an area of 720 km² and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests left in Vietnam. Transfer to your accommodation fo check in.

30 Botanic Garden Trails circumnavigate an area where the Chau Ma minority people once had a settlement before being moved to Talai after the American war. The path cut through a couple of areas of relatively primary forest, with a wide range of trees species; in more open ground gingers are in flower during June – October. The path can be excellent for birds and mammals including primates.

Night Ride: At 18.45, a jeep car will take you through the forest to the grass land Nui Tuong, this is the opportunity to see the wild life, the guide will use a spot light to try and spot samba deer and wild boar feeding at night. There is always the chance to see: civets, fishing cats, loris, pangolin, gaur and nocturnal birds.

Wild Gibbon Tour

You will be taken by a buggy car to the starting point of the tour (A pack breakfast will be provided). This is a rare opportunity to see these endangered primates in their wild habitat. First you will be taken to a listening post, to wait for the wild gibbons to start singing.

Here you can relax in hammocks and appreciate Cat Tien’s rich wildlife viewing opportunities. Once the gibbons start to sing, you will be guided to their location, where they are comfortable with you watching their normal day-to-day activities such as feeding, resting and travelling. The length of the viewing is dependent on the gibbons and if they are not sighted on day one, there will be a second opportunity the following morning free of charge.

Day 3: 08:30 Cycle or go by buggy car to visit the Bear Rescue Centre. The aim of this centre is to rescue, train and release the bears and wild cats the wild. Return for free time and departure drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.