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TRAVEL HOTLIST 2014
Nam Cat Tien National Park is lo-
cated in the south of Vietnam, approxi-
mately 150km north of Ho Chi Minh
City and it takes around three hours to
get there by car. There’s a big miscon-
ception that it’s difficult to get to the
park but this couldn’t be further from
the truth. A number of tourist buses run
services past the park and can drop you
off on route so don’t be put off by some
guide books’ incorrect advice.
Although the park is one of the
largest in Vietnam it is a hidden gem
for many tourists and Vietnamese lo-
cals as they simply do not know of its
existence despite the park’s continuous
efforts to attract visitors. The park is
extremely diverse with wet lands, lakes,
and primary forests. It has a large sec-
tion of rare animals such as the Asian el-
ephant, sun bears, gaur and the golden
cheek gibbon.
There are lodges around the park,
such as the Ta Lai Longhouse which of-
fers accommodation and activities like
kayaking, fishing and mountain biking
to suit visitors’ thirst for mother nature.
Even if you have no desire to do
any activities, this is still a great place
to spend time enjoying the scenery
and breathe in the fresh air. The Ta
Lai longhouse is an adventure heaven
overlooking the jungle and steeped in
the culture and history of the S’Tieng
and Ma minorities. On the top of a hill,
overlooking a lake, the longhouse of-
fers a great experience for adventurous
types, families, team building groups
and people who would just like to relax
and get away from the noisy cities and
roads of Vietnam.
For the year 2014, I think that tour-
ists will be attracted to the new beaches
such as Co To island and Quan Lan is-
land in the north; Hai Hoa, Chu Lai and
Quy Nhon in the central coast; and Vinh
Hy Bay in the south.
Tours of the northern mountain-
ous areas such as Cao Bang - Bac Can,
Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Son La and
Dien Bien are also very interesting. The
imposing mountain landscapes as well
as the colourful hill tribes will bewitch
you fully as will the world’s most mag-
nificent trekking and cycling among val-
leys during the harvest season when
the terraced fields are covered with
golden rice. This will bring unforget-
table moments to tourists. You can live
in a homestay with hill tribes and go to
their brilliant market every weekend to
explore their pure and colourful culture
and lifestyle.
FRANCOIS BOUVERY
Business development manager at Talai Adventure
NGUYEN CONG HOAN
Vice director of Hanoi Redtour
NGUYEN THI THANH
NGA
General manager of
365 TRAVEL
There is a place in Vietnam where
tourists can enjoy the sun, the sea,
beaches, forests, mountains, streams,
historical heritage, interesting local
lifestyle, good food, good accommo-
dation, and convenient transport. That
place is Phu Quoc. This 60,000 ha
island used to be referred to as Hell on
Earth during the wartime for its notori-
ous prison facility. Nowadays, it is a
tourism haven well known for the local
pearl farming trade and as the brand
name of the best fish sauce of Vietnam.
The island is also a protected national
park and it has a warm climate, pristine
sandy beaches with crystal clear water,
a long mountain range with 99 peaks
and lush rainforests.
The beaches of Phu Quoc are
among the best in Vietnam, with Dai
Beach rated by ABC News as one of the
world’s most beautiful and cleanest in
2012. Swimming, diving, fishing, boat-
ing, hiking, observing wildlife or even
mountaineering are just a few of the
things visitors can do here.
Vinh Hy Bay
Cat Tien National Park