Ultimate Guide to Visiting Cat Tien National Park from HCMC

Cat Tien National Park is a small national park three hours from Ho Chi Minh City. While it’s not a crazy popular adventure park, it’s an enjoyable place to visit for a weekend away.

Many people visit on a day trip from HCMC, but I recommend spending at least one night near the park so you can enjoy nature for a full day.

We spent two nights at a jungle lodge right across National Park Cat Tien and two full days exploring the park, and I loved every second of it (minus the leech I found on my leg).

Since we enjoyed our stay so much, I’ve put together this ultimate Cat Tien National Park travel guide that goes over how to get to the park, what to do there, where to stay, and other useful information.

Two men standing on a small ferry crossing the river into Cát Tiên National Park, surrounded by dense green jungle and calm water. — Crossing into Cát Tiên National Park is part of the adventure.

How To Get To Cat Tien National Park From Ho Chi Minh

Location: Google Maps

Cat Tien National Park is 99 miles (158.7 km) northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. The drive takes approximately 3.5 hours. Visiting on a day trip is possible, but you must leave very early (if you want nature and outdoorsy without such a long travel time, I recommend visiting Monkey Island near HCMC).

When you arrive in Cat Tien, you’ll purchase your entry ticket at a little booth and then take a short 5-minute ferry ride across the Dong Nai River into the park (the ferry is included in your ticket).

By motorbike

We drove our motorbike from HCMC to Cat Tien National Park without problems. We stayed a little outside the city, which only took about three hours. We broke up the drive by stopping in a small town around the halfway mark for a cup of coffee and a bowl of pho.

The drive itself was easy, but a lot of it was on a highway, so there was a lot of truck traffic at points. All in all, it was pretty straightforward. I recommend just pulling up the Google Maps location on your phone, making sure you have offline maps downloaded just in case you lose reception, and heading out early in the morning so you can miss traffic and get to the park early.

Motorbike with a helmet parked in front of a roadside café with yellow chairs and potted plants, a common pit stop on the way to Cát Tiên Park. — Stopping for a coffee en route to Cát Tiên Park is part of the local travel rhythm.

By bus

While we love getting around by motorbike, it’s also super easy to get there by bus (one of the few routes HCMC transportation doesn’t disappoint).

From HCMC, you can take the bus to Nga Tu Ga Bus Station, buy tickets to Nam Cat Tien, and get off the bus around 500 feet (200 meters) from the park entrance. The bus usually takes a little longer than if you were going by car or motorbike, but it’s still pretty convenient.

Buses leave as early as 5:00 a.m. and return to HCMC around 5:00 p.m. (bus schedules change frequently, so you’ll want to confirm this before making concrete plans).

By private car/taxi

The easiest (and most expensive) option to get from HCMC to Cat Tien National Park is to hire a driver or taxi for the day. The price can vary greatly depending on who you talk to, but expect to pay around $50 USD- $ 100 USD, depending on the car.

The easiest way to find a driver is through your accommodation in HCMC or Cat Tien if you stay the night. Basically, every hotel and hostel offers transportation services. They can also give tips and advice on how to travel to Cati Tien.

I’ve also hired a private driver service in Vietnam through Binh Yen. You can contact her on WhatsApp: +84 908 800 919. I’m sharing her contact information based solely on my experience; I am not getting a kickback or anything recommending Binh Yen, but I have personally used her, and she is very professional and reliable based on our experiences. For full transparency, my group paid 2,800,00 VND ($110 USD) for a 7-seater for a full day. There are cheaper rental prices for smaller cars and such.

Shady picnic area with swings, gym equipment, and purple umbrellas outside a rustic guesthouse inside Cát Tiên accommodation grounds. — The entrance and picnic area of Cat Tien National Park.

What To Do In Cat Tien National Park

Cat Tien National Park is not the Grand Canyon or anything. It’s very low-key, there aren’t many tourists, and there isn’t much to do. But some fun activities still fill one or two days of exploring. Here are all the best things to do in Cat Tien National Park:

Woman biking along a sunny path through dense jungle in national park Cát Tiên, surrounded by vibrant greenery and tall trees. — Cycling is one of the best ways to explore national park Cát Tiên.

Biking and walking trails

The most popular thing in Cat Tien is to explore it from start to finish on a bicycle. They have bicycle rentals right toward the park entrance (there are signs for it as soon as you get off the ferry taking you into the park).

When we went, the bike rentals were 150,000 VND ($6.15 USD) for the day, and there were over a hundred bikes to choose from. There’s only one bike path, so just follow that through the park.

There are several resting points, including benches, walking paths off the main path, and a rocky river bed you can explore. Biking all the way to the end of the park (each way) takes about an hour, but you’ll need a little more time if you plan on taking breaks and exploring some of the offshoots.

Close-up of a crocodile partially submerged in murky water while fishing near Monkey Island in southern Vietnam. — Spotted this crocodile fishing off the shores of Monkey Island.

Crocodile lake

Crocodile Lake is another main attraction in national park Cat Tien. It is located at the very end of the park, about 6.2 miles (10 km) from the entrance. You can bike from the entrance to the lake. Once there (it’s where the park ends, and there’s a big sign for it), it costs 250,000 VND ($9.85 USD) to access the lake.

You then hike 3.1 miles (5 km) through the swamps to Crocodile Lake. This is one of the most popular parts of the park because there are very few people there, and there is an abundance of nature.

Rocky riverbank surrounded by dense forest and calm water inside Cát Tiên National Park, a peaceful spot perfect for a riverside picnic. — We stopped here for a quiet picnic along the river inside Cát Tiên National Park.

Picnic along the river

Cat Tien National Park is on the Dong Nai River, which stretches 364 miles (585 km) and is the longest in Vietnam. It’s a cool place for nature lovers and a nice escape from HCMC.

When you enter the park, one of the first rest points is a little walkway that leads to the river banks (Ben Cu Rapids). You can walk down, sit on the river banks, and enjoy the abundant nature. You can also walk along the bank and explore more of this part of the park. When we went, there was nobody down there, so it was nice to enjoy some isolation in the great outdoors.

Empty metal boat docked along the forested bank of the Đồng Nai River near Cát Tiên, a popular option for wildlife boat tours. — Boat rides like this are a common way to explore the Đồng Nai River near Cát Tiên.

Boat ride on the river

You can also book private boat rides along the Dong Nai River, which isn’t necessarily in the park but is an incredible experience. Most boat tours last around an hour. They go fast at times and slow at others when you can spot wildlife along the river banks (like monkeys or unique birds).

This is a different side of the area, and since the Dong Nai is such a unique river, I highly recommend it if you have time for something a little extra. If you’re staying the weekend, it’s easiest to book this directly through your Cat Tien accommodation; otherwise, you can find guides near the ferry that takes you to the park.

Night safari

If you’re staying the night in Cat Tien National Park, one of the best things to do is enjoy a night safari through the park. These leave around 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm, and there are usually two evening excursions. The safari lasts only one hour, but exploring the park in the dark is fun. You’ll also see a lot of different animals you wouldn’t see during the day, like porcupines, mongooses, wild pigs, and deer.

Man sitting on a bench near a “Beware of Elephant” crossing sign in the jungle area of Cát Tiên Park, with beehive boxes stacked nearby. — You know you’re deep in Cát Tiên Park when there’s an elephant crossing sign at your rest stop.

Explore the surrounding village

Cat Tien National Park is located in Cat Tien, a small village with a few nice lodges, restaurants, and local markets and shops. There’s not much to do there, but if you have a motorbike, it’s fun to ride around and see what life is like in this part of Vietnam. Some accommodations have bicycle rentals, so that’s another fun activity and a way to explore outside the park.

You can also head to Ta Lai Village, about 7.4 miles (12 km) from Cat Tien. It’s another small village, but it’s famous for its handicrafts and woven souvenirs.

Man smiling at an outdoor café table near Cát Tiên National Park, with leafy trees and drinks in the background. — Cooling off with coffee and a view near Cát Tiên National Park.

Relax at a jungle lodge

Honestly, my favorite thing to do in the park was to simply enjoy our Cat Tien accommodation. We stayed in Green Bamboo Lodge with cozy rooms, a large balcony with comfortable chairs, a view of the Dong Nai River, a nice dining area on the water, and an incredible pool. After spending so much time in the city, it felt like such a sanctuary that I hardly wanted to leave.

If you’re staying a night in the park, I highly recommend picking a good jungle lodge and setting aside a little time to relax.

Scenic river view from a Cát Tiên accommodation, featuring palm trees, blooming flowers, and forest across the water. — The peaceful view from our Cát Tiên accommodation made it hard to leave.

Essential Information For Visiting Cat Tien National Park

Here are a few travel tips for visiting Cat Tien National Park from HCMC:

How long to stay in Cat Tien Park

You can visit Cat Tien National Park on a day trip from Ho Chi Minh since it takes about three hours to get there, and you only need a minimum of 3-4 hours in the park itself. However, I recommend spending at least one night near the park. We spent two nights at Green Bamboo Lodge Resort and two full days in the park, and it felt like that was the perfect amount of time.

Best time to visit Cat Tien Park

The best time to visit Cat Tien National Park is during the dry season, from December to April. I’m going to be honest: the park is not the most pleasant place to visit during the rainy season, which is from May to November (the same as in Ho Chi Minh).

Most of the biking and walking trails aren’t paved, so they can get super muddy and uncomfortable. Also, in the rainy season, there are leeches (and other bugs), which are just really unpleasant.

However, we visited Cat Tien National Park in May, right at the beginning of the rainy season, and it wasn’t so bad. The trails were still dry (even though it rained on our first day and rained almost all night both nights). The first day, it rained most of our time in the park, but there was such a thick tree canopy over the trail that we hardly got wet. I did find one leech on my leg, though, which was very unpleasant. I’ve heard that during the rainy season, they are everywhere.

Man wearing a nón lá hat and holding a phone on the wooden deck of a rustic lodge near Cát Tiên accommodation, surrounded by lush greenery after rain. — Garrett and the local Vietnamese hat. The staff insisted he wear it because it was raining.

Entrance fees and tour options

Here are the prices of visiting Cat Tien National Park when we went:

Entry Fee (including the ferry over): 60,000 VND ($2.30 USD)
Bicycle Rental: 150,000 VND ($6.15 USD) for 8 hours
Entrance to Crocodile Lake: 250,000 VND ($9.85 USD)
Motorbike Parking at Cat Tien National Park: 10,000 VND ($0.40 USD)
Night Safari: 230,000 VND/person ($9.05 USD)
River Boat Tour: 800,000 VND/boat ($31.50 USD)

Please keep in mind that prices can change. These were the prices when we were there recently, but they could also increase. Use this guide as a rough estimate of what to expect. Either way, I feel like Cat Tien is cheaper than more popular tourist attractions because there are fewer international tourists.

Woman gazing up at towering ancient trees in the dense jungle of national park Cát Tiên, surrounded by thick green canopy and forest floor roots. — Hiking through national park Cát Tiên means constantly looking up in awe.

What to pack for visiting Cat Tien Park

Here are a few suggestions on what to pack for Cat Tien National Park based on what we brought (and what we wish we brought):

Bug spray is probably the most important thing to bring, especially if you’re visiting during or near the rainy season in Vietnam. Make sure to bring plenty of it, and remember to load up before going into the jungle.
Sunscreen: Most of the park is in the shade, but there are some sunny parts, and you might have to stand around waiting for the ferry in the sun, so it’s good to be prepared.
Water and snacks: There are some drink and snack vendors at the park entrance, but no one is there once you get into the park. Make sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for the entire day.
Camera and/or phone: You need a good way to take some good photos. There are some photo stands near the entrance, with the classic wings setup, and other spots designed for social media, but there’s also some great scenery throughout the park.
A poncho: I’d argue that a poncho is the most important thing in Vietnam, especially during the rainy season. We visited Cat Tien Park at the very beginning of the wet season, and it rained. A poncho wouldn’t have been a terrible idea.
Cash: There are no ATMs in Cat Tien Park or Cat Tien Town, so bring plenty of cash for your entire stay.
Clothes and toiletries for the weekend: If you’re planning to stay a night or two, bring anything you might need and more. The stores are very basic, so it’s best just to have everything you need on you.

As with anywhere, make sure to bring a good mindset, and you’ll certainly have a blast. Cat Tien National Park isn’t the most beautiful park in the world, and if you go in with crazy high expectations, you might be disappointed. But if you visit with the mindset of spending time in nature and enjoying a unique experience different from all other Ho Chi Minh attractions, you’ll certainly have a blast.

Lush garden area with a small pond, stone steps, and blooming pink flowers at a peaceful lodge near Cát Tiên accommodation. — This peaceful garden was part of our Cát Tiên accommodation — not a bad place to unwind.

Where To Stay In Cat Tien National Park

Here are some Cat Tien accommodation recommendations based on where we stayed and what we saw while visiting the park:

Green Bamboo Lodge Resort

We stayed at Green Bamboo Lodge Resort for two nights and would go back. Ironically, when Garrett did his solo motorbike trip from HCMC to Hanoi in 2017, he stopped at Cat Tien for a night and stayed at Green Bamboo Lodge.

Fast-forward to 2024, our most recent visit, and Green Bamboo Lodge was recommended by a friend. Garrett didn’t remember it was the same place until we got there.

Anyway, the lodge is beautiful, the rooms are spacious, and it’s right on the river. The views from the balcony and the restaurant are really nice, but the pool is the start of the show. It’s one of the most tranquil pools I’ve ever seen, and there was never anyone there.

It’s also only a 5-minute walk from the ferry to Cat Tien National Park, so it’s incredibly convenient.

Woman posing inside a decorative red archway with a forest and river view behind her at the entrance to Cát Tiên National Park. — Starting the day with big park energy at the Cát Tiên entrance!

Other Cat Tien accommodation around the park

Here are a few other accommodation options based on what we saw and heard about near the park:

Gibbon Singing Home Stay: This is a popular homestay right near the park. It has a friendly, family vibe, great staff, and the perfect location. They also offer unique tours, like a singing gibbon trek.
Cat Tien Farmer Lodge: This is another lodge-style Cat Tien accommodation across from the park. It has the quintessential cabins, friendly staff, and many recommendations for things to do in the park.
Cat Tien Backpackers Hostel: We passed by this one a lot, and it’s one of the most affordable options in the park. It doesn’t have the fancy “lodge” experience I love so much about Cat Tien, but it’s close enough and located a few minutes from the park entrance.

A good handful of lodges and even one or two hostels near the entrance. They are rarely ever booked out unless it’s a holiday or a popular travel weekend, but you should still book in advance if you want to be prepared.

Woman standing on the small ferry crossing the river into Cát Tiên National Park, holding a water bottle under a clear sky. — One last ride back from Cát Tiên National Park — sun-soaked and smiling.

Why I Loved Visiting Cat Tien National Park So Much

I’ve heard many mixed things about Cat Tien National Park, but overall, I absolutely loved it.

It’s important to go with proper expectations, though. It’s not the most amazing park in the world, and the infrastructure is a bit rudimentary, but as long as you recognize that, you’ll likely have a blast. The biking paths are fun, the nature is lovely (even if you don’t see many monkeys or exotic animals), and the area around the Dong Nai is unique.

I recommend visiting Cat Tien if you have much extra time in Ho Chi Minh and want to spend more time in nature. It’s a different part of Vietnam and one that’s definitely worth visiting.

What do you think? Are you one of the few tourists who have visited Cat Tien National Park? If not, is it a place you’d like to go? Let us know in the comments!

The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Cat Tien National Park From Ho Chi Minh