Trang chủCat Tien National Park (NNP) has made a strong mark on the international ecotourism map by receiving four prestigious awards from the Asian Ecotourism Network (AEN) within the framework of the AEN International Ecotourism Awards 2025 (AEN-IEA 2025) on October 13th. This is one of the leading prestigious awards in the region, honoring sustainable ecotourism destinations, and Cat Tien NNP is the only Vietnamese entity to achieve this accomplishment.
Animals recorded at Bau Sau, considered the heart of Cat Tien NNP. Photo: NNP.
The four prestigious categories in which Cat Tien NNP was honored include:
Biodiversity Conservation Category (Highest Award): Recognizing outstanding efforts in biodiversity conservation and protection of the tropical forest ecosystem, home to hundreds of rare species.
Ecotourism Promotion Category (Finalist): Recognizes responsible ecotourism promotion methods, encouraging visitors to understand and appreciate the value of forests.
Destination Governance Category (Finalist): Honors sustainable destination governance models, demonstrating harmonious coordination between management agencies, communities, and stakeholders.
Community Champion Category (Finalist): Recognizes the active participation of local communities in preserving and spreading the spirit of living in harmony with nature.
Biodiversity Value and International Awards
Located in Dong Nai and Lam Dong provinces, covering an area of over 82,000 hectares, Cat Tien National Park is known as the “home of countless animals” and boasts one of the richest biodiversitys in Vietnam. It has recorded 1,729 animal species and 1,655 higher plant species, with over 100 species listed in the Vietnamese Red Book requiring conservation. Notably, the park is home to 113 animal species, including 43 that are globally endangered.
Besides its most recent awards, Cat Tien National Park also holds many important international and national titles: recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve (2001 and 2011), the Bau Sau Wetland recognized as a Ramsar Wetland (2005), and a Special National Monument (2012). And notably, since April 2024, Cat Tien has been the first national park in Vietnam to achieve IUCN Green List status (the 72nd protected area in the world).
These achievements affirm the pivotal role of Cat Tien National Park in biodiversity conservation not only in Vietnam but also globally.