A fairy lost in Cat Tien National Park

Where is Cat Tien National Park located?

Cat Tien National Park is a nature reserve located in five districts: Tan Phu and Vinh Cuu (in Dong Nai province); Cat Tien and Bao Lam (in Lam Dong province); and Bu Dang (in Binh Phuoc province). This tourist destination is 150 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. Cat Tien National Park comprises three parts: Cat Loc, South Cat Tien, and West Cat Tien.

Among them, Nam Cat Tien is the most popular tourist destination among young people in Saigon because of its picturesque scenery, diverse ecosystem with centuries-old trees, and its habitat for many rare animal species. Another reason to choose Nam Cat Tien as a weekend getaway is that the area has well-planned roads and excellent services, making it ideal for a trip with family and friends after a hard day's work.

A 2-day, 1-night journey to explore Cat Tien National Park.

Leaving Saigon at 8:30 a.m., Bé bus company picked us up at the Ngã 4 Ga bus station. After five grueling hours on the bus, the whole group finally saw the garden gate.

The first thing to do after getting off the bike was to refuel, then buy tickets to cross the river. The journey was originally planned to begin with cycling to admire the ancient trees, but since it was already 2:30 PM and there wasn't enough time for that, we hired a jeep to take us straight to the Bau Sau area for a 5 km trek through the forest.

After a nine-kilometer drive through lush green forests, with the wind whipping against faces beaming with refreshing smiles, the driver dropped us off at the entrance to the Bau Sau area. The first steps were easy; the whole group walked through majestic primeval forests filled with beautiful ancient trees. Many unfamiliar names I'd never heard before: the broad-leaved princess tree, the black-skinned persimmon tree, the Tì Bà fig tree, and hundreds of other trees whose names I couldn't remember.

We continued trekking along the paved paths. It was more accurate to call it walking, as the path wasn't steep and didn't put any pressure on the group. Suddenly, a tree with a huge trunk appeared. It was a Tung tree.

The ancient Tung tree, located on the road to Bau Sau, boasts an impressive age of 400 years. Standing 30 meters tall, its trunk is so large that it would take nearly 20 people to encircle it. Its roots spread widely across the rocky ground, captivating many visitors. This is also a wonderful highlight on the route to discover ancient trees in Nam Cat Tien.

We took photos, checked in, and then continued walking. 1.5 hours had passed, and the walking still hadn't stopped. A friend in the group kept saying we were only 15 minutes away, but we'd walked past countless 15-minute intervals and still hadn't seen Bau Sau.

The journey became even more exciting when I saw the sign that read "Bau Sau 1 km/15 minutes". It was wonderful; after walking across a long bridge and trudging up a few slopes, we had finally arrived at the Bau Sau ranger station.

Oh my god, this is paradise! This is definitely Bau Sau Lake! The sun shines down on the water, reflecting the shimmering railway tracks across the surface. In the distance are rows of lush green trees, and dugout canoes are moored at the dock for visitors who want to admire the breathtaking beauty of the 700 crocodiles living in the lake's depths. It was definitely worth the two-hour walk here.

Our whole group checked into our rooms, changed into nice clothes for the photoshoot. As evening fell, we stood there like fools, for what sunset scene wouldn't leave a traveler mesmerized?

As night fell, the faint, hazy light from the solar power illuminated Bungalow 6. The forest ranger from Bau Sau jokingly said that only their area had electricity, and that the other places in the garden would have to read Ngo Tat To's "Turning Off the Lights" tonight.

Tonight, the whole group enjoyed some delicious food. There was crab soup, raw fish, stuffed fish, fried fish, pork, cabbage, eggplant… All the food was grown and raised right in the garden, so it was extremely clean and safe.

Mr. Khoi – a forest ranger – stopped by where we were eating and sat down to tell stories. He was incredibly funny; every story he told made the whole group burst into laughter. The more he told, the more we appreciated the job of a forest ranger. You have to love the forest very much, you have to care for the forest deeply to spend 24/7 protecting this land.

That evening we also had the chance to admire the deer in the forest, and the gleaming eyes of crocodiles rising from the bottom of the lake. The rain made the already beautiful scenery even more pleasant. It was late, so the whole group went back to our rooms to sleep.

At 5 a.m., I woke up very early to watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, the sky was pitch black. A thick, dense fog enveloped everything. This morning, I felt like a fairy who had just descended to earth. I had prepared meticulously for my dance in the middle of the lake, as this poetic setting would inspire any classical dancer to perform graceful movements. However, the ground was too damp, so I ended up strolling on the wooden bridge instead.

Her flowing, elegant dress and delicate feet glided gracefully across the wooden bridge. Dewdrops glistened on the branches and blades of grass; I felt as if I had wandered into paradise. With each passing moment, I savored the breathtaking beauty of Bau Sau. My soul drifted with the breeze, my hands swaying gently to the mysterious rhythms of the ancient dances.

After strolling around for quite a while and taking some beautiful photos, we returned to the restaurant for breakfast – a bowl of fish porridge – before heading out of the Bau Sau area.

Back at the gate, the group rented bicycles to complete the final leg of their journey: exploring the ancient trees in the garden. Each person had a bicycle, and they happily cycled along the long road. Just cycling leisurely along the road, everyone discovered more interesting things. There was the Ben Cu rapids with its ancient trees and gently flowing water, the Bac Dong tree that former Prime Minister Pham Van Dong visited, and the Loc Giao banyan tree with its tangled vines.

The image of the Loc Giao banyan tree marked the final leg of our tour of Nam Cat Tien National Park. One of my friends exclaimed, "Oh, a masterpiece of nature!" Indeed, the small roots intertwine tightly, supporting each other as they grow. Perhaps that's why this banyan tree is also known by the rather unique names "the strangling banyan tree" or "the unfaithful banyan tree."

Leaving the garden, we returned the bicycles and boarded a bus back to Saigon. I carried with me many interesting stories, along with pictures and videos of Bau Sau and Nam Cat Tien National Park. Everyone in the group was happy and joyful because the trip was complete. I could feel that from the eyes and smiles of each person. Goodbye to an extremely interesting place!

Some things to keep in mind when traveling to Cat Tien National Park.

Accommodation

At the entrance to Cat Tien National Park, there is a camping area and rest rooms for tourists, where you can book accommodation freely. However, if you intend to stay at Bau Sau, you must book and deposit in advance because rooms are scarce and there is high demand for accommodation. Camping is not allowed at Bau Sau because wild animals often visit at night.

Bus companies going to Cat Tien National Park

Many bus companies take visitors to Nam Cat Tien bus station, however, only about two companies provide pick-up and drop-off services directly at the park entrance: Kim Hoan bus with a fare of 100,000 VND, and Be bus with a fare of 110,000 VND.

Should you buy a tour to Nam Cat Tien?

Currently, many places sell tours to Nam Cat Tien National Park, mostly for large groups of 10 or more people. For smaller groups, you can go directly to the national park to buy tickets and then choose from various activities. Since this route isn't too difficult and is mainly for relaxation, you don't need to hire a guide because everything is well-planned and clearly marked with signs within the park.

What preparations are needed for a trip to Nam Cat Tien?

- Leech repellent: There are many leeches in the garden, so you should prepare it before your trip.

- Covered clothing and trekking shoes: Wearing covered clothing and trekking shoes will help you move easily.

- Rain suits: There are no shops or shelters in the forest, and sudden rain will make your exploration more difficult. It's better to buy rain suits rather than poncho-style raincoats.

- Citizen ID card: If traveling in a group and staying in the Bau Sau area, each member must prepare a citizen ID card.

- Cash: There is no phone signal or Wi-Fi in the Bau Sau area, so bank transfers are not accepted. If you plan to stay, you must withdraw cash in advance to cover expenses.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Xu Kien - Photos: Phi Duy, Tien Nguyen, Xu Kien