Unique forest exploration tours in Dong Nai

With hundreds of hectares of planned forest land and one of the most diverse forest ecosystems in the South, Dong Nai City has developed a brand of forest eco-tourism with unique exploration tours.

Tourists experience and explore the forest at Cat Tien National Park.

Visitors to Dong Nai can discover lush forests stretching across the city. Every year, these destinations attract hundreds of thousands of tourists and scientists from Vietnam and around the world who come to explore biodiversity.

Wildlife havens in the forest

Dong Nai is home to several notable forest eco-tourism destinations, including: Cat Tien National Park (Nam Cat Tien Commune), Bu Gia Map National Park (Bu Gia Map Commune), Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve (Tri An Ward), Gia Canh Forest (under the Tan Phu Protection Forest Management Board, Dinh Quan Commune), Long Thanh mangrove forest (under the Long Thanh Protection Forest Management Board, Long Thanh Ward). These forests serve as important sanctuaries for wildlife and are often described as the true “homes” of countless animal species.

For decades, Cat Tien National Park has been regarded as one of Dong Nai’s most iconic tourism attractions. It is particularly famous for its specialized forest tours, including night wildlife safaris and crocodile-watching excursions deep within the forest, which are currently among the most popular with domestic and international tourists.

Rare animals in the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve.

Most tourists who stay overnight at Cat Tien National Park want to join the night safari tour, as it is a rare opportunity to observe animals in the green forest at night. Visitors may see herds of deer foraging, along with porcupines, wild rabbits, and civets... roaming in the darkness, or they may happen to look up at a tree branch and spot a bird sleeping soundly, undisturbed even as light shines into its shelter. The nocturnal life of animals deep in the forest has created a special appeal for anyone who has experienced it.

Another popular attraction is Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake). Located more than 10 kilometers from the national park center, the site can be reached by vehicle or through a forest trek. Along the way, visitors immerse themselves in pristine natural surroundings and gain a deeper appreciation of the area's diverse flora.

Visiting Cat Tien National Park during the peak heat of May, Nguyen Van Dinh, a tourist from Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said it was his first visit to Cat Tien National Park and that the cool green natural space, along with many wild flowers and butterflies, made him and his group extremely excited about the experience of cycling through the forest to admire flowers, listen to birds singing, and watch butterflies flutter. Dinh said: "We have just gone through a period of high-pressure work in the city, so when we came to Cat Tien National Park, we felt completely relaxed and at ease. This helps us regenerate energy before returning to our daily work."

Covering more than 100,000 hectares, the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve is one of the city’s most significant ecological treasures. The reserve is home to more than 1,500 plant species, over 2,200 animal species, including numerous rare and endemic species. In 2011, UNESCO recognized the wider Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve as a World Biosphere Reserve, with Cat Tien National Park and the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve forming its core conservation areas. The reserve also encompasses part of Tri An Lake, an area planned for national tourism development. In 2025, the reserve became one of only three protected areas in Vietnam to be recognized as ASEAN Heritage Parks.

Currently, the reserve is an ideal destination for tourists during holidays, Tet, and weekends, with tours such as cycling through the forest to welcome sunrise and sunset at Tri An Lake, and a bird-watching tour in the forest.

A “symphony” of nature

It would not be an exaggeration to compare Dong Nai to a "symphony" of nature because each forest in Dong Nai is a unique ecosystem, creating a diverse and captivating beauty that entices every step of a visitor's exploration.

Located at the border between the two communes of Bu Gia Map and Dak O in Dong Nai City, Bu Gia Map National Park is also an appealing destination, known for its pristine beauty, majestic waterfalls, and rich flora and fauna. Vuong Duc Hoa, Director of Bu Gia Map National Park, said Bu Gia Map National Park has the characteristics of a transitional region from the Central Highlands down to the southern plains, giving the area an especially rich convergence of weather, nature, and the development of plant and animal systems. Recently, Bu Gia Map National Park has opened additional forest exploration routes featuring waterfalls, clusters of heritage trees, and experiences with the cuisine and traditional culture of the S'tieng and M'nong ethnic groups.

Nguyen Thanh An from Tan Trieu ward shared: After the merger of the two former provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc, An explored some destinations in the former Binh Phuoc province (now the Northern part of Dong Nai City), including Bu Gia Map National Park, which offered a completely different feeling from destinations in southern Dong Nai such as Cat Tien National Park and Gia Canh Forest, as Bu Gia Map National Park is very peaceful. What impressed An most was the cluster of hundreds-of-years-old heritage trees with impressive root systems that are no less magnificent than those in other forests.

"When walking on the forest paths, I saw many different types of vegetation zones in each area, creating a very impressive and colorful natural painting. Even more impressive are the majestic waterfalls in Bu Gia Map, such as Dak Mai Waterfall and Dak Bo Waterfall, as well as the many small streams and waterfalls within the park. I hope to have the opportunity to return and have more time to explore the nature here," An said.

In Southern Dong Nai, Gia Canh Forest in Dinh Quan Commune is a destination that has existed for decades under the name Mai Waterfall – Bau Nuoc Soi Tourist Area. Gia Canh Forest is currently home to several travel companies offering forest trekking tours, including Meerkat Travel Co., Ltd. and Tri An Adventure Experience Travel Co., Ltd. With its poetic forest trails, ancient tree canopies, and fresh air, Gia Canh Forest offers visitors a relaxing sense of escape.

As the first unit licensed to operate adventure tours and currently effectively operating the Gia Canh Forest trekking tour, Nguyen Nho Kien, Director of Meerkat Travel, said visitors participating in forest trekking tours in Gia Canh will experience activities such as cycling through the forest, conquering rocky mountains, soaking their feet in hot mineral water, swimming in waterfalls, and many other activities to visit and explore Gia Canh Forest. With each activity, visitors will experience different levels of emotion as they immerse themselves in the green natural space, discover giant rocky mountains such as Seven Mau Rock (Da Bay Mau), which is vast and features a seven-hectare forest on its unique peak, or visit scenic spots like Dia rock formation, Ba Chong Rock, and Hang Doi Cave. These are all natural "masterpieces" in Dinh Quan commune.

It can be seen that in Dong Nai, each forest has its own character, from majesty and mystery to peace and familiarity, but all blend into an emotional natural "symphony". Coming to Dong Nai, visitors not only get to admire the green of the mountains and forests but also touch the wild rhythm of life and deeply feel the value of Dong Nai, a land rich in eco-tourism potential.

By Ngoc Lien – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho