U Minh forest covers an area of ​​about 2,000 km². U Minh forest is a very specific type of forest, ranked as unique and rare in the world, including the upper part is U Minh Thuong National Park (in Kien Giang), the lower part is U Minh Ha National Park (in Ca Mau). Between U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha are the Trem river and Cai Tau river.  The nature here is very majestic and unspoiled.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Ca Mau Visitor Guide

1. Better to Know as a Tourist

Ticket: 

Spend-time: One day (approx)

Hours: Dawn – dusk 

Food: Yes      

Shop: Yes 

Parking lot: Yes

Blog: https://vemekong.com/u-minh-forest-ca-mau/

Address:  Located close to the Gulf of Thailand, in the two provinces of Kien Giang and Ca Mau, Vietnam.

Added values: U Minh forest is considered to have the highest biomass value compared to other forest types with about 250 species of plants, mainly Melaleuca trees growing everywhere, more than 180 species of birds, more than 20 species of reptiles, etc.

Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from U Minh Ha National Park? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam (137 km), Ca Mau City Bird Garden (28km), Mui Ca Mau National Park (137 km), Thi Tuong Lagoon (82 km), Nam Can Mangrove Forest (67 km), Thien Lam Pagoda (35 km), Hon Da Bac Island (62 km)…

2. Travel Guide to U Minh Forest

U Minh Thuong National Park

In the alum forest ecosystem of the Mekong Delta, only the forest flora of the core zone of U Minh Thuong National Park has the characteristics of primeval primeval forests. These are mixed melaleuca forests and melaleuca forests on peat land, with an area of ​​​​nearly 3,000 hectares. This was also the base of the revolution during the resistance war. With this feature, U Minh Thuong National Park is one of the two most important areas of the remaining peat swamp forest in Vietnam (the other area is U Minh Ha). On the peat remains the natural landscape of the ancient U Minh forest with ancient melaleuca trees and red water in the U Minh region. The Melaleuca forest ecosystem on peatland has become an ecosystem of special importance, as a home for hundreds of wildlife species, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish, insects and many aquatic species distributed at different depths in the ecosystem. Although the fauna in U Minh Thuong is not rich compared to other protected areas in Vietnam, it is important for the alum flooded forest ecosystem and the Mekong Delta region.

U Minh Thuong possesses the most biodiversity of plant species in the Mekong Delta, besides the growth of Melaleuca trees, there are more than 254 species belonging to 84 families, with many endemic species such as orchids, pointed duckweed and fern…According to survey data from forest inventory in 1995, U Minh Thuong Biological Reserve owns 8,053 hectares of primeval forest, of which 3,000 hectares were formed around 6,000 years ago with a thickness of 0,3-1.5m. The fauna is also very rich with 32 species belonging to 10 families, 7 genera, including 7 species of bats, 10 species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world such as hairy-nosed otters, cats, civets, squirrel, Java pangolin (Sunda);  188 bird species belonging to 39 families and 12 genera, accounting for 16.6% of the 828 species recorded in Vietnam, of which 12 are of conservation value, and 8 are globally threatened such as the gray-footed pelican, wolf bird, black-headed stork, gray-headed bird, black eagle; 54 species of amphibian reptiles, of which 8 are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam such as pythons, cobras, snakes, geckos..; 34 fish species including two species are called: white catfish and strabismus are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, other typical species are snakehead fish, giant snakehead, anabas, mudskipper… In U Minh Thuong, there are 72 precious and rare species of flora and fauna recorded in the Vietnam Red Book 2007 and the IUCN Red List 2012. In particular, scientists discovered that the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) is a rare species recorded in the Vietnam Red Book of Animals and the World Red Book (IUCN).

U Minh Ha National Park

The flora and fauna system here is extremely rich and diverse: there are nearly 250 plant species, 250 plant species, 182 bird species, 20 reptile and amphibian species, 40 mammal species and many other insect species.  There are many species recorded in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Thanks to a stable and suitable ecological environment, birds and storks gather here to breed, live and develop in large numbers.  These are species such as storks, mallard (chim le le), Oriental darter (chim điên điển phương Đông), black-crowned night heron (Vạc), watercock (gà nước), great egret, black cranes, cormorant… and many species of storks such as white storks, blue storks, red storks, incense storks and bats…  including dozens of rare species of birds and animals recorded in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

U Minh Ha forest also has abundant aquatic resources, in which there are many species of fish typical for the Mekong Delta region such as snakehead fish, strabismus (cá thác lác), yellow catfish… not only having biological value but also have high economic value.  Recently, many rare wildlife species have appeared in U Minh Ha Melaleuca forest, the most notable of which is wild boar – a rare animal that has been “missing” for decades.  The reappearance of many wild animals such as wild boars, small indian civets, cobras, iguanas, crocodiles… along with hundreds of existing animal species, enrich the flora and fauna system.  animals of this forest.

During the two resistance wars against the French colonialists and the American empire, U Minh Ha Melaleuca forest was the revolutionary base of the whole South, having great significance in the history of the nation’s heroic struggle.  U Minh Forest used to be the living and working place of many high-ranking Party leaders.  In 1954, right after boarding the train to the North, Comrade Le Duan, (at that time a member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Southern Party Committee) secretly returned to U Minh forest to lead the southern revolution. Comrade Vo Van Kiet, when he was Secretary of the Bac Lieu Provincial Party Committee, was also a person who was closely related to U Minh Ha.

From the forest gate (Vo Doi hamlet, Tran Hoi commune, Tran Van Thoi district), the road is smooth and clean, leading visitors to run through the observation deck up to 24 meters high.  Standing on the observatory to have a panoramic view, visitors can’t help but be surprised by the vast green color of the leaves, the forest seems to stretch endlessly and feel small in front of the vast nature.

3. What to Do –See – Eat at U Minh Forest

U Minh Thuong National Park        

In recent years, U Minh Thuong National Park has been known to tourists as an attractive ecotourism destination in the Southwest region and more and more tourists are coming.

As a land of special ecological environment with many archaeological relics, historical sites, as well as described by many great writers of the South such as Son Nam, Doan Gioi, then the filmmakers also chose this place. As the backdrop for movies like “Beside the Trem River”, it’s no wonder that U Minh Thuong National Park has become a favorite destination for tourists and researchers alike. The first destination that visitors can visit is a green and wooded mound, where a flock of bats hover above the incredibly tall Cajuput trees, inhabited by several species of large crow bats (Pteropus vampyrus Linnaeus) is threatened with extinction. Leaving the bats, separated from the canal, an immense water surface covered with soft water ferns appeared before your eyes. This is a beach for many birds, visitors can watch or take pictures of birds quite easily because they are very human-friendly. Along with it is Hoa Mai Lake, a swamp that is flushed out in the form of a flower with five petals, its surface covered with beautiful ferns like a spreading carpet, and it is also a tourist center of U Minh Thuong National Park. Visitors can relax and entertain themselves by pedaling a swan boat on the lake, carrying a fishing rod around the lake to experience like a real fisherman, or renting a boat to paddle along the lily-filled canal. Located next to Hoa Mai Lake, the houses on stilts for food are an extremely interesting destination, where visitors can enjoy many specialties with a rustic but bold flavor of U Minh.

U Minh Ha National Park

Traveling to Ca Mau, coming to U Minh Ha Forest, you will have extremely interesting experiences because of the wild but extremely unique features that are not found anywhere else.

There is nothing more interesting than being on boats, following the canals, going deep into the forest through reeds, along with the immense fragrant melaleuca forests.  However, this service is only open seasonally, if in the right season the water is up or it is too dry, this form of tourism will not work.  To be sure, everyone should contact the management before traveling.

The deeper you go inside, the more you can feel the wild beauty of the forest, which is hundreds of years old.  Floating on the river and water of Ca Mau, you will be able to see the extremely diverse flora and fauna, and hear the legends from the prehistoric times that colonized the southern land such as the story of Uncle Ba Phi.  Along the rivers and creeks, visitors will encounter farmers letting go of fishing boats under the canopy of Melaleuca forest, watching the fresh aquatic species they have just caught.

Visitors can rent a canoe and find a vantage point in the woods to fish or cast their own nets.  There are a lot of fish here, so it’s not difficult for visitors to have a basket full of fish after the fishing trip. If you’re lucky, you can also catch snakehead fish weighing around 1kg, or sometimes up to 2 or 3kg, because there are many natural fish here and are protected quite strictly.  Or depending on the time, you can join the people in the forest to order shelter to catch eels, order to catch fish…, go to pick buds, tubs, lotuses, guns.

In particular, under the forest canopy, bees diligently suck honey from the pistils of Melaleuca flowers and bring it back to the hive, annually for large production.  In the bee-eating season from December to June, visiting U Minh Ha forest will give you the opportunity to follow the woodworkers to the forest to collect honey, both an interesting experience and enjoying the young bees that have just been cut, dotted with a little bit of golden molasses, it is sweet to the tip of the tongue.

The bee guard profession of people in U Minh Ha forest (U Minh district and Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province) has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.  in early 2020.

After the trip through the U Minh Ha forest, visitors will enjoy the specialties of the U Minh Ha forest, which are freshwater fish, brackish water fish, shrimp, eel, crab, etc.  Coming here, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the real U Minh fish sauce hot pot, the eel cooked with the wild vegetables or the wild flavor of the cobra, onion and green bean porridge cooked in Ca Mau style. There are also many other delicious dishes such as grilled snakehead fish, water lilies dipped in salt and green chili peppers, anabas testudineus (Cá rô đồng) cooked in fish sauce hot pot, fried rice hamsters…  Sipping with the rich flavor of the fruit wine – named the “forest wine” of U Minh Ha – will bring visitors to fully feel the wild but idyllic flavor of the real Mekong region.

4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong

As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.

From Ca Mau city center:

Route 1:

Route 2:

Route 3:

If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Ca Mau. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Ca Mau daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

5. Google Maps of U Minh Forest

Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location… 

6. Visit U Minh Forest by yourself

Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.

It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from Google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Ca Mau village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Ca Mau.

7. Responsible Travel and Advice U Minh Forest

Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com is one of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.

8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of U Minh Forest (4k) 

If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more. 

9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers 

To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. The Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com

10. Pro Tips 

You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself. There are many local homestays in the mangrove forest near Ca Mau cape and near U Minh Ha forest. Both of these places are super green for staying and forget the world.

If you plan to extend your travel to Ca Mau homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Ca Mau or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Ca Mau responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Ca Mau food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Ca Mau cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Banh tam ga cay (Silkworm rice cake with curried chicken), grilled Vop clams with salt and pepper, grilled snakehead fish, grilled mudskipper fish, stone crab roast with salt, young bee salad, Ba Khia – A traditional food in Ca Mau, Ca Mau crab is a must-eat…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Ca Mau in the rainy season, as Ca Mau always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Ca Mau tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Ca Mau City Bird Garden, Ca Mau Cape – The South Pole of Vietnam, U Minh Ha National Park, Mui Ca Mau National Park, Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda, Thien Lam Pagoda, Ca Mau Floating Market (totally no more), Cao Dai Temple In Ca Mau, Nam Can Mangrove Forest, Quan Am Ancient Temple, Memorial of President Ho Chi Minh, Watch the Sunrise and Sunset at Ca Mau Cape, U Minh Forest, Thi Tuong Lagoon, Khai Long Tourist Area, Hon Khoai Island, Hon Da Bac Island,

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Ca Mau province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you