Cat Tien National Park.
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Overview

Cat Tien National Park is in the Southern region of Vietnam. It lies between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat just north of Highway 20.

Understand

Cat Tien National Park has two parts: Cat Loc to the north and Nam Cat Tien - the eastern half of which is most often visited and contains the park headquarters.

The park has an area of about 720 km2 in three provinces: Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc: approximately 150 km north-east of Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of Vietnam's most important and largest National Parks with now rare lowland woodland, containing areas of old-growth (primary) forest. To add to its conservation value, in the south-west it is contiguous with the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve to the south-west.

History There is an archaeological site on the northern bank of the Dong Nai River (just outside Nam Cat Tien, facing in). The site consists of a group of temples, belonging to a previously unknown Hindu civilization which probably inhabited it between the 4th century and 9th century CE (and possibly later). Excavations carried out between 1994 and 2003 have yielded a large number of a number of gold, bronze, ceramic, coloured stone, and glass artefacts, many of which are now in the Da Lat museum.

Cat Tien national park was protected in 1978, then the Cat Loc sector was incorporated in 1992 upon the discovery of a small rhinoceros population (an endemic sub-species of the Javan rhino); it was hunted and was declared extinct in 2011. Although poaching other species remains a serious problem, better protection can be achieved in Nam Cat Tien, which is half surrounded by the Dong Nai River.

Landscape The park woodland can be classified as seasonal tropical forest (semi-deciduous mixed jungle characterised by many climbing lianas), with large areas of grassland, bamboo and wetland.

Flora and fauna Among the many attractions are: primates such as the golden-cheeked gibbon (see things to do), a wide range of birds, butterflies and, of course the forest itself. Spectacular trees include: 'Tung' Tetrameles nudiflora, afzel 'red wood' Afzelia xylocarpa and various Dipterocarps. More information, including species lists, can be found in a website about the Park.

It is possible, but unlikely, to see deer and wild boar during the daytime, when the forest is very quiet. Deer, civet cats and other animals including gaur (wild cows) are more active after dark and can best be seen on night safaris. Rare Siamese crocodiles (which have been reintroduced after going locally extinct in Vietnam) can be seen at Crocodile Lake: again, best in the late afternoon onward.

A few wild elephants still survive in remote areas to the south-west of the park.

Climate The area is highly seasonal: Mid-December - February is the peak season: deciduous trees lose their leaves and it is becomes increasingly easy to observe birds and other animals; it is also relatively cool. March - May can feel the hottest time of year (but remember the forest is much cooler than the city). Many birds are nesting at this time and mammals can be seen leaving cover in search of water. Mid-May - June see the start of the rains: this is usually the best time of year to come and see clouds of butterflies and watch the forest green-up after the dry season. Many of the trees flower and start to fruit: food for animals and birds. July - September: is the peak rainy season - the river is at its highest, sometimes reaching and flooding the roads. Visitors should be aware that certain paths cannot be negotiated at this time of the year. On the positive side, many trees, shrubs, gingers and orchids are in flower and this is the time to absorb the atmosphere of the 'steaming jungle' (biologists of course will always feel in their element). October - early December: with decreasing rains and temperatures, some visitors argue that this is an excellent time to visit Vietnam in general. In the park, the forest is still verdant and the rapids are vigorous.

Get in

With road improvements the 150-km journey from Ho Chi Minh City, avoiding the traffic jams in Bien Hoa, has become more reliable: in as little as 3 hours. Plan for at least 4 hours from Dalat. The nearest town on the main highway (route 20) is Tan Phu. The 25-km journey between Tan Phu and the ferry crossing into the park, 1 km beyond Nam Cat Tien village, can be problematic for the unprepared (see bus travel).

The first ferry crossing is usually at approximately 06:30 and the last return trip is at 19:00. Park rules say that night crossings are prohibited, but 'exceptions' may be made. If you want see wildlife: primates and birds (early morning) or go on the night tour, you should stay across the river in the park.

Bus travel Buses between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat will drop you off on the highway at the Ta Lai/Nam Cat Tien turn-off or the post office (it is important to specify which one). - and Dalat every hour during the day. The 2-level reclining couchettes are relatively comfortable, even if you are over tall! They also drive the route with sleeper busses (3 rows). Tickets can be arranged online, through one of the physical Futa offices in Ho Chi Minh City, or maybe through your accommodation in Cat Tien.

Direct buses with a company called Bé leave five times a day (08:30, 10:20, 12:50, 14:50, 16:20 (150,000 dong) Jan 2026) from HCMC's Nga Tu Ga bus station. No need (and no way except for calling the driver) to pre-book. The bus will drop you at the park's ticket office in Nam Cat Tien village. Make sure someone who works at the bus station knows you're waiting for this bus. Sometimes it doesn't come to main bus platform.

There are (less comfortable) local direct buses from the bus station Bến Xe Miền Đông, ticket counter 5, or the tourist office at the park entrance ferry jetty to Ho Chi Minh for around 80,000 dong (Nov 2018) which takes about 4-5 hours. The first bus leaves about 07:00, then hourly, be at the stop about 15 minutes before the bus leaves. It's best to verify with the officers at the tourist office/park entrance. They are very helpful.

Making prior arrangements with your accommodation for a pick-up from the highway at Tan Phu is highly recommended in case you get off there. There are often motorcycle xe om waiting to take tourists to the river that is on the edge of the park, but there have been accidents. If you take the local direct bus, the driver will drop you off next to the park entrance, so no pick-up is needed usually.

Typical prices are (Feb 2016): 500,000 dong from Tan Phu 2,000,000 dong from Ho Chi Minh city 3,000,000 dong from Dalat, Phan Thiet, etc. (December 2024)

The nearest railway station is Long Khanh, which is more of a halt, on the main Hanoi - Hue - Ho Chi Minh City line. From Long Khanh to the park is a 2-hour taxi or car journey which is best to book in advance: prices in the region of 1,500,000 dong (Feb 2016).

Fees and permits

The fee scheme is a bit complicated and each trip may involve several layers of fees including separate items for (additional) entrance fees, tour guide, and transport.

To get into the park, you'll have to buy a ticket for the ferry, as the park is across the river from Nam Cat Tien village. This covers a return ferry trip, and also acts as the park entrance fee. It's not a daily fee, so you won't have to pay again the next day if you choose to spend the night inside of the national park. Tickets can be bought from the information center on the corner of the road leading to the ferry.

The ferry operates from around 06:00 to 19:00. If you book the early morning (05:00) Wild Gibbon Trek (see below) through the park headquarters, an early boat can be arranged to ferry you across, allowing you to spend the night outside the park and still do the trek, but that needs to be arranged at least a day in advance (December 2024).

Besides tours and transport, the main additional fees that you might not expect are those to enter the museum and wildlife center, and to hike the Crocodile Lake trail (250,000 dong as of Apr 2026). These need to be paid at the park reception (the main building you encounter after first crossing over by ferry).

If you hire a guide, make sure that they speak English, and have local expertise to offer. Don't feel guilty about doing a self-guided tour along the safer trails (marked green on the park map).

Get around

On foot There a number of local walks possible, but only the main obvious ones along the roads (with bicycle parking or a "botanical gardens" sign) should be attempted without a guide (see staying safe). A guide is not really necessary for the Crocodile Lake walk (below), unless you've never been on a hike before, though they can be helpful for spotting animals and birds.

Most of these trailheads are a bit far to walk to from the park headquarters where you arrive on the ferry - especially Crocodile Lake. Most visitors get to them by bicycle or by car transport hired at the park reception (see below).

The park provides a trail map, but this can be misleading: at least two of the trails described as "medium difficulty" definitely require a guide and should never be attempted alone. Longer walks (in the dry season only) include: the Ecological Trail (5-8 km through the forest, depending on the route taken) through the forest to Crocodile Lake through the forest to Ta Lai through the forest to Nui Tuong (elephant) hills from the road at Nui Tuong through the forest to Crocodile Lake from Crocodile lake through the forest to Ta Lai.

A problem with many of these can be finding an English-speaking guide who is prepared to accompany you: especially on the longer walks through the forest. Staff at Forest Floor Lodge (see below) are also knowledgeable about the more adventurous trails through the park.

By bike Bicycles are an excellent way to get around the park. They can be rented for 30,000 dong/hour, 100,000 dong/half day or 150,000 dong/day (December 2024). Bike rental officially starts at 05:30 and closes 18:30 all days. Bicycles are to be returned each day before closing, and not kept for 24-hour periods, though it's unclear whether this is enforced. The rental office is located a bit down the road, turning left after you hopped off the ferry. Both city bikes and mountain bikes are available, as well as bikes for children. Bikes are generally not in top condition. Make sure to check for faulty or squeaky brakes, broken gear levers, wonky pedals, loose seats, and optionally, missing stands or splash protectors. Locks are generally not provided. There are some reports of other visitors "accidentally" taking your top-condition rental bike instead of their own faulty rental bike. This shouldn't pose a problem when returning your bike, but does provide a nuisance to your trip.

If you bring your own bicycle (or one you rented in town) to the park, there is a charge to bring it into the park. As of April 2026, the charge is 100,000 dong plus 50,000 dong for each additional day you plan to stay in the park. The additional day fees don't seem to be enforced in any way, but they will ask you when buying the tickets.

Cycling is mainly for the main north-south road (paved, but not smooth everywhere), the road to and beyond the Crocodile Lake trailhead (pave up to the trailhead, dirt after that), and the side road east to Heaven's Rapids through the "botanical garden" area (dirt, often smooth). The smaller trails are not intended for bicycles, and in some cases bicycles may be explicitly banned on them. Be prepared to have trips cycling and walking alternately. The main road, from the park entrance at least up to the hiking trail to crocodile lake (9km away) is made up of wide concrete slabs. Especially the first few kilometers are quite deteriorated and make for an occasional bumpy ride. Road conditions improve further down the road.

There are a couple of shelters, as well as rest stations with beverages and snacks along the first few kilometers of the road in the park, as these are still walkable from the park entrance. Further down there are at least a couple couple more, but they may only be open at peak times, or not at all, so stock up before you set off on bike.

By motor vehicle Private cars and motorbikes don't seem to be allowed into the park, but you can book cars for a fee with park reception to get to trailheads and other locations. Staff actually traverse the Crocodile Lake trail (paved with big, bumpy stones) on motorbikes - if you're desperate to get there without walking, you could ask about the possibility of a ride. There are also jeep/truck safaris in the evening that you can sign up for at park reception, also for a fee (see "Do").

By boat Besides the entrance ferry, which is just a five-minute river crossing on a big raft or motorboat, there is also the Crocodile Lake boat tour that you can theoretically sign for at the lakeside lodge (daytime only).

See

The main attraction of the park is the well-preserved tropical forest, a treasure in this region, where most forested land was long ago converted to farms and cities. Because the land here is fairly flat, there isn't much in the way of expansive views.

Old-growth trees. There are several impressively massive, hundreds-of-years-old trees, accessible on short walks down well-labelled side trails off of the main road, and one halfway along the longer Crocodile Lake trail. The tung tree on the Crocodile Lake trail is the most massive (if hiking solo at a non-busy time, you may regret not having anyone to take your picture with it), though the tung tree on the short three-tree trail closer to park headquarters comes in a respectable second place. The "six-rooted intersecting ficus", down a short trail about halfway between headquarters and the Crocodile Lake trailhead, is maybe the most interesting. Smaller but still quite big and tall trees are common in parts of the forest, especially the stretch of dirt road just beyond Heaven's Rapids.

Heaven's Rapids. Perhaps the second-best scenic spot in the park, after Crocodile Lake. The river makes a horseshoe-bend here, with stereotypical jungle trees hanging over both banks, and the water rushing fast away from you on the downstream side.

Crocodile Lake. At the end of the park's main popular longer-distance hiking trail (5- to 6-km walk, trailhead 9km from park headquarters), this is a large natural lagoon surrounded by green meadows at low-water times, and forest further back. You get a good, modestly-elevated view from the lodge and surrounding boardwalks, which are on tall stilts. Good for observing water birds and the namesake Siamese crocodiles, an endangered species that looks to be doing well here after being reintroduced years ago. In daytime you'll mostly see crocodile heads and tails cruising through the water, while if you spend the night (see below), they often come out and can be observed from a distance by flashlight. You may be able to hire the lodge staff to take you on a boat ride during the day, or a guided wildlife walk at night if you're staying over.

Lower (Bến Cự) Rapids. A nice place to get a view of the river, at spot where it's relatively shallow, with a pretty landscape of rocks and water plants, at least during dry season when the water isn't too high. Accessible by a very short trail from the road's most prominent snack stand, not too far from park headquarters.

"Botanical Garden". Not so much a garden as a large section of native forest with trees and vines extensively labeled by species and family (Latin and Vietnamese names), with a network of short access trails for visitors wanting to get up close and personal with the jungle. The area extends roughly between the Lower Rapids and the Heaven's Rapids, on both sides of the road, though many trees beyond that area are labeled as well. There's essentially no further interpretive information, so if you're not a bit of a plant nerd or just enjoy being in the jungle, you may find it boring.

Nature Museum and Animal Rescue Center. A natural history museum very close to the park headquarters, which includes a park-run outdoor wildlife rehabilitation center for bears, gibbons, deer, and possibly other animals. Don't get your hopes up too much - previous visitors have reported that it was overcrowded because of limited funds (and lots of rescued bears), while at a recent glance in the gates it wasn't clear if there were many animals at all. May include a tour and only be available at certain times - ask ahead if it's important to you. There is now a new, larger Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary that seems to be only accessible by appointment - it's unclear whether the original center still house bears or not. It is interesting to compare the approaches taken by Go East (see "Do") and the national park. (There is also a gibbon rehab enclosure directly behind the park reception building, which you can get a distant glimpse of from the bathroom area or the bike rental center; wild gibbons, by some accounts those previously released from here, often come to visit and can be spotted in the surrounding trees.)

Do

The park offers a 45-minute night safari. This involves trundling around on the road south of headquarters in a jeep or truck, looking hopefully for wildlife. Quality varies wildly, with some very good spotters and drivers and some very bad ones, but at least it's relatively cheap. You can usually at least see sambar deer, and chances of civets are fairly good. With better luck, possibilities include muntjacs (small "barking deer"), gaur (massive wild cattle), and leopard cats (a small wildcat).

Go East - a British ape charity have helped the park organise a Wild Gibbon Trek. The guides seem to take pride in their work, even if they aren't always able to speak English, and following (truly wild) gibbons around the jungle is cool. Tours start around 05:00 year round. As the gibbons sing around sunrise, this means that in summertime the tour may be a bit rushed to be in the jungle on time, whereas in wintertime, you may be asked to sit and wait for a bit outside the trail by your guide. The trek can be booked a day prior through the headquarters inside of the park, or through the official Nam Cat Tien Park email address. 900,000 dong per person (December 2024). If you're not sleeping inside of the park, make sure to inquire about an early ferry to take you across the river.

Visit the Dao Tien Gibbon Sanctuary run by Go East. This tour used to be included in the Wild Gibbon Trek, but no longer is. Tours start daily at 08:30. Tickets can be arranged from the park headquarters, 400,000 dong (December 2024). The sanctuary has gibbons, black-shanked doucs, silver langurs and loris, all in various stages of possible rehabilitation into the wild. Guides are passionate and knowledgeable. As this is not a zoo, you may not be able to closely approach the enclosures, but will still be able to see the animals from a little distance. However, there are several viewing platforms into the wilder "phase 2" enclosures for some gibbons, which give you a good overview, and an excellent opportunity to see the gibbons swing from tree to tree. Loris are fully nocturnal so slim chance you will be able to seem them. Again, it's not a zoo. It is perfectly possible to do the Wild Gibbon Trek at 05:00, then go to the Dao Tien Sanctuary at 08:30, with enough time in between to get some coffee or snacks from the shops around the park headquarters.

Just enjoy a bike ride on the forest roads. If you can handle the often-very-hot weather, the park is a great place to just go for a leisurely ride, stopping for ice cream, admiring the butterflies, and taking short side walks to see big trees and river views (see the "See" and "Get around" sections of this article). The roads north of the park headquarters have better forest (particularly out towards Heaven's Rapids), while the road south from park headquarters eventually reaches some "grassland" areas, previously deforested but now protected as a small zone of savannah habitat within the park. There are two lookout towers here you can climb for views. The area is mainly of interest to birders, who can find a different collection of species here.

Birdwatching: Cat Tien attracts lots of birders because of the large number of bird species that can be found here, including various large or colorful ones. If you're not experienced, you might need to hire a guide to be able to find many of them. There are also some hides that can be booked with park reception for a fee.

No swimming or fishing is allowed in the park, and there aren't really any safe places to swim anyway, as the river has a fast current and Crocodile Lake has, well, crocodiles.

Eat

There are two restaurants in the park headquarters area. The more pleasant one ('Yellow Bamboo') is a few hundred meters south of park reception on the west side of the road. It is cafe-style with good, reasonably priced food, and a slight view of the river. Mains start at about 100,000 dong as of April 2026. The second restaurant ('Dipterocarpus') is around 100 m south.

The Forest Floor lodge offers pricier but better food to non-residents. It's about a mile away north of the park headquarters, so bring a torch if you're staying in the park and walking up there.

At Crocodile Lake, set meals are provided to overnight guest by the lodge staff at an additional fee (100,000 dong for dinner, less for breakfast; April 2026).

At the park reception itself, there's only a juice stand, but there are other sometimes-open-sometimes-closed snack bars up and down the road headed north, mostly selling things like chips, drinks, and ice cream. You can even buy drinks from the booth at the Crocodile Lake trailhead if someone is actually staffing it. The biggest, most reliably-open, and most pleasant spot for a snack break is the stand at the entrance to the lower rapids (English sign just says "Rapids") just past the forest floor lodge (daytime only).

In Nam Cat Tien village (outside the park) there are various food options as you would expect in any town in Vietnam. To find maximally-cheap local options, you'll need to go a kilometer or so east of the guesthouse district to the actual downtown, but some of the ones among the guesthouses, like the restaurant at Green Hope Lodge, are quite good. Don't expect anything to be open very late at night. There is a convenience store not far from the ferry station that should be open until 10pm, and a group of vendors just outside the ferry station during normal ferry hours.

Drink

Drinks are available at the restaurants at the Park Headquarters and at the 'Hornbill bar' in Forest Floor Lodge (so called because it is one of the best places to observe Oriental-pied and greater hornbills as they cross the Ben Cu rapids, in the morning and just before sunset).

Beer, water, soda and sports drinks can be bought when staying out at Crocodile Lake at a slight premium. Expect the beer to be warm, so you might want to consider carrying your own in. Filtered water from the lake is free.

Water, soda, and sports drinks can be bought at snack bars along the forest road if they're open (see "Eat"). Some of them may have coffee if you're lucky, but the more reliable place for that is the Yellow Bamboo restaurant.

Sleep

Lodging in the park There are various levels of accommodation around the park headquarters, with a bit more of a hotel ethic than at the budget guesthouses in town, though most of the facilities are a bit dated and expensive for the standard. It could sometimes be full if arriving on a weekend or holiday without a reservation. As of April 2026, prices go at least as low as 400,000 dong for a room in a three-unit bungalow with weak air conditioner and ensuite bathroom (free frogs and lizards included).

There is also a camping area nearby, which would also be booked with park reception, and is sometimes by Vietnamese people on group trips. Unclear what facilities you'll have, and keep the hot weather in mind.

At Crocodile Lake simple accommodation is available. You'll pay extra for a bathroom. As of April 2026, a very basic separate individual cabin (ensuite bathroom, cold shower, small loud fan, good mosquito net) was going for 1,000,000 dong per night. If you want to leave some luggage at park headquarters while you do the overnight expedition to Crocodile, they'll probably let you pile it in the corner of the visitor center showroom at reception - it doesn't look very secure, but apparently theft hasn't been an issue so far.

There is an eco-tourism lodge, Forest Floor Lodge which provides high-end accommodation and contributes financially to park activities. As of April 2026, its reputation is not so good, as it's not being maintained very well.

Tai Lai longhouse is a community-owned but professionally-managed lodge outside the park but on the same side of the river.

Lodging at the Nam Cat Tien side of the River Various decent and cheaper options are on the other side of the river from the park, mostly within easy walking distance of the ferry, but staying here means you won't be able to get to the park in time to do the Gibbon Trek or bird-watching early in the morning, or the night safari.

Buy

Bring cash! It's unclear whether park reception can take credit cards, and most other vendors in the park probably don't. In Nam Cat Tien town outside the park, there is exactly one ATM, from HDbank (as of April 2026). It does work with foreign cards (at least a US MasterCard), but is sometimes out of order. Green Hope lodge may be able to give you cash back from a card transaction for a fee.

As for shopping, however, there's not much to buy in the park except food, drinks, tickets, and lodging. There may be some souvenir vendors near the ferry on the town side.