Located in the south of Vietnam, approximately 150 km north of HCM City, Cat Tien National Park or Nam Cat Tien is home to 600 species of flora, hundreds of precious medicinal herbs, over 60 kinds of orchids, 240 species of birds, and over 50 species of animals, including the endangered Javan rhino, one of Asia’s rarest mammals.
It is also home the golden cheeked gibbon. Cat Tien has a primate rescue center to rehabilitate gibbons that were kept as pets or mascots so they can re-enter the wild.
The 35,000-hectare primeval forest has attracted researchers, archaeologists, explorers and tourists from all over the world who want to take an adventurous trip and experience nature.
The forest landscapes are beautiful, abounding in hills, waterfalls, rivers and centuries old trees. Some winding river sections form sandy beaches beside deep ponds where people can swim. Legends say that these were places where angels descended on earth to frolic and enjoy pure cool streams, so it was named Nam Cat Tien, meaning angels descend on the southern land.
From HCM City, take National Highway 20 for 125 kilometers and turn left, go another 24 kilometers and take a ferry-boat to cross Dong Nai river to the main headquarters of Cat Tien National Park.
When you camp or walk on the tracks in the Park, you have to be careful to avoid leeches. Wearing long trousers and socks helps. Cat Tien is mostly wilderness, so it is a great destination for campers and nature lovers.