One of Vietnam's largest remaining lowland tropical forests, home to gibbons, gaur, crocodiles and rich birdlife
Cat Tien sits in a bend of the Dong Nai River, where tall dipterocarp forest, bamboo, grassland and seasonal wetlands meet. The park headquarters lies across the river from Nam Cat Tien and is reached by a short ferry, from which trails, cycling tracks and jeep roads lead into the forest. Visitors can expect long walks in humid jungle, patient wildlife watching and nights listening to the forest rather than guaranteed sightings.
The park is known for its primates, including the golden-cheeked gibbon, black-shanked douc and pygmy loris, and for gaur, the huge wild cattle often seen at the forest edge. Bau Sau, the Crocodile Lake, is a wetland of international importance where Siamese crocodiles live alongside waterbirds. Night drives with spotlights reveal deer, civets and other nocturnal animals, and a rescue centre on Dao Tien island cares for primates taken from the illegal wildlife trade.
The area's history goes back far beyond the park: archaeologists have found remains of the Oc Eo culture from the 2nd to 7th centuries AD, and the Cat Tien archaeological site just outside the park has temple remains linked to Shaivite Hinduism. Protection began in 1978 with the Nam Cat Tien and Tay Cat Tien areas, a rhinoceros reserve was created at Cat Loc in 1992, and the three were joined into one national park in 1998.
Cat Loc held one of only two known populations of the Javan rhinoceros, but the last animal there was killed by poachers in 2010, and the species is now extinct in Vietnam. The Bau Sau wetland was designated a Ramsar site in 2005, and the park forms part of the UNESCO Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve. The Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre was founded in 2008 to rescue, rehabilitate and release primates.
Farming villages surround the park, and community-run accommodation such as the Tai Lai longhouse lies just outside its boundary. The park is small for its elephants, and conflicts between elephants and local farmers are a real concern. Local guesthouses and the riverside eateries of Nam Cat Tien serve simple meals of river fish and vegetables.
Most visitors stay two or three nights near the park headquarters. Mornings start early with birdwatching or a guided gibbon walk, the middle of the day suits cycling the forest tracks to giant trees and rapids, and late afternoons are good for watching gaur. A trip to Bau Sau means a ride and then a walk of several kilometres through the forest, with the option of staying overnight at the ranger station. After dark, guided night drives search for wildlife with spotlights, and the Dao Tien centre runs educational visits.
The dry season from about December to April gives the best trail conditions and wildlife viewing. The rains begin in May and peak from July to September, when trails are muddy, leeches are common and the river can flood roads, though the forest is at its greenest. Weekends and the Lunar New Year bring domestic crowds.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Ho Chi Minh City is about three to four hours away by road, making Cat Tien an easy add-on to a city stay. The highland town of Da Lat lies to the north-east, and the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta are both reached via Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam · 11 nights4★ HotelVietnam · 7 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
