Cat Tien is a small town that lies in Lam Dong Province, about 4hrs north of Saigon on route to Dalat. It sits across the Dong Nai river from the Cat Tien National Park, a UNESCO and nationally protected area of primary forest. Cat Tien National Park spans a massive area of 70,000+ ha and is home to an estimated 1,610 species, including ancient trees, exotic birds, insects and two wildlife rescue centres that rehabilitate sun and moon bears. The national park is open every day from 7:30am to 6:30pm, year-round.
How long to stay – the location of Cat Tien makes it impossible to visit as a day trip. A minimum of 1 night is required, though I recommend 2 nights to give you 1 full day for exploring.
Best time of year – The transitional months of Nov/Dec and May/Jun offer the best weather, with slightly cooler temperatures and less chance of rain. Try to avoid monsoon season (Jun-Nov) as there will be lots of mud.
Note: Bring cash as there are no ATMs in Cat Tien town. Some hotels take cards but bring cash to be sure.