MỤC LỤC:
Figure 1. A herd of rare gaurs conserved in Cat Tien National Park. Source: Cat Tien National Park Management Board.
Cat Tien National Park has recently been awarded four distinctions at the AEN International Ecotourism Awards 2025 (AEN-IEA 2025), thereby reaffirming its position as one of Vietnam’s exemplary destinations for biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecotourism development.
According to the official announcement, Cat Tien was recognized in the following four categories:
1. Winner – Biodiversity Conservation Category
This award honors the Park’s long-standing efforts in protecting the characteristic tropical monsoon forest ecosystems of Southeast Asia, which serve as habitat for hundreds of rare and endangered species. Activities such as wildlife population monitoring, habitat restoration, and anti-poaching enforcement continue to be regarded as leading practices in the region.
2. Finalist – Ecotourism Promotion Category
This category acknowledges the Park’s effective communication and community education initiatives, including nature interpretation programs, digital content on responsible tourism, and awareness-raising campaigns that highlight the value of forest resources.
3. Finalist – Destination Governance Category
The award highlights Cat Tien’s sustainable destination-governance model, characterized by close coordination among governmental management agencies, forest rangers, local communities, and tourism operators to ensure a balanced relationship between conservation objectives and socio-economic benefits.
4. Finalist – Community Champion Category
This category recognizes the crucial role of communities living adjacent to the Park in conservation and ecotourism development, including participation in forest patrols, the establishment of homestay models, traditional handicraft production, and nature-based livelihood activities aligned with environmental protection.
Figure 2. The endangered yellow-cheeked gibbon conserved in Cat Tien National Park. Source: baolamdong.vn.
Significance of the Achievements
Cat Tien is the only unit in Vietnam to receive awards at AEN-IEA 2025. This distinguishes Cat Tien National Park as a highly reputable site in the fields of biodiversity conservation and ecotourism at both regional and international levels.
With an area of nearly 72,000 hectares, the Park harbors more than 1,700 animal species and approximately 1,600 higher-plant species, many of which are endemic or threatened and listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book. These figures continue to affirm Cat Tien’s exceptional value as one of the most important biodiversity centers in the country.
Future Directions
These recent international awards not only provide meaningful recognition but also serve as strong motivation for Cat Tien National Park to further expand its research and conservation programs, strengthen natural habitat management, develop ecotourism products linked to environmental education, and enhance community participation in forest conservation.
Figure 3. Delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities visiting Cat Tien National Park in February 2025.
Notably, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM) will continue to accompany the Park through communication partnerships, training activities, and initiatives that promote ecotourism values to local communities and international visitors. This collaboration not only contributes to elevating Cat Tien National Park’s visibility on the global ecotourism map but also helps attract international tourists to experience the Park’s exceptional natural environments and conservation-rich tourism products.
Source: Program Office
