U Minh Ha National Park is one of Vietnam's rarest biosphere reserves — a melaleuca forest on waterlogged alum soil, featuring pure wild forest honey, thousands of wild birds, and misty mornings so quiet that you can hear the fish splashing right beside your boat. This is not a crowded tourist spot — and that is exactly why it is truly worth visiting.
What is U Minh Ha National Park?
U Minh Ha is one of the last two intact melaleuca forest areas in the Mekong Delta (along with U Minh Thuong in Kien Giang). The melaleuca forest on waterlogged peatland is an extremely unique ecosystem that exists naturally in only a few places worldwide. To understand more about the experiential activities here, read our article What to Do in U Minh Ha Forest.
📊 Key Information
Unique Experiences Only at U Minh Ha
Wild Bee Hunting — A 300-Year-Old Tradition
The locals of U Minh have practiced the art of "gác kèo ong" (bee-luring) for hundreds of years — placing sloped wooden poles in the forest for wild honeybees to build their hives. When the season comes (February to April), they harvest the honey along familiar forest paths. Joining the locals, standing beneath a hive of thousands of bees without getting stung, is an unforgettable experience. Book a bee hunting tour here.
Rowing Boats Through the Melaleuca Forest
During the floating season (September to November), the U Minh melaleuca forest is flooded. You can row a boat directly into the forest under the canopy of ancient melaleuca trees. The sunlight filtering through the leaves, the sounds of forest birds, and the gentle creak of the oars make you feel like you are inside a nature documentary.
Watching Thousands of Wild Birds
The buffer zone of U Minh Ha features a natural bird sanctuary home to tens of thousands of storks, herons, teals, and purple swamphens. At sunrise or sunset, flocks of birds returning to their nests in massive waves create an unspeakably magnificent sight.
Endemic Ecosystem
U Minh Ha is home to many endemic species: wild snakehead fish, box turtles, reticulated pythons, king cobras, and freshwater crocodiles (in the conservation area). It is also the source of melaleuca forest honey — considered the "liquid gold" of the Mekong Delta due to its high purity and medicinal properties. You can buy honey as a souvenir directly at the source after your tour.
How to Get to U Minh Ha National Park
U Minh Ha National Park stretches across two districts — visitors usually enter through one of three main gates:
📍 Vo Doi Gate
Tran Van Thoi District — the most popular gate for tourists, ~50km from Ca Mau City, featuring restaurants and tourist boats
📍 Lam Ngu Truong Gate
U Minh District — further away but offers a more pristine forest, ideal for those who love deep exploration
📍 From Ba Ngoai Homestay
Departing from Tan Thanh Hamlet, Tran Van Thoi — guided by local experts, with no worries about tickets or transportation
🚗 From Ca Mau City to U Minh Ha:
- • Distance: ~50–70km from Ca Mau City (depending on the gate)
- • Travel by motorbike or car along National Highway 1 → turn onto the provincial road towards Tran Van Thoi district
- • Travel time: about 1 to 1.5 hours from Ca Mau City
- • If booking a tour through Ba Ngoai Homestay: shuttle service is available from the meeting point
U Minh Ha Tour from Ba Ngoai Homestay
Live Like a Local in U Minh Ha
This is not just an ordinary sightseeing tour — it is a 1-day immersive experience living alongside the locals, packed with activities:
- ✅ Trek through the pristine melaleuca forest along secret trails
- ✅ Wild bee hunting — learn how to identify and harvest wild beehives
- ✅ Row bamboo boats along forest canals (flooded season: go deep into the forest)
- ✅ Catch wild snakehead fish and eels in the canals
- ✅ Enjoy a rustic straw-roasted fish lunch in the forest with local wild vegetables
- ✅ Taste fresh wild forest honey right on the spot
💰 From 590,000 VND/guest (for groups >10 people, excluding transport from Ca Mau City)
Contact: 0919 244 834 (Zalo/Call) for group quotes
Tips for Visiting U Minh Ha National Park
- 1. Go early in the morning (before 7 AM): The morning forest is cool, birds are active, and the light is perfect for photography. The afternoon is hot and has more mosquitoes.
- 2. Wear long sleeves and bring mosquito repellent: The melaleuca forest has many mosquitoes and horseflies, especially during the rainy season. Bring high-concentration DEET spray.
- 3. Go with a local guide: It is easy to lose your way in the dense melaleuca forest. Locals know every trail and safe spot.
- 4. Best time to visit is February to April: The dry season offers the most beautiful forest scenery, abundant wild honey, and easy trekking paths.
- 5. Buy honey directly at the source: Prices are 40–60% cheaper than in the city. Buying from reputable local families ensures 100% purity. You can also order Ca Mau specialties as gifts through our online shop.
Frequently Asked Questions About U Minh Ha National Park
What is the total area of U Minh Ha National Park?
Is overnight camping allowed in U Minh Ha National Park?
How much is the entrance ticket to U Minh Ha National Park?
Can I rent a boat to row into the forest by myself?
Book Your U Minh Ha Tour Now
From 590,000 VND/guest — wild bee hunting, forest trekking, and a straw-roasted snakehead fish lunch. Guided by local experts to ensure safety and an authentic experience.
