Cat Tien National Park: Crocodile Lake (Bau Sau) and Forest Trails

Cat Tien National Park, in Tan Phu district of Dong Nai Province about 150 km northeast of central Ho Chi Minh City, protects one of the largest areas of lowland tropical rainforest left in southern Vietnam and holds UNESCO biosphere status. The park is known for gibbons, langurs and more than 350 bird species, and the walking is built around trails starting near the park headquarters. Access is by intercity coach from Mien Dong or Mien Tay bus station to Tan Phu or Cat Tien in about 3.5 hours, followed by a short motorbike taxi or hotel transfer to the gate, or by private car in about 3 to 3.5 hours each way. Entry fees are paid at the visitor centre, where park guides must also be booked for the deeper trails. The shorter loops, including Ben Cu and the Botanical Garden walk, run 3 to 5 km on flat packed-earth paths and take half a day. The Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) trek is about 18 km round trip and takes a full day, with only low relief of under 200 m of elevation change, so the difficulty comes from distance, humidity and the surface of mud, roots and boardwalk. Shade is continuous under the forest canopy, and the trail passes through swamp forest to the lake, where crocodiles were once reintroduced and where wetland birds are the main attraction. Water is available at the headquarters but not reliably along the trail, so enough must be carried for the day. Accommodation inside the park supports overnight stays, which allow dawn bird and primate watching and guided night drives. In the wet season from May to November, leeches are common and trails can be muddy, so leech socks or gaiters are standard. Card machines are rare, so cash in VND is needed for fees and guides.