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Bù Gia Mập National Park

Bù Gia Mập National Park is one of the last intact lowland rainforest blocks in southeastern Vietnam - 26,000 hectares on the Cambodian border, 200km from Saigon. Difficulty 2/10, suitable for beginners. Famous for leeches, gibbon calls at dawn, and camping by Đắk Manh stream.

🌿 Primary Rainforest🦧 Gibbon Habitat🥾 Beginner Trek🏕️ Camping
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Overview

Best Time to Visit
📅 Nov - Apr (dry season: clear trails, clean streams, far fewer leeches). Avoid May - Oct wet season.
Entry Fee
🎟️ 100,000 VND/adult, 50,000 VND/child (over 1.2m), free under 1.2m. Tour packages 2,290,000 - 2,700,000 VND/person (2N1D, all-inclusive from HCMC).
Opening Hours
🕐 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM (park HQ). Overnight camping treks by arrangement.
Address
📌 Bù Gia Mập, Bù Gia Mập, Bình Phước

Things to Know

👥Crowds
One of the least visited national parks in southern Vietnam. Small groups, minimal infrastructure. Busier on weekends with HCMC tour groups.
🥾Difficulty
2/10 - suitable for beginners and families. 8-11km per route, gentle gradients, red basalt soil. Main challenges: leeches and slippery stream crossings. No technical climbing.
⚠️Safety
Leeches in all seasons - prepare thoroughly (long socks, insect repellent, know how to remove). No phone signal in forest interior. Do not separate from group. No wild food without guide confirmation. Wet season stream crossings can be dangerous without a ranger.
🚶Accessibility
200km from HCMC, 4-5 hours. Bus or motorbike. Park permit required - contact 02713.724.237 minimum 1-2 weeks ahead. Licensed guide mandatory for forest access. Tour packages 2,290,000-2,700,000 VND (2N1D all-inclusive from HCMC).
🌤️Seasonal
Nov-Apr (dry): best conditions, clear streams, far fewer leeches, bằng lăng trees turn orange-red. May-Oct (wet): muddy, leech-heavy, stream crossing risk - experienced trekkers only. Waterfalls most dramatic in wet season.
ABOUT THIS PLACE

What Makes Bù Gia Mập National Park Special

Bù Gia Mập National Park protects 26,000 hectares of lowland and transitional rainforest in the northern corner of Bình Phước province on the Cambodian border, about 200km from Ho Chi Minh City. It is one of the last significant blocks of primary lowland rainforest remaining in southeastern Vietnam - a forest type once continuous across the region, now almost entirely cleared. The park is home to 1,117 plant species, 104 mammal species (including yellow-cheeked gibbons, black-shanked douc langurs, gaur, and sun bear), 246 bird species, and 63 reptile and amphibian species. The border with Cambodia means the forest continues uninterrupted across a larger protected landscape, which is why wildlife density in the core zone remains high. On the difficulty scale, Bù Gia Mập rates about 2/10 compared to northern highland treks - the terrain is red basalt soil, gentle gradients, and stream crossings rather than technical climbing. The main challenge is not altitude but vắt (leeches), which are present in all seasons and abundant in the wet months.

How to Get There

🚗 Getting There

Bù Gia Mập is 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, 4-5 hours by car or motorbike. By bus from Bến xe Miền Đông: Petro Bình Phước runs ~10 services/day to Đắk Ơ near the park checkpoint (4h45m, ~150,000 VND). Xe Thành Công runs ~40 services/day to Phước Long (3h30m, ~130,000-150,000 VND) from where you continue to the park. By motorbike: QL13 through Bình Dương to Phú Giáo, then to Phước Long, then Đắk Ơ, then 25km to the park checkpoint. Fill up at Đắk Ơ - the final stretch into the forest is remote. Park HQ contact for permits: 02713.724.237.

What to Expect

👀 On the Ground

Trek routes of 8-11km through primary rainforest with stream crossings, gentle gradients, and dense jungle canopy. The main trails lead to Thác Lưu Ly waterfall, Tuyệt Tình Cốc pool (rope swing and swimming), and camping beside Đắk Manh stream. The highest point is around 738m with open forest views. Gibbon calls at dawn are audible from camp. The forest floor is red basalt soil - manageable when dry, slippery when wet. Standard 2-day 1-night format: trek in on day one, camp by the stream, return on day two. Evening meals at the campsite are typically cơm lam, grilled meat, and forest vegetables prepared by porters if on an organised tour.

Travel Tips

🧳 Tips

Bù Gia Mập is the closest primary rainforest experience to Saigon at a beginner-friendly difficulty level - a realistic 2N1D weekend trip that doesn't require northern highland fitness or preparation. The dry season (November to April) is significantly more comfortable: clear trails, swimmable streams, and far fewer leeches. Wet season (May-October) is possible for experienced trekkers who want maximum wildlife activity and the most dramatic waterfalls, but the leech density and slippery trails make it genuinely tiring. Tour packages from HCMC covering transport, guide, camping, and meals run 2,290,000-2,700,000 VND/person. Day tours are available for 700,000-800,000 VND. Book through the park or an established operator - independent forest access is not permitted.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Nov-Apr dry season - significantly more comfortable than wet season
Prepare for leeches regardless of season: long pants, long socks tucked over pants, insect repellent
Contact park: 02713.724.237 at least 1-2 weeks ahead for permits
Tour operators from HCMC: Hành Trình Bù Gia Mập, Tổ Ong Adventure, La Cà Tour (2N1D all-inclusive ~2.3-2.7M VND)
Do not go alone - stay with group, use whistle if separated
Difficulty 2/10 compared to northern mountain treks - no steep rock faces, mainly flat forest walking and stream crossings on red basalt soil. Ideal for first-time trekkers, families with children, or anyone wanting low-intensity jungle immersion.
⚠️ Bù Gia Mập is the 'kingdom of leeches' - expect them in any season, far more in wet season. Wear long pants, long socks, tuck pants into socks, apply insect repellent generously. Learn how to remove leeches before you go.
Contact the park management board at least 1-2 weeks before visiting to arrange permits and guides: 02713.724.237. A licensed guide or park ranger is required for all forest treks.
Tour operators running 2N1D packages from HCMC (all-inclusive, including transport): Hành Trình Bù Gia Mập (+84-33-2875-867, 2,350,000-2,700,000 VND), Tổ Ong Adventure (0933-227-878, 2,490,000 VND), La Cà Tour (0961-595-051, 2,290,000 VND). Day tours also available from NewTrip, toongadventure.vn, dichungxe.net (700,000-800,000 VND).
Bus from Bến xe Miền Đông: Petro Bình Phước to Đắk Ơ (near park checkpoint) - 10 departures/day, 4h45m, ~150,000 VND. Or Xe Thành Công to Phước Long - 40 departures/day, 3h30m, ~130,000-150,000 VND.
Motorbike route from HCMC: QL13 through Bình Dương → Phú Giáo → Phước Long → Đắk Ơ → +25km to park checkpoint. Total ~4-5 hours. Fill up fuel before Đắk Ơ - the road into the forest is remote.
The three main trek routes: (1) Đắk Manh - Đắk Ka - Thác Lưu Ly, (2) Giếng Trời - Đắk Bô, (3) Tuyệt Tình Cốc. 8-11km total per route. All involve stream crossings.
Campsite is beside Đắk Manh stream. Evenings: cơm lam (bamboo sticky rice), forest vegetables, grilled meat around the fire. Cold nights by the stream. Porters cook if on a tour - just bring snacks.
Highlights not to miss: Thác Lưu Ly waterfall (best in dry season - clear water over mossy rocks), Tuyệt Tình Cốc pool (rope swing, swimming, photo spots), Cây Đa Bạc Tỷ (ancient banyan with enormous root system).
Gibbons call at dawn - audible from camp. Yellow-cheeked gibbons and black-shanked douc langurs are present in the core zone.
No phone signal in the forest interior. Do not go alone - always stay with the group. If separated: stop, use a whistle or torch, wait for the group to find you.
Do not eat wild plants or berries without guide confirmation. Do not litter - carry a personal trash bag throughout.
Dry season (Nov-Apr): best. Forest changes colour (bằng lăng trees turn orange-red), streams clear and swimmable, far fewer leeches. Wet season (May-Oct): hardcore only - extremely muddy, leech-heavy, stream crossings dangerous without a ranger.

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

How difficult is trekking at Bù Gia Mập?›
About 2/10 compared to northern highland routes like Tà Năng or Ha Giang. No steep rock faces or technical climbing - mainly forest walking on gentle red basalt terrain with stream crossings. Routes are 8-11km. Suitable for first-time trekkers, families with children from age 6+, and anyone wanting jungle immersion without serious physical challenge. The main difficulty is leeches and slippery wet-season trails, not elevation.
What about the leeches?›
Bù Gia Mập is famous for leeches - locally called 'the kingdom of leeches'. They are present year-round, far more abundant in the wet season (May-October). Preparation: wear long pants, tuck into long socks, apply insect repellent to socks and shoes, check regularly. Learn how to remove them before you go - pull from the thin end, avoid squeezing. They are not dangerous, just unpleasant. Dry season (Nov-Apr) has significantly fewer.
What tour operators run trips from Ho Chi Minh City?›
2N1D all-inclusive packages (transport, guide, camping, meals): Hành Trình Bù Gia Mập (+84-33-2875-867, 2,350,000-2,700,000 VND), Tổ Ong Adventure (0933-227-878, 2,490,000 VND), La Cà Tour (0961-595-051, 2,290,000 VND). Day tours: NewTrip, toongadventure.vn, dichungxe.net (700,000-800,000 VND). Prices and itineraries change - contact operators directly before booking.
Is Bù Gia Mập suitable for children?›
Yes - it's one of the more child-friendly national park treks in southern Vietnam. Children from around age 6 can manage the routes with parental support. The gentle gradients, forest atmosphere, stream crossings, and campfire meals make it a genuine outdoor experience without the demands of highland trekking. Prepare children for leeches.
What wildlife can I expect to see or hear?›
Yellow-cheeked gibbons and black-shanked douc langurs are present in the core zone - gibbon calls are audible at dawn from the campsite. The park also has gaur, sun bear, and Asian elephant in the deeper forest, though sightings are rare. Bird activity is high in early morning with 246 recorded species. Wildlife signs (tracks, droppings, feeding evidence) are common on the trail even when animals aren't visible.