Rising steeply from denselypopulated lowlands to a peak of 1529m above sea‑level, the forestssupport a large variety of ecosystems and micro‑habitats of highbiodiversity, varying with altitude, aspect and the degree of humandisturbance. In its original state, Tam Dao had one of the highestlevels of species richness of any tropical forest with about 1,300plant and 1,200 animal species, many of which are rare to Tam Dao ornorthern Vietnam. Therefore, located only about 70km northwest of Hanoi, rather close to the urban area, Tam Dao National Park is one of the last natural areas which has not been transformed into agricultural land.

Natural condition

Theboundary of the national park is located at an altitude of 100 m aroundthe Tam Dao range. There is a larger buffer zone (which has area ofapproximately 535 km²) which surrounds the national parkwhich has an altitude below 100 m. Seventy per cent of the area of thepark is covered by natural and artificial forest. The natural forest isabout 220 km² and the human altered forest is about 30 km².

Dueto the tall mountainous range that splits the area into two parts, thenational park's climatic condition is divided into two areas withdifferent rainfalls. This difference and some other factors such as theeffect of human activity divide the park into some smaller climaticzones which increase the bio-diversity in the park.

Flora

TamDao National Park is covered by a rich flora consisting of 490 speciesthe high classes belonging to 344 genera and 130 families. Forestsabound with rare and valuable flora such as: "Sam bong' "Po mu"fokienia hodginsii) "kim giao" (polocarpus fleuryi) 'Lat hoa'(chukrasia tabularis) "Lim xanh" (Erythrophlocum fordii) "Do quyen"(Rhoclodentron simmi) "Sen mat" (Madhuca pasquieri) "Thong tre"(Podocarpus nerlifolius) (all are valuable wood).

Outof over 2000 plant species, 904 species are considered useful tohumans. They have been classified into eight groups. There are 42species endemic to Tam Dao National Park and also 64 other speciesconsidered rare including Dendrobium daoensis, Camellia longicaudata, Camellia petelotii, Asarum petelotii, Molas tamdaoensis, and Paris delavayi.

Fauna

TheNational Park is the habitat of diversified fauna, with 281 species 80families and 26 orders, belonging to 4 main classes: animals birdsreptiles and amphibious ones including many rare and valuable specieswhich are high commercial value and at the same time of importantscientific research significance: white-cheeked black monkey,snake-headed fish, silver pheasant, wood grouses, etc...

Eleven of these species are endemic to Tam Dao National Park including the snake species Amphiesma angeli and Boiga multitempolaris, the amphibian Paramerotriton deloustaliand eight species of insects; 22 species are endemic to North Vietnamincluding nine bird species, four reptiles, three amphibians and sixspecies of insect; six are endemic to Vietnam (five bird species andone species of amphibian).

Moreover, visiting the park, you have a chance to view Tam Dao Town which was established at the beginning of the 20^th century. The town is nestled in a valley covering only 3 km².There now remain some villas and palaces built by French colonists. Ithas Thac Bac (The Silver Fall), Rung Rinh Peak and Tam Dao 2, a remnantof another resort built many years ago. Another tourist location is TayThien site. It includes Tay Thien Quoc Mau Temple(literally The "Temple of East Heaven National Mother") and manypagodas. Along with Thien Vien Truc Lam (literally: "Dhyana Palace inBamboo Forest") in Da Lat and Yen Tu, Thien Vien Truc Lam Tay Thien isa center of Vietnamese Buddhism.

Tam Dao National Parkis really a promising area, a center for forest ecological research onrare and valuable flora and fauna. The park is ready to welcomedomestic and international visitors.