Thursday 25 October 2018

A Weekend in Cat Tien National Park


I was looking for an easy weekend getaway from Ho Chi Minh City, somewhere I could go with friends to relax and have some fun. And if you are a great outdoor lover like me and my crazy friends’ gang, then definitely you are going to fall in love with southern Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park. 

Cat Tien at a glance


A heaven for lovers of nature and outdoor activities, Cat Tien National Park is one of six biosphere reserves recognized by UNESCO in Vietnam. The park is home to much rare fauna and flora, as well as several exotic birds, insects and a variety of smaller mammals and protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforests in Vietnam. 

The park’s unique terrain, climate, and the ability to accommodate up to five different types of forests are factors that have made Cat Tien National Park the home to a diverse range of animal species and plants. 

Best Time to Visit Cat Tien


The weather in Cat Tien changes with the change in season from wet to dry. Regardless of whether you visit it in the dry or wet season you should expect warm temperature. Visiting the park from October to April offers a high chance of dry weather with mildly cooler temperatures. Try not to visit the park at the peak of Monsoon season, i.e., May to September as it will be raining during the months making it difficult to explore the park. Between November to February is the perfect month of the year to pay a visit to the park. The driest weather is at the start of the year, with April being the hottest month. 

Highlights of Cat Tien

  • The Giant Tung Tree



Cat Tien National Park is home to more than 1500 species of flora and also an area of primary forest. The trees in the park are huge and you will find Tung trees that are hundreds of years old. While on your way you will find marked trek that can help you find these amazing giant trees. You can get a map at the Cat Tien National Park headquarters. 

  • It’s quiet and not too touristy





We were utterly surprised seeing how quiet the National Park was. We trekked there for hours without even witnessing other travelers or park guides. It is a huge contrast to our busy life in Ho Chi Minh City and you will feel yourself at peace being somewhere so quiet. 

  • Wild Gibbon Trek




We were unfortunate for not being able to do this early morning trek as it was completely booked. The wild gibbon trek starts at 4.30 am with a guide taking you on a trek through the park to see wild gibbons at their most playful time of the day. We also overheard so many other visitors coming back from this trek and excitedly discussing how many Gibbons they got to see. We were super jealous overhearing all these as we were not able to take this tour. 

Where to eat in Cat Tien



Cat Tien town is very small and you will not find many options for dining in here. Most Cat Tien accommodation comes with breakfast which is perfect for taking care of the day’s first meal. We preferred having our meal at our accommodation, the Cat Tien Jungle Lodge and found the cuisine to be superbly delicious.

Is Cat Tien worth visiting?

Yes, Cat Tien is definitely worth visiting! You will be welcomed by fresh waves of air and an escape into the majestic beauty of nature. Cat Tien also hosts a lot of other things to do and this makes spending days there for guests easy.  



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2 comments:

  1. Excellent portrayal. Love this post....

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  2. Haha.. Thanks Valentina for reading the post in such detail.

    ReplyDelete