Cat Tien National Park Night Safari and Forest Cycling

The Cat Tien National Park Night Safari and Forest Cycling is a wildlife and cycling activity at the park headquarters in Tan Phu, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, about 150 km northeast of central Ho Chi Minh City. The night safari is a park-run drive of about two hours that looks for nocturnal animals such as civets and deer using spotlights, while daytime cycling of two to four hours follows forest tracks to Ben Cu and the park's river areas. The activity is best combined with the Bau Sau trek on an overnight stay, and an overnight stay is recommended because the drive from the city takes three to three and a half hours. Fitness requirements are moderate: cycling is on forest tracks that can be uneven, hot and humid, and riders should be comfortable on a bicycle for several hours. The night drive needs no fitness beyond sitting in a vehicle. Age limits depend on the park's rules and should be confirmed at the visitor centre. Bicycles and guides are arranged at the park visitor centre, while visitors bring a headlamp, insect repellent, closed shoes, a light rain jacket and, from May to November, leech socks. Park entry, night safari, guide and bicycle fees are set by the park and were not published online at the time of research, so they should be confirmed on arrival. The operator is the Cat Tien National Park visitor centre, and licensed tour operators from Ho Chi Minh City arrange overnight packages. Rangers or guides accompany the night drive, wildlife should not be approached or disturbed, and the park headquarters coordinates assistance for injuries or vehicle problems. Safari runs depend on weather, so heavy rain can cancel departures. The best window is December to April, in the dry season, when tracks are firmer, leeches are fewer and wildlife is easier to see; the wet season brings mud, leeches and a higher chance of cancellation. Cycling in the morning avoids the hottest hours of the day.