Cat Tien National Park Vietnam, Central Highlands

Originally split into 3 different parks, Cat Tien National Park was combined into one park after Javan rhinoceroses were found and they wanted to better accommodate their lifestyle and breeding habits. This story alone speaks to the natural biodiversity that can be found in Cat Tien National Park. Over 50 different endangered species listed in the ‘red book’ call these wetlands home.

However diverse and protected these wetland and rainforest areas are, the effects of the Vietnam war are still felt heavily due to the chemical herbicidal warfare that happened in the area. Agent Orange was used by US troops, sprayed in dense quantities over the habitats in order to kill the forests and agriculture. The intended effect occurred and much of the biodiversity was lost due to this chemical warfare.

Today, Cat Tien National Park is a wildlife lover’s paradise. Despite the tumultuous history, most of the diverse wildlife has bounced back and the park serves as a sanctuary for endangered species. There is plenty of trekking, wildlife spotting, and cycling to do in the area as well as small villages to visit to learn about truly authentic Vietnamese culture.

Waterfalls, large tung trees, and wetlands with crocodiles make up most of the park, however there is still a vast rainforest area home to the golden-cheeked Gibbon, black-shanked douc, pygmy loris, and the silvered langur. Check out the Wild Gibbon Trek if you're interested to see southern Vietnam's only primate in the wild and hear them sing through the jungle.

Whether wildlife is something you love or not, adding Cat Tien National Park to your Vietnam Itinerary is completely worth it to see some beautiful sights and creatures and to pay homage to a site still recovering from the effects of war.