When mentioning Vietnam, many international tourists often think of vast rice fields, poetic beaches, or famous historical sites. However, one of the special natural treasures that you should not miss when coming to Vietnam is U Minh Ha National Park - a pristine and wild flooded forest, located deep in the heart of the Mekong Delta. This is an ideal destination for those who love to explore nature, learn about the unique ecosystem and cultural life of the people in the river region. Let's start the journey to discover one of the "green lungs" of Vietnam and experience the peace and tranquility that U Minh Ha brings.
Where is U Minh Ha National Park?
U Minh Ha National Park
U Minh Ha National Park is one of the prominent destinations of Ca Mau province, located in Khanh Lam and Khanh An communes (U Minh district) and Tran Hoi and Khanh Binh Tay Bac communes (Tran Van Thoi district). With a total area of 82.68 km², this national park plays an important role in preserving the typical flooded forest ecosystem of the Mekong Delta region and is home to many rare species of flora and fauna in Vietnam.
U Minh Ha is famous for its diverse flora and fauna, including many species of high conservation value such as water birds, fish, turtles and especially cajuput trees. Studies show that this place plays an important role in regulating the climate, protecting water resources and balancing the natural ecosystem.
Not only attracting researchers, U Minh Ha National Park is also a favorite destination for domestic and foreign tourists, thanks to its wild, rustic beauty along with ecotourism activities such as taking a boat to visit the forest, exploring the flora and fauna, and enjoying specialties from U Minh forest.
Basic information about U Minh Ha National Park
Basic information about U Minh Ha National Park
U Minh Ha National Park is a special nature reserve, located about 25 km from the center of Ca Mau city. With an area of 82.86 km², this national park was established in 2006, with the goal of protecting the lowland wetland ecosystem of the Mekong Delta region. This is one of the rare areas that still retains its wild beauty, and is a place to preserve many rare species of flora and fauna.
The ecosystem in U Minh Ha National Park is extremely rich, with mangroves, snakes, turtles, birds and amphibians. In particular, more than 8,000 hectares of the park are Melaleuca forests, the symbolic tree species of the wetland ecosystem here. In addition, U Minh Ha also has a 25,000 ha buffer zone, helping to maintain and protect the biodiversity of the area.
U Minh Ha National Park plays an important role in environmental and ecological conservation. This national park has been officially recognized by UNESCO as one of the three core zones of the Mui Ca Mau Biosphere Reserve. This is the pride of Vietnam when it is included in the list of world biosphere reserves, affirming the importance of U Minh Ha in maintaining global ecological balance.
The typical landscape of U Minh Ha is the endless cajuput forests along with the vast system of rivers and canals, creating a harmonious natural picture, attracting tourists looking for peace and wilderness. As an important conservation area with potential for ecotourism development, U Minh Ha National Park is becoming an attractive destination for both nature enthusiasts and environmental researchers.
Contact information and admission fees
Tourists visit U Minh Ha National Park
U Minh Ha National Park is located in Vo Doi Hamlet, Tran Hoi Commune, Tran Van Thoi District, Ca Mau Province.
Contact information:
- Official website: vuonqgumh.camau.gov.vn
- Contact phone: 0780.391.0020 / 0780.391.0070
Visitors can contact directly by phone or visit the website for more details about activities and services at U Minh Ha National Park.
Service price list at U Minh Ha National Park:
Entrance ticket: Ticket price: 10,000 VND/person/turn. Tickets apply to all visitors coming to visit and explore the natural landscape at the national park.
Boat rental service to visit the forest: Boat rental price for 1 hour: 150,000 VND/person. Boat rental price for 30 minutes: 80,000 VND/person.
Boat rental service will help visitors fully experience the beauty of the flooded forest, explore deep into the wild areas, where many rare species of animals and plants live.
Directions to U Minh Ha National Park
Below are detailed instructions on how to get to U Minh Ha National Park by popular means:
Travel by motorbike
If you choose to travel by motorbike, from the center of Ca Mau city, you follow National Highway 1A. After crossing Ca Mau bridge, turn onto Ngo Quyen street and continue on Vo Van Kiet street. Along this route, you will see signs to U Minh Ha National Park. If you are unsure, you can stop and ask the locals for specific instructions.
Travel by car
If you depart from Ho Chi Minh City, you can catch buses from bus stations such as Mien Dong bus station, Mien Tay bus station or An Suong bus station. These buses will take you to Ca Mau bus station. From here, there are two options to continue your journey to U Minh Ha National Park:
- Taxi or motorbike taxi: After getting off at Ca Mau bus station, you can easily catch a taxi or motorbike taxi to go straight to U Minh Ha National Park. This is the fastest and most convenient way if you want to save time.
- Bus: If you want to save money, you can take a bus from Ca Mau bus station to U Minh town. However, from U Minh town, you will need to take another taxi or motorbike taxi to go about 20km more to reach U Minh Ha forest.
The ideal time to visit U Minh Ha National Park
In Ca Mau, the climate is divided into two distinct seasons: rainy season and dry season, each season brings its own unique experiences when you visit the national park.
Rainy season (November to April)
Boat trip through the canals during flood season
During the rainy season, the water level of rivers and canals in the U Minh Ha area rises, creating ideal conditions for boat tours. This is a great time for visitors to sit on a boat and drift gently through the canals, weaving between the forest canopy, admiring the lush natural scenery and rich flora and fauna. Boating during this season brings a relaxing experience and helps you explore deeper into the heart of the forest, where many species of birds and aquatic species live.
Dry season (May to October)
If you like to explore nature by walking or cycling through the forest, the dry season is a more suitable time. In the dry season, the roads in the national park become dry, convenient for moving and exploring on land. You can easily visit the trails in the forest, learn about the rich flora and witness the lives of many wild animals. The dry season is also a favorable time for visitors who want to take photos or organize outdoor activities in the beautiful nature.
Depending on your preferences, you can choose the rainy season to experience the feeling of a boat drifting gently through the mangrove river, or come in the dry season to comfortably explore on land. Both seasons bring their own charm and memorable experiences to U Minh Ha National Park.
Read more: U Minh Thuong Nation Park: A Natural Charm of Vietnam Can Not Miss
Unique experiences when visiting U Minh Ha National Park
Coming to U Minh Ha National Park, visitors will have many unique experiences such as:
Explore the life of indigenous fishermen
When coming to U Minh Ha, visitors have the opportunity to learn more about the livelihood of local fishermen. Stories about beekeeping for honey in the Melaleuca forest, planting Melaleuca trees to protect the land and exploit forest products, or living in the middle of the mangrove area will open up for you a new perspective on the harmonious connection between people and nature. Talking with the locals, visitors will learn a lot of valuable knowledge about how they use resources sustainably, as well as the resilience in life in this special land.
Learn about the flooded Melaleuca forest ecosystem
Flooded Melaleuca forest in U Minh Thuong National Park
During the rainy season, the U Minh Ha Melaleuca forest ecosystem becomes more vibrant than ever. Visitors can take a boat ride along the canals to explore the wild beauty of the flooded forest. The Melaleuca forest here is home to many rare and diverse animals, from birds, snakes to freshwater fish. In particular, when visitors come during the flood season, the landscape becomes even more majestic, creating a vivid natural picture with flooded trees and migratory birds flying in the sky.
Enjoy country cuisine
Rustic country dishes
Western cuisine always makes visitors remember forever because of its rustic and fresh flavors. Visitors can enjoy specialties such as grilled snakehead fish, fish sauce hotpot - dishes with a strong countryside flavor. Snakehead fish is grilled directly on charcoal fire, fragrant, sweet meat, served with fresh vegetables from the cajuput forest. Rich fish sauce hotpot, combined with seafood and wild vegetables is a typical dish that cannot be missed when coming here.
Watch the sunrise and sunset
Beautiful scenery at the national park
One of the experiences not to be missed when coming to U Minh Ha is watching the sunrise and sunset. In the early morning, when the sun begins to appear, the scene becomes magical with the gentle golden rays of sunlight reflecting on the calm water surface. In the afternoon, the sunset creates a romantic natural picture with warm colors blending with the sound of birds flying back to their nests. This is the moment that makes visitors deeply feel the peace and tranquility of nature.
Take in the panoramic view from the observation deck
At U Minh Ha National Park, there is an observation tower about 24 meters high, from which visitors can admire the entire vast landscape of the mangrove forest. When standing on the top of the tower, everything seems to shrink, from the endless cajuput forest to the winding canals. This is the ideal place for you to save beautiful photos and feel the majesty of nature from a different perspective.
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Some notes when preparing for a visit to U Minh Ha National Park
To make your visit to U Minh Ha National Park smooth and safe, visitors should note some important things below:
Prepare seasonal essentials
- If you come during the rainy season (November to April): Bring mosquito repellent and insect repellent, as flooded forest areas often have many insects. In addition, you should also prepare rain gear such as raincoats and umbrellas to avoid sudden rain when moving in the forest.
- If you come during the dry season (May to October): Protecting your skin from the sun is very important. Bring sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothing to avoid sunburn when visiting, especially when you spend a lot of time outdoors.
Notes on accommodation
There is currently no overnight accommodation service in the U Minh Ha National Park area. Therefore, after visiting, visitors need to arrange to move to U Minh town to rent a motel, or can choose to go to Ca Mau city to rest with more hotel options and convenient services.
Protect the environment and ecosystem
U Minh Ha National Park is home to a unique mangrove ecosystem and many rare species of flora and fauna. Visitors must strictly comply with environmental protection regulations and not engage in any acts that harm the natural environment. Avoid littering, do not disturb wildlife, and do not pick flowers or cut trees in the conservation area. Environmental protection is the responsibility of each person to preserve the pristine beauty and conserve biodiversity in the national park.
The journey with Sinhcafe to explore U Minh Ha National Park is not only a trip to return to pristine nature but also an opportunity for international visitors to learn more about the unique culture of the Southwest region. With the professionalism and dedication of the Sinhcafe team, each experience in U Minh Ha will become more complete and memorable than ever. We are committed to bringing visitors unforgettable moments, from exploring unique ecosystems to enjoying rustic cuisine and immersing in the daily life of indigenous people. Let Sinhcafe accompany you on this meaningful adventure to explore Vietnam.