Biodiversity values.

U Minh Thuong National Park supports one of the last significant areas of peat swamp forest remaining in Vietnam as well as one of the three highest priority sites for wetland conservation in the Mekong Delta.

Fauna. Inthe past, the park supported one of the largest breeding colonies ofwater birds in the Mekong Delta. However, this was heavily disturbed bya fire in 2002.  Surveys to date haveconfirmed the presence of 187 bird species at U Minh Thuong NationalPark, including 9 species of global conservation concern such as:oriental darter, spot-billed pelican, painted stork, lesser adjutant,black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greater spotted eagle, grey-headed fisheagle and Asian golden weaver. In addition, at least eight species ofeconomically valuable fish are found at this park.

The Melaleuca forest in the core zone of U Minh Thuong National Parkplays an important role in maintaining the soil and water quality inthe buffer zone by preventing the acidification of topsoil and surfacewater, filtering ground water and storing freshwater during the dryseason. This park harbors a diversity of flora with 226 species of non-cultivated vascular plants which are very rare in South-East Asia.The natural vegetation was classified into 10 types, belonging to fourmain classes: Melaleuca forests, seasonally inundated grasslands,permanent swamps and vegetation along canals and streams.

U Minh Thuong National Park also has historical valuesbecause the area was used as a military base by resistance forcesduring the First and Second Indochina Wars. Due to the complete loss ofnatural forest in the Mekong Deltaregion, U Minh Thuong is one of the few places where you can see thelandscape as primary as it was. In addition, you can find thearchaeological remains dating back to the Oc Eo civilization in this area.

Furthermore,with the advantage of the road and water way (only 50 km from RachGia), the park is now an idea destination for tourists who prefer ecosystem. To date, most of the tourists come here is from Western, Thailand, Singapore, Philippine…

Being a nature-lover, you should not miss a trip to U Minh Thuong National Park with a binocular and you will have a chance to view more than 187 bird species as well as the salient landscape of the park...