Tra Su forest is an ecosystem of cajeput trees that line dusty dirt roads and are home to a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.
Tra Su Melaleuca Forest is located in Van Giao commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province, about 10 km from the Cambodian border.
For those who love the beauty of wild nature, Tra Su is an ideal place to explore the typical ecosystem of the Mekong Delta. In the flood season, the forest takes on the attractive appearance of the green carpet of duckweed covering the entire large area.
Overview from the Tra Su forest
Before 1975, Tra Su was destroyed by American bombs and became a deserted area. After the war, the authorities of An Giang province invested in reforesting the cajeput and building a system of dikes 12 km long, 4 m wide and 4 m high which prevents the area from being flooded during flood season. The forest has been designated a Special Restoration Area since 1983, with the aim of becoming a renowned scientific forest and nature reserve.
Today, with an area of 850 ha with a very rich ecological ecosystem, Tra Su offers marvelous beauty of immense wetland, emerald green duckweed carpet and dense cajeput forest. Visitors will be overwhelmed by the magnificence of the forest as they step inside. Lines of cajeput trees along the waterway make the view more attractive. Additionally, it is nice to see large rice fields dotted with Palmyra palm trees near the forest.
The Tra Su Forest has a significant effect on the aquatic environment and climate regulation for the entire Seven Mountains (Bay Nui) region. It is the habitat of more than 70 species of birds and storks, of which two species named in the Red Book of Vietnam are the painted stork (Giang Sen) and the oriental darter (Dieng Dieng). In addition, there are 22 species of reptiles, 11 species of mammals, 23 species of aquatic animals. Not only rich in animals, there are up to more than 140 species of flora spreading throughout the forest.
The forest is subdivided into several sites for ease of movement, which include a 3,000 m2 fishing area, a 3,200 m2 bird sanctuary and a 2,500 m2 bat sanctuary, all of which cater to individual requests specific to different types of tourists.
Best time to visit Tra Su forest
The best time to experience the Tra Su cajeput forest is from September to November – when water covers the entire forest. This allows the boats to sail and have an incredible spectacle, especially when the sunlight hits the water surface.
To see the most vibrant perspective of the forest, you should be here from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. as the weather is quite pleasant and you are rewarded with seeing thousands of birds flying around for food and singing wildlife songs. Between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. is also a good time to see the birds returning to their nests. Alternatively, you can hike up to the observation tower to get a close-up look at bird and stork life through binoculars.
During the dry season months, you can only enter areas that are allowed to visit due to many factors such as: shallow water, inaccessibility indoors, conservation, forest fire prevention and many other reasons. the experience will be a little different from the floating season.
3. How to get to Tra Su Forest
– From Ho Chi Minh City , you can buy a bus ticket from Mien Tay Bus Station to reach Chau Doc or Long Xuyen City and it takes about 6 hours. Some recommended local buses are Phuong Trang, Thao Nguyen, Hung Cuong, Trong Tin Limousine… The ticket price is around 150,000 – 250,000 VND/one way.
Then you still need to hire a taxi or motorbike to go to Tra Su Forest.
– If you are in Can Tho , where all visitors come to explore the largest Mekong floating market – Cai Rang, you can go to Chau Doc by bus. The journey is much shorter than leaving from Saigon (3 hours) and the ticket is cheaper, around 100,000 VND/one way.
Same for the information cited above, another vehicle is necessary to come to Tra Su.
What to see at Tra Su Forest
1. Tac Rang boat trip
A journey to explore the Tra Su cajuput forest begins aboard a long, small motorboat called “Tac Rank ” by locals. It is a very common means of transportation in the Mekong Delta region.
Along the small canals bordering the forest, you will admire the lush greenery of lotuses and water lilies along the water. You also see locals harvesting honey from cajeput flowers, which costs 300,000 VND/liter.
To reach the heart of the forest, you will be transferred to a small wooden rowing boat, with just enough room for 4 people. Drift gently along the water and go further, through small channels, you will be impressed by different kinds of birds scattering all around.
You will be able to observe a thousand white storks and other colorful species of birds flying overhead or perching on the branches. The more you advance, the more peaceful you feel. The sampan rower will help you understand the forest better and show you where the birds are.
2. Discover the ecological diversity of animals
The ecosystem is also very rich with 22 species of reptiles, 11 species of mammals and 23 aquatic species, of which 2 species have scientific value and are in danger of extinction, namely the white catfish and the cobia.
Not only rich in animals, the Tra Su Melaleuca forest is also very diverse in flora with 140 species belonging to 52 families and 102 genera, including nearly 80 medicinal species.
3. Cross the longest bamboo in Vietnam
At the beginning of 2020, The longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam was officially opened by Chau Doc Tourism Authority, is a must-see in Tra Su Forest.
Walking on each span of this unique 10-kilometer bridge, you will be immersed in the nature of white cajeput flowers with a delicate scent, very different from the bustling city life. It is also the longest bamboo bridge in the world to date. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?
4. Watch birds from the lookout tower
Climb up to a 14m high lookout tower where you can enjoy a fantastic panorama of the vast Tra Su cajeput forest, dotted with birds against the silhouette of the Forbidden Mountain (Nui Cam) behind. plan.
In particular, there is also a telescope for those who want to get more details of bird nests or take a closer look at the birds underneath as they find food or build nests. The rhythm of life in the forest seems to be exposed to visitors and even becomes more vivid and alive. Go there when the sun is about to set, it will be the most memorable scene of this trip.
Ticket price to visit Tra Su Melaleuca Forest
– Entrance ticket price (required): 100,000 VND/per person. Visitors will be free to tour and enjoy the entire landscape of the resort. Besides, you can also experience the sensation of walking through the forest on the longest bamboo bridge in Vietnam.
– Ticket price for boat service (optional): VND 50,000/per person. Visitors will be able to tour the Tra Su Melaleuca forest ecosystem by motorboat going back and forth.
– Ticket price for rowboat service in the forest (optional): 50,000 VND/pax. Visitors can experience the feeling of sailing in a boat themselves, leisurely sightseeing and taking photos.
– Ticket price for using the telescope on the observation tower (optional): 5000 VND/hour.
