Cat Tien National Park
Vườn quốc gia Nam Cát Tiên
Around 70,000 hectares of tropical forest with gibbons, langurs, deer and over 300 bird species. Visit the Dao Tien primate rescue centre and the crocodile lake.
Dong Nai & Cat Tien
Đồng Nai
Rainforest, gibbons and crocodile lakes in Cat Tien National Park.
- Region
- South · Southeast
- Province
- Dong Nai
- Best weather
- November–January
- In this guide
- 8 places · 10 dishes
Overview
Dong Nai, which now also includes former Binh Phuoc province, borders Ho Chi Minh City to the east. Its big draw for travellers is Cat Tien National Park, a lowland tropical forest and UNESCO biosphere reserve where you can hear gibbons at dawn, cycle forest trails and look for crocodiles at Bau Sau lake.
Closer to the city, Bien Hoa has lakeside parks and pagodas, Chua Chan is the second-highest mountain in the south, and orchards and rubber plantations cover much of the countryside.
The dry season (December–April) is best for wildlife spotting in Cat Tien. The rainy season is lush but leech-heavy, and some trails close.
Where to go
Chua Chan Mountain
Núi Chứa Chan
At around 800 m, the second-highest peak in the south. Pagodas line the climb, and the summit is a popular camping spot for sunrise above the clouds.
Buu Long Tourist Area
Khu du lịch Bửu Long
A lake surrounded by rocky hills on the edge of Bien Hoa, sometimes called a "mini Ha Long Bay", with walking paths and pagodas.
Buu Long Pagoda
Chùa Bửu Long
A Buddhist pagoda in the Buu Long area with a tall stupa overlooking the lake.
Da Han Waterfall
Thác Đá Hàn
A small waterfall hidden among orchards in Trang Bom, good for a picnic and a swim.
Vuon Xoai Eco Park
Khu du lịch Vườn Xoài
A 50-hectare park of mango groves, streams and a small zoo, aimed at families.
Bo Cap Vang Eco Park
Khu du lịch Bò Cạp Vàng
A riverside eco park in Nhon Trach with stilt huts and countryside activities.
Bu Dang rubber forest
Rừng cao su Bù Đăng
Endless straight rows of rubber trees in former Binh Phuoc — especially photogenic when the leaves turn in the dry season.
What to eat
Local specialties worth seeking out in Dong Nai & Cat Tien.
Bien Hoa fish salad
Gỏi cá Biên Hòa
Fresh fish blanched in hot sauce, then rolled with a basket of garden herbs and dipped in a rich tamarind sauce.
Steamed chicken in pomelo
Gà hấp bưởi
Free-range chicken steamed inside a hollowed-out Tan Trieu pomelo, which perfumes the meat with citrus.
Salted-fish chicken fried rice
Cơm gà cá mặn
Clay-pot rice fried with shredded chicken and salted fish until crisp at the edges.
Sour soup with giang leaves
Canh chua lá giang
Chicken soup soured with leaves of the giang vine, which grows wild in the area.
Termite mushrooms with garlic
Nấm mối xào tỏi
Wild mushrooms that grow from termite mounds at the start of the rainy season, stir-fried simply with garlic.
Puffed fried sticky rice
Xôi chiên phồng
A ball of sticky rice fried until it puffs up like a golden balloon, cut with scissors at the table.
Giant river prawn hotpot
Lẩu tôm càng
A hearty hotpot with river prawns, noodles and greens.
Grilled pork rolls
Chả lụi
Skewers of grilled pork roll, wrapped with herbs, cucumber and green mango.
Fried rice-flour cakes
Bột chiên
Cubes of rice-flour cake fried with egg and served with green papaya and sweet soy-chili sauce. A favourite after-school snack.
Baked egg with cheese
Trứng nướng phô mai
Eggs baked in small cups with meat, cheese and chili sauce — modern Vietnamese street food.
When to go
The most comfortable months for sightseeing in Dong Nai & Cat Tien are usually November–January.
Hover a month for details. Compare with other places on the season calendar.
Vietnam season calendar arrow_forwardDaily temperature range (°C)
20°25°30°35°
Rainfall per month (mm)
0200400600
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Score
- Great
- Good
- Fair
- Wet / extreme
chevron_right Show as table
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rain mm | Wet days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31.5 | 22.5 | 34 | 4 | Great |
| February | 32.9 | 22.6 | 19 | 4 | Good |
| March | 34.2 | 24.0 | 17 | 4 | Good |
| April | 34.3 | 25.3 | 98 | 11 | Fair |
| May | 32.9 | 25.7 | 257 | 26 | Fair |
| June | 31.2 | 25.1 | 305 | 28 | Fair |
| July | 30.5 | 24.8 | 376 | 29 | Wet / extreme |
| August | 30.8 | 24.7 | 358 | 29 | Wet / extreme |
| September | 30.4 | 24.5 | 406 | 29 | Wet / extreme |
| October | 30.2 | 24.1 | 335 | 27 | Fair |
| November | 30.5 | 23.7 | 160 | 20 | Great |
| December | 30.6 | 22.8 | 66 | 10 | Great |
Averages for 2016-2025 from Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis, CC BY 4.0). Model data can overstate light drizzle; treat wet-day counts as a guide. How the score works.
Getting there
Bien Hoa is about 30 km from central Ho Chi Minh City. Cat Tien National Park is roughly 150 km away — 3.5 to 4 hours by road — and most visitors stay at least one night.
Getting around Vietnam arrow_forwardPlan your stay in Dong Nai & Cat Tien
Compare places to stay and things to book.
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Coconut country: canals, orchards and islands in the Mekong.