National park · Vietnam
Cát Tiên National ParkVườn quốc gia Cát Tiên
Go in the dry months (December–April), sleep two nights at park headquarters or just across the river, book the night drive and the Crocodile Lake walk at the visitor centre on arrival, and be on a trail by 6:00 — the forest goes quiet by mid-morning.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
720 km²
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 7Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
- Southern Vietnam ↗The Mekong's floating markets finish by about 09:00: to see one working, sleep in Cần Thơ or nearby and be on the boat by 05:30.
- Southern Vietnam ↗Phú Quốc's 30-day visa exemption applies only to direct international arrivals on the island; connecting via Saigon or Hanoi needs a normal visa or exemption.
At a glance
- Country
- Vietnam
- Area
- 720 km²
- About 72,000 ha across Đồng Nai, Lâm Đồng and Bình Phước (provinces merged in 2025; check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Ho Chi Minh City
Cát Tiên is the largest lowland tropical forest left in southern Vietnam, a four-hour drive north of Ho Chi Minh City, reached by a short ferry across the Đồng Nai river. It is the easiest place in the country to hear gibbons at dawn and to see deer, macaques and hornbills without an expedition. Big mammals (gaur, sun bears) are here but shy; the last Javan rhino in Vietnam was killed in 2010.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 2001Core of the Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve (extended 2011).
- Ramsar wetland · 2005Bàu Sấu (Crocodile Lake) wetland complex.
Size and age
720 km² · national park since 1992
About 72,000 ha across Đồng Nai, Lâm Đồng and Bình Phước (provinces merged in 2025; check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Ho Chi Minh City.
Why go
- Dawn gibbon song within walking distance of your bed; the yellow-cheeked gibbon is the park's signature animal.
- The best birding in southern Vietnam, with hornbills, pittas and green peafowl in the dry season.
- Crocodile Lake: a wetland with Siamese crocodiles reintroduced from the 2000s, and deer grazing at the edges.
- Easy access from Ho Chi Minh City with no flights.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDry, cool mornings; birds active
- FebDry; Tết weekend crowds from the city
- MarDriest; wildlife gathers at water
- AprHot; still dry
- MayFirst rains; forest greens
- JunWet; leeches on every trail
- JulWet; some trails muddy
- AugHeavy rain; Crocodile Lake walk can close
- SepWettest; flooding on low trails
- OctRain easing late in the month
- NovDrying out; fewer visitors
- DecDry season starts; clear mornings
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow-cheeked gibbon callsAll year · Dawn, strongest in dry weather. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birding peak (resident and migrant)Dec–Apr | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Deer and gaur at Crocodile LakeFeb–Apr · Animals concentrate at water late in the dry season. | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| ButterfliesMay–Jul | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| LeechesMay–Oct | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Nam Cát Tiên (headquarters) | Visitor centre, lodging, the main trail network, primate centre and the night drive. | Open to all visitors with a ticket. |
| Bàu Sấu wetland | Crocodile Lake and the lake system, 9 km from headquarters. | Guided only; road, then a forest walk. |
| Tây Cát Tiên and Cát Lộc | Remote western and northern sections. | Research and special permits; not for casual visits. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry and ferry | ₫60,000–100,000 (≈ US$3–4) | person | Paid at the ferry landing (check). |
| Night spotlight drive | ₫350,000–600,000 (≈ US$14–25) | vehicle | Shared open truck; book at the visitor centre. |
| Crocodile Lake guided walk | ₫150,000–350,000 (≈ US$6–14) | person | Plus guide fee per group; a lake hut night costs extra. |
| Bicycle rental at headquarters | ₫50,000–100,000 (≈ US$2–4) | day | — |
| Đảo Tiên primate centre tour | ₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10) | person | Includes a short boat crossing; morning and afternoon slots. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Crocodile Lake and deep-forest trails permit or guide
Night drive no permit
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without written park permission (check).check
- Guides
- Required for Crocodile Lake and all trails beyond the headquarters network.
- Camping
- Only at the park's own sites (headquarters, Crocodile Lake hut) with prior booking.
- Feeding animals
- Do not feed the macaques around headquarters; they bite and raid rooms.
- Lights at night
- Keep torches low and off animals' eyes except on the organised drive.
Where to stay
In the park
Park headquarters rooms and bungalows
Simple rooms by the visitor centre; walk to trails at dawn.
Near the park
Lodges on the far bank
Riverside lodges and homestays 5 minutes from the ferry; better food and a pool at some.
In the park
Crocodile Lake hut
Basic ranger hut by the lake for one night; bring a sleeping sheet.
Safety
Leeches medium
Heat and dehydration medium
Macaques at headquarters low
Crocodiles at Bàu Sấu low
Accessibility
- Headquarters area is flat with paved paths; ground-floor rooms are available.
- The night drive and primate centre suit limited mobility (a short boat step).
- Crocodile Lake needs a 5 km forest walk each way.
Visiting lightly
- Your entry fee and guide fees fund ranger patrols; use park guides rather than outside freelancers.
- Do not buy wildlife products or 'forest medicine' sold on the road in.
- Keep noise down on trails; groups of more than six see much less.
Questions people ask
Can I do Cát Tiên as a day trip from Saigon?
You can, but you would spend eight hours on the road and arrive after the best wildlife hours. Two nights let you do a dawn walk, the night drive and Crocodile Lake.
Will I see gaur or bears?
Unlikely. Gaur are seen at Crocodile Lake some dry-season mornings; bears almost never. Expect gibbons (heard), deer, macaques, hornbills and many birds.
Is the Crocodile Lake overnight worth it?
For wildlife watchers, yes: dusk and dawn from the tower beat any day visit. It is basic, and it needs a guide booked at headquarters.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go