Not only famous for its fragrant lotus fields and the poetic beauty of blooming flowers year-round in Sa Dec, but also for vast rice fields with flocks of soaring storks... Dong Thap also boasts ecotourism spots that captivate tourists. One of these is Tram Chim National Park. With its beautiful, serene natural scenery and impressive ecosystem of fauna and flora, visiting Tram Chim National Park is sure to provide you with wonderful experiences. Join Vietnam Original Travel as we explore this wonderful place.

About Tram Chim National Park

Tram Chim National Park is located within seven communes and Tram Chim town, in Tam Nong district. Tram Chim is also the fourth Ramsar site (wetland biosphere reserve) in Vietnam and the 2,000th in the world, with an area of over 7,000 hectares.

Tram Chim National Park is home to rich vegetation with more than 130 different species and is the habitat of over 100 species of vertebrate animals, 147 species of water birds (including 13 globally rare bird species, especially the red-crowned crane), and 40 different species of fish.

In addition, with its abundant canal system, rivers and lakes, the park is home to a diversity of fish. These fish not only provide an abundant food source for the birds but also play a crucial role in the ecological balance.

Tram Chim National Park Entrance Fee

Adults: 20,000 VND

Children < 1.4m: Free

Things to See and Do in Tram Chim National Park

Tram Chim National Park divides its ecosystem of more than 130 plant species into distinct communities interspersed with one another. These include lotus communities, swamps, cajuput forests, wild rice, and various types of moss.

In addition to its rich flora, Tram Chim is home to an incredible system of fauna, many of which are rare and listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book of endangered species. The park’s waterbird ecosystem is particularly notable, with over 233 species belonging to 49 families and 25 genera. Some of the rare animals you might encounter include the painted stork, spot-billed pelican, Malaysian plover, and white-winged duck.

The red-crowned crane, a rare bird listed in both Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List, is considered a precious natural gift to Tram Chim National Park. These cranes mainly live in Cambodia and occasionally migrate to the park during the dry season, though sightings are rare. As a result, many people visit Tram Chim National Park in the dry season, hoping to capture precious photos of these magnificent birds.

Paddling a boat through the Tram Chim National Park, you can feel the cool, fresh air and watch the sunlight gently filtering through the cajuput canopies. The scenery around you resembles a beautiful painting, with the occasional sounds of passing birds echoing through the forest.

As your boat drifts along, the landscape on either side continually changes. Sometimes you’ll see narrow water channels, dense cajuput forests, or water lilies floating. The further you go, the more impressed you’ll be.

One of the most popular experiences at Tram Chim National Park is getting to experience being a fisherman for a day, immersing yourself in their daily life. For this activity, you’ll join local farmers in paddling through the canals, setting nets and traps, and fishing. During the harvest season, you can head to the fields with the farmers, experiencing the hard work of rice harvesting. It’s a simple, rustic experience that will undoubtedly leave you with unforgettable memories.

How to Get to Tram Chim National Park from Saigon? 

To reach Tram Chim National Park from Saigon, you need to go to Tram Chim village, Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province. Tram Chim village is about 145 km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City, and the trip is quite convenient. Visitors can choose from several means of transportation.

Bus: This is a popular choice due to its convenience. You can opt for reputable bus companies operating on the Saigon-Dong Thap route, such as Hoong Minh and Tam Quoc Minh. The trip takes about 3 to 4 hours

​Luxury bus: If you are looking for a more comfortable and exclusive service, traveling by luxury bus from Saigon to Dong Thap is the best choice for your trip. The luxury bus will drop you near the Tram Chim National Park. Some of the reliable companies are Tan Nien, Hiep Thanh, and Hue Nghia, among others.

Plane: Tourists who are in the central or northern regions and wish to explore the typical beauty of western Vietnam need to fly out, of course. Dong Thap province has no airport. Tourists take the flight to Saigon or Can Tho and then take the bus to Dong Thap province.

You can also opt for a local travel agency such as Vietnam Original Travel to arrange all transportation for you from your hotel to Tram Chim National Park.

Best Time to Visit Tram Chim National Park

The ideal time to explore Tram Chim National Park depends on the seasons, each offering a unique experience that captivates visitors.

Flood season: From September to December on the lunar calendar (roughly October to January), it is the flood season. During this period, the park attracts a large number of tourists due to its fresh and lush landscape of natural forests. Here, you can admire the lotus and water lilies in full bloom.

Dry season: The dry season, from December to May on the lunar calendar (roughly January to June), is the perfect time to witness red-crowned cranes at Tram Chim National Park. Unlike other birds in the region, red-crowned cranes feed only on the ground, so during the flood season, they migrate elsewhere for food. Therefore, you can only see these magnificent cranes during the dry season, especially from February to May each year.

Flower season: You can also visit Tram Chim National Park from December to February to admire the Hoang Dau An and the Nhi Can flowers. The yellow Hoang Dau An flowers bloom simultaneously from 11 AM to 2 PM. The purple Nhi Can flowers begin to bloom in January and last for about 30-40 days, typically in low-lying, acidic wetlands, often mingling with lotuses and water lilies. Their beautiful colors create a fantastic landscape that you can only witness once a year.

Tram National Park 2-Day Itinerary from Saigon

DAY 1: SAIGON - CAO LANH - TAM NONG

05:30: Vietnam Original Travel bus and guide pick up guests at the designated location.

06:00: Depart for Dong Thap, starting the Tram Chim National Park tour. Have breakfast at a local restaurant and continue the journey.

10:00: Arrive in Cao Lanh to visit the tomb of Nguyen Sinh Sac, father of President Ho Chi Minh.

11:30: Have lunch in Cao Lanh and then continue to Tam Nong. Check in at the hotel.

14:00: Arrive at Tram Chim National Park. Take a boat ride to observation tower No. 3 (zone A1). Explore the distinctive vegetation of the Dong Thap Muoi region, and take photos of lotus flowers, water lilies, and wild rice fields. Experience traditional fishing methods: casting nets, setting traps, and line fishing.

19:00: Dinner with local specialties: grilled chicken, field rat, water lily with fish sauce, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves...

Explore Tam Nong town at night and stay overnight.

DAY 2: TAM NONG - CAO LANH - SAIGON

06:30: Breakfast—Check nets and traps to catch fish at a local pond. Learn about the daily life of residents during the flood season.

Take a boat to Quyet Thang station (zone A4 – special conservation area), and paddle three-plank through the cajuput forests to observe birds during the breeding season: herons, teals, wild ducks, bitterns, purple swamphens, and cormorants, etc.

11:30: Picnic lunch with Tram Chim specialties: sour soup with fish and wild vegetables, fried shrimp with sesbania flowers, braised perch with pepper, grilled snakehead fish wrapped in young lotus leaves, neighbor’s rice...

Check out—Stop by Tram Chim Market to buy local specialties. Depart for Saigon.

18:30: Arrive at the drop-off point – End of the Tram Chim National Park tour.

You may be interested:

=> Mekong Delta 3-Day Tour

=> Top 20 National Parks in Vietnam