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Nestled in the administrative center of Cat Tien National Park, the Museum of Nature Cat Tien is one of the first and most meaningful stops for visitors. Before heading into the forest, you can step inside the museum to gain a clear and engaging overview of the park’s rich wildlife and unique lowland tropical ecosystem. Thousands of preserved specimens are carefully displayed, helping you better understand the diversity that makes this place so special.
The Cat Tien Nature Museum is located near the headquarters of the Management Board of Cat Tien National Park, making it a convenient and meaningful first stop before starting your forest adventure. After buying your entrance ticket at the main gate, you walk to the nearby ferry dock to cross the Dong Nai River.
Once you reach the other side, you will arrive at the administrative center. From there, follow the small path on the left for about 20 meters, and the museum will appear on your left.
More than just an exhibition space, the museum is considered a true gateway to the Cat Tien ecosystem. Inside, thousands of specimens are carefully arranged by topic, including preserved animals, plants, and geological samples.
The Cat Tien Nature Museum is located near the main headquarters of Cat Tien National Park.
These displays help visitors better understand the Cat Tien National Park biodiversity, and share meaningful wildlife conservation stories in Vietnam. Through the clear interpretation, the museum helps in raising conservation awareness for the community, especially among students and young visitors who are the future guardians of the environment.
The park is internationally recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve (2001), a Ramsar Wetland site at Bau Sau (2005), a Special National Historical Site (2012), and a member of the IUCN Green List (2024). These titles highlight the global importance of Cat Tien’s biodiversity.
Cat Tien Nature Museum opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM daily. For all visitors, the Nature Museum ticket prices are currently 50,000 VND per person.
As the Cat Tien Nature Museum is located inside Cat Tien National Park, visitors must first purchase a park entrance ticket and a separate museum ticket at the main gate. Once inside, you can easily combine your museum visit with other activities in the park, such as cycling, trekking, or wildlife watching. If you would like to hire a tour guide, please contact the reception and ticket counter for assistance.
Cat Tien National Park entrance ticket includes one ferry trip to enter the park and one return trip. Other services are not included.
- Adults (16 years and above): 60,000 VND/person
- Elderly visitors (over 60 years old, with an ID card): 30,000 VND/person
- Students (with valid student card or school letter): 20,000 VND/person
- Children (under 16 years old): 10,000 VND/person
*Cat Tien Nature Museum ticket: 50,000 VND/person.
When visiting the Cat Tien Nature Museum, you can explore the rich biodiversity of the area, including a wide variety of animals and plant species found in Cat Tien National Park.
At Cat Tien National Park, up to 43 species are currently threatened with extinction at both national and global levels. Among them, 38 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book and its later updates.
Some outstanding endemic and rare species include the Black-shanked Douc, the Javan Rhinoceros (now extinct in this area), the Southern Red Muntjac, as well as other important wildlife such as the Asian Elephant, Gaur, Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, and Asiatic Black Bear.
Specimens of animals found in Cat Tien, including the skeletons of a rhinoceros and a gaur. Photo source: Đại Ngàn Cát Tiên.
Visitors can see preserved specimens of many of these important species in Cat Tien Nature Museum. The most impressive displays are the skeleton of the last rhinoceros in Vietnam and the large skeleton of a Gaur. The museum also shows other rare animals such as the Sunda Pangolin, Leopard Cat, Lesser Mouse-deer, Slow Loris, and Siamese Crocodile. In addition, there are nearly 20 bat specimens and about 10 large mammal exhibits.
Specimens of wild cat species found in Cat Tien.
The bird section is equally remarkable. The Green Peafowl and rare birds exhibit features beautiful and endangered species such as the Green Peafowl, the White-crested Pheasant, and the Sarus Crane. Together, these displays help visitors better understand the diverse birdlife that thrives in Cat Tien’s tropical forests and wetlands.
More than 1,610 plant species are found in Cat Tien National Park. A total of 38 rare species are listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book because of their high conservation and genetic value. About 22 species are endemic to the park or to the region. Many of these plants belong to important families such as Apocynaceae and Orchidaceae, which are well known for their ecological and scientific importance.
One of the most outstanding sections is the wood specimen collection at Cat Tien Nature Museum. This exhibition displays more than 120 samples of rare and long-lived tree species found in the park. It is known as a collection of precious timber samples from Nam Bo, representing some of the most valuable native hardwoods in southern Vietnam.
Visitors can see many valuable timber species such as Dalbergia (Rosewood), Red Afzelia, Pterocarpus (Padauk), and Xylia xylocarpa. There are also samples from the Dipterocarpaceae family, including Dipterocarpus alatus, which are common large hardwood trees in this region.
By looking at these carefully preserved wood specimens, visitors can better understand the different forest types in Cat Tien, such as evergreen broadleaf forests, semi-deciduous forests, and bamboo forests.
The Cat Tien National Park is famous for its rich insect diversity. Scientists have recorded more than 900 insect species in the park, belonging to dozens of families and orders. Among them, over 450 species are butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera). This number represents more than half of all butterfly species found in Vietnam.
The museum showcases the rich diversity of butterflies and insects found in Cat Tien National Park.
At the museum, visitors can see around 500 insect specimens on display. These specimens represent many of the insect species found in the park. The exhibition includes butterflies, beetles, ants, bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers, cicadas, and other tropical forest insects.
Butterfly specimens are displayed by order, creating a colorful and visually striking collection.
The museum also shows a simple illustration of the butterfly life cycle, helping visitors understand each stage from egg to caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.
A visit to the Cat Tien Nature Museum inside Cat Tien National Park usually takes about 30 - 45 minutes. This makes it an ideal stop either in the morning before heading into the forest or in the afternoon after completing trekking activities. Many visitors choose to explore the museum first to better understand the park’s biodiversity before experiencing it in real life. In addition to the 50,000 VND entrance fee, you can also book a tour guide for your museum visit by contacting Cat Tien National Park directly.
If you rent a bicycle to explore the park, the museum is often the first or last stop on your journey. Cycling is a convenient and eco-friendly way to move around the forest area.
Bicycle rental prices:
- 30,000 VND / 1 hour
- 100,000 VND / 4 hours
- 150,000 VND / 8 hours
For visitors who rent a bicycle to stay overnight at Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) or Konia Lodge:
- The bicycle must be returned before 12:00 PM the next day.
- If you take the bicycle before 12:00 PM: 200,000 VND
- If you take the bicycle after 12:00 PM: 150,000 VND
During your visit, please follow the Cat Tien Museum’s code of conduct to help preserve the exhibits. Do not touch the specimens to avoid damage, and avoid using strong flash photography in sensitive display areas. Respecting these guidelines helps protect the museum’s valuable collections for future generations.
After visiting the Cat Tien Nature Museum in Cat Tien National Park, you can easily combine your trip with many other exciting activities nearby. Because the museum is located close to the administrative center, restaurant, and main trails, it serves as a convenient starting point for exploring the park.
1. Visit the Cat Tien Wildlife Rescue Center:
You can easily go to the Cat Tien Wildlife Rescue Center, because it is located right next to the Nature Museum. The Cat Tien National Park is currently offering a combined ticket for the Cat Tien Nature Museum and the Cat Tien Wildlife Rescue Center.
The price is 50,000 VND for adults, and 25,000 VND for children under 1.5 meters tall. This ticket allows visitors to explore both the museum and the wildlife rescue center in one visit.
At this area, visitors may observe rescued bears recovering in a semi-natural environment, along with species such as yellow-cheeked gibbons, Great Hornbills, reticulated pythons, and Siamese crocodiles.
2. Easy trekking to the Ancient Tung Tree:
For nature lovers, a short trek to the ancient Tung tree is highly recommended. From the administrative center, you can walk about 3 km along an easy forest trail. This route is suitable for beginners and can be combined with light cycling.
The Tung tree is often visited together with nearby attractions such as the ancient Banyan tree, Ben Cu waterfall.
Visitors take photos and check in with the ancient Tung tree.
3. Cycling around the park:
Cycling is one of the most popular activities in Cat Tien National Park. After visiting the museum, you can rent a bicycle at the administrative center and explore the forest roads at your own pace. This eco-friendly activity allows you to enjoy the peaceful tropical landscape, breathe in the fresh forest air, and stop at famous ancient trees or scenic spots along the way.
4. Wildlife safari tour:
In the evening, visitors can join a wildlife night tour. The activity lasts about one hour and includes a 6 km car ride through the forest to spot nocturnal animals. Ticket prices depend on group size:
- 180,000 VND/person (from 4 guests)
- 300,000 VND/person (3 guests)
- 500,000 VND/person (2 guests)
- 900,000 VND/person (1 guest)
- Children receive a 50% discount compared to adult prices.
5. Explore Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake):
For a deeper adventure, you can visit Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake), one of the most famous wetland areas in the park. The entrance fee is 250,000 VND per person, excluding transportation and guide fees. Dinner costs about 120,000 VND per person, and breakfast is around 30,000 VND per person. There are also additional costs for overnight rooms and bicycle rental at Bau Sau. It is recommended to contact the park in advance to check room availability.
The natural landscape at Bau Sau.
6. Discover local culture at Ta Lai longhouse:
Beyond wildlife experiences, visitors can also discover the culture of the Ma ethnic community. You can join outdoor activities such as hiking up Green Hill, visiting cocoa and coffee gardens, kayaking on the river, or cycling around the peaceful village in the early morning, and experience local activities.
With its rich and well-preserved collections, Cat Tien Nature Museum plays an important role in education, conservation, and symbolic value.
The museum is like a simple and practical classroom about nature. Visitors, especially students, can learn how a tropical forest works, understand biodiversity, and see why every species is important.
It is also a great place for field trips for biology students in Cat Tien. By observing real animal and plant specimens, students can better connect their lessons with real life, making learning easier and more memorable. The Nature Museum helps visitors understand the serious impact of poaching and deforestation, and encourages a stronger sense of responsibility to protect forests and wildlife.
The museum supports biological research in Cat Tien by preserving important specimens. The collections help scientists monitor changes in biodiversity over time and better understand the condition of the ecosystem.
Visitors can also learn about animals listed in the IUCN Red List animals in Vietnam. In addition, the museum contributes to genetic resource conservation in Vietnam by storing biological samples for research and long-term conservation planning.
The museum also represents Vietnam’s conservation efforts in the face of global challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change. Unique specimens including the rhino, a species that has disappeared in Vietnam, serve as a strong reminder of the urgent need to protect endangered wildlife. Through these meaningful displays, the museum helps strengthen the position of Cat Tien National Park as a model for conservation and sustainable management.
