From Wikitravel

Cat Tien National Park is in the South region of Vietnam. It lies between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat just north of the highway.

[edit] Understand

[edit] History

[edit] Landscape

[edit] Flora and fauna

Crocodiles at Crocodile Lake.

Deer and Civet Cats can be seen on night safaris as well Gaur (wild cows).

Monkeys, lots of birds, butterflies etc.

More information, including species lists, in website on Park

[edit] Climate

[edit] Get in

Buses between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat will drop you off on the highway near the entrance. You might try to negotiate a discount for only going half-way, but this is unlikely.

From the highway, there motorcycle taxis wait to take tourists to the river that is on the edge of the park. Negotiate the price up front.

[edit] Fees/Permits

The fee scheme is a bit complicated and each trip will involve several layers of fees including separate items for (additional) entrance fees, tour guide and transport.

There is a Dong 50000 entrance fee which only seems to get you as far at the Park Headquarters. Expect to.

The fee for the guides is of questionable value. Most of the guides either don't speak much English, or don't have a lot of local expertise to offer. Make sure you talk to your guide before engaging them and don't feel guilt about doing a self-guided tour (e.g. you can walk into Cat Tien by yourself).

[edit] Get around

Around the headquarters, there a number of local sites accessible by foot.

Bicycles can be rented. If you bring your own bicycle to the park, there is another 50000 charge for bringing it into the park.

[edit][add listing] See

The reason for a visit to Cat Tien park is an overnight stay at Crocodile Lake in the depths of the park. By pickup truck, the overnight trip leaves at around 13:00 and involves a 1 hour drive and a 5km hike.

For those short on time, Crocodile Lake can also be done as a day trip.

[edit][add listing] Do

If not going to Crocodile Lake, a 45 minute night safari can be done.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are two restaurants at the Park Headquarters. The more pleasant one is located behind the main office of the park head quarters it is cafe-style with good, reasonably priced food and a view to the river. The second restaurant is located around 100m south.

At Crocodile Lake, expect to eat freshly caught fish from the lake at a reasonable flat price.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Drinks are available at the restaurants at the Park Headquarters (above).

Beer and water can be bought when staying out at Crocodile Lake at a slight premium. Expect the beer to be warm, so you might want to consider carrying your own in. Filtered water from the lake is free.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Lodging

There are various levels of accommodation around the Park Headquarters.

At Crocodile Lake simple accommodation is available. You'll pay extra for a bathroom.

There is an eco tourism lodge called Forest Floor Lodge [1] that provides high-end accommodation.

[edit] Camping

If you brought your own tent, you can camp at either the headquarters or Crocodile Lake for a fee.

[edit] Backcountry

[edit] Stay safe

Make sure you bring mosquito repellent and cover up at night.

Leeches are common on the trail to Crocodile Lake and will happily bite through socks and light shoes. Leech socks can be rented for 20000 a day.

Possibly the greatest danger when walking in the forest is getting lost. Apart from the clearly marked paths near the headquarters, Forest Floor Lodge and the botanical gardens area, you should either use a guide, or take a GPS.

[edit] Get out

There are two local mini-buses a day at 13:00 and 14:00 that will take you from the ferry crossing to Dalat. Expect them to cruise around the town for more than an hour to fill up the bus. After that, it is around 3 hours to reach the Ho Chi Minh Bus Terminal.

It is possible to take the same mini-bus into the park, although it can be tricky to find the bus at the station (it's not marked).

This is a usable article. It has information about the park, for getting in, about a few attractions, and about accommodations in the park. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!