VN · Dong Nai · 11.50°N 107.33°E
cat tien national park
Lowland jungle with gibbons, cycling trails and night safaris near Saigon.
- Best time
- December to April is the dry season, with easier trails and better wildlife spotting. May to November is wet and leechy, but the forest is lush.
- How long
- 2 days, 1 night
- Getting there
- Fly from KL to Ho Chi Minh City (about 2 hours), then about 4 hours by road. The park headquarters is across the Dong Nai River, reached by a short ferry.
cat tien national park
Dear group chat,Lowland jungle with gibbons, cycling trails and night safaris near Saigon.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingCat Tien National ParkVN, Dong Nai
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 2.0 Photo: Roy Bateman · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Broobas · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: Roy Bateman · CC BY-SA 4.0 Photo: N.A.Nazeer · CC BY-SA 2.5 in
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.
One of the largest areas of lowland rainforest left in Vietnam, about 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. It's the easy jungle escape from Saigon, with gibbons, birds, cycling trails and night drives to spot deer.
Things to do
- Gibbon trekHead out at dawn with a guide to hear and spot wild gibbons calling.Map ↗
- Crocodile Lake (Bau Sau)A wetland deep in the park with Siamese crocodiles and birdlife, reached by a long walk.Map ↗
- Night safariRide in an open truck with a spotlight, looking for deer, civets and other night animals.Map ↗
- CyclingRent a bike and ride the forest roads around the headquarters.Map ↗
- BirdwatchingOne of the best spots in southern Vietnam for birds, from pheasants to hornbills.Map ↗
Good to know
- Bring leech socks, insect repellent and a torch.
- Book guides and the night safari at the park headquarters.
- Food around the park is simple and halal options are scarce, so bring snacks.
Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.