Leave the hustle and bustle of Saigon behind and get ready for a South Vietnam jungle excursion! Where at you may ask? Well, head up north (about 150 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City) and bask in the environment of Cat Tien National Park.

Cat Tien National Park is 720 square kilometers of pristine lowland tropical Vietnamese rainforest. This is a great place to familiarize yourself with some of Vietnam’s biodiversity. Evergreen tropical forests, deciduous forest and bamboo woodlands make up most of the national parks’ fauna. Farmland, wetlands and grassland constitute a small percentage of the park. The animal list is impressive, comprising of threatened mega fauna such as the Asian Elephant, the critically endangered Java Rhinoceros, the Siamese Crocodile, the Sun Bear and the Gaur.

Start things off with a light trek to a bear rehabilitation center. This facility has been established by Wildlife at Risk (a local NGO) who take bears that have been captured for the bile market or pet trade. It is hoped that after a certain amount of time, some of the endemic bears can be released back into the wild.

From bears to crocs, the next day’s highlights start with a trek to Crocodile Lake. The journey itself is scenic, offering ample opportunities to spot exotic birds and of course a chance encounter with the Siamese Crocodile, one of Southeast Asia’s most critically endangered animals. Return back to your lodge, rest up for a bit and enjoy a boat ride along Ben Cu River in the afternoon and continue checking out the wildlife of the area.

Now it is time to learn a little bit more about the critical situation our animal ancestors are facing at Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Center.  The aim of the center is to rescue and rehabilitate endangered primates and when appropriate release the rehabilitated pairs of gibbons back into the forests of Cat Tien National Park. This concludes your memorable and education excursion in one of the largest protected areas in Vietnam.

From north to south, from bustling cities to quaint countryside villages, from the soothing coast of the east to the mountains in the central and north, Vietnam is as diverse as it gets. There is certainly something for everyone here. If you are not sure where to go, perhaps our Vietnam tours page can assist you. Contact us for more information on how to build your very own tour with us.

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