Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve – Explore nature and wildlife (2024)

Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve is located in Phung Hiep District, Hau Giang Province, about 40 km from Vi Thanh City. With a total area of over 2,800 hectares stretching from the west of the Hau River to the U Minh region, Lung Ngoc Hoang is not only known as the “green lung” of the Mekong Delta, but is also the most unique biodiversity conservation area in the entire country at present.

Why do we call it Lung Ngoc Hoang nature reserve?

In the local dialect, “lung” refers to a wild, swampy lowland area. Lung Ngoc Hoang can be roughly translated as “The Waterlogged Lowland of the Jade Emperor.” According to folklore, in the past, many herds of elephants (referred to as “tuong” in Vietnamese) roamed the area in search of food, causing the ground to sink and form depressions, ponds, canals, and creeks. It is believed that the Jade Emperor occasionally descended to this place for leisure, and over time, the area came to be known as Lung Ngoc Hoang.

The history of Lung Ngoc Hoang forest

Lung Ngoc Hoang is a waterlogged area full of primitive and mysterious beauty that has existed for a long time. In the past, it was dubbed the “land of the dead,” with water flooding year-round and wild grasses growing tall and thick. Those who wandered into this area would find it difficult to find their way out due to the vast terrain and the dense, wild vegetation.

According to the “Geographical Records of Can Tho” (2003), about 120 years ago, people began reclaiming Lung Ngoc Hoang. Before 1945, many landlords hired people to clear the land for farming and fishing. Later, due to the war, Lung Ngoc Hoang became wild and then served as a revolutionary base during both the French and American resistance periods. Previously, this area was assigned to the Phuong Ninh Forestry Enterprise for melaleuca planting, fishery exploitation, and environmental protection. In 2002, the Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve was officially established, becoming the most prominent tourist destination in Hau Giang.

Explore nature and wildlife

This place is known as a wetland and a habitat for hundreds of rare animal and plant species, with hundreds of thousands of melaleuca trees growing nearly ten meters tall.

Researchers have identified over 330 plant species in the Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve, comprising 224 genera and 92 families. Among these, 56 species have been newly discovered. Lung Ngoc Hoang is a diverse biological area with many plant systems belonging to different wetland ecosystems. These include plants such as ferns growing at the base or on the trunks of melaleuca trees, reeds, and other aquatic plants. There are also many terrestrial species like melastoma, ficus, and others.

Lung Ngoc Hoang nature reserve is also home to many rare animal species, some of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world, such as the hairy-nosed otter, the box turtle, and the king cobra. With its rich and pristine swamp system combined with strictly protected melaleuca forests, Lung Ngoc Hoang is an ideal habitat for numerous amphibians, fish, and shrimp. This area has been likened to the fish cradle of the western Hậu River region.

How to visit Lung Ngoc Hoang nature reserve

With its unique and rich natural conditions, this nature reserve has become an ideal destination for eco-tourism enthusiasts and nature explorers. The best time to visit the melaleuca forest is from 7 AM to 9 AM, when you can witness and admire a variety of birds gathering here, playing, hopping, and singing joyfully. Later in the afternoon, from 4 PM to 6 PM, you can climb up observation towers over 20 meters high to observe flocks of birds returning to their nests.

To explore the melaleuca forest, visitors need to purchase tickets and hire sampans (also known as bark boats or shell boats). Stepping into Lung Ngoc Hoang forest, tourists often feel like they’ve entered a fairy-tale realm—serene, tranquil, and imbued with a sense of wilderness.

Visiting Lung Ngoc Hoang offers the opportunity to glide through the cool shade of the melaleuca forest in a sampan, witnessing firsthand the majestic roots spreading like unique submerged dams. Travelers will encounter vast, wild fields stretching to the horizon, with flocks of egrets and herons gracefully taking flight. The deeper you go, the more the scenery becomes wild and romantic. Moreover, you can engage in fishing activities, guided by locals in techniques like net casting, bait setting, and trap fishing—a genuine rural experience

From the 21-meter observation tower located in the heart of Lung Ngoc Hoang, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the endless melaleuca forest and the winding channels, providing a refreshing feeling of being immersed in the cool, pristine greenery of nature all around.

You can visit the restaurant area with small thatched-roof huts to enjoy delicious and enticing dishes such as grilled snakehead fish, braised eel, wild duck, and the famous boneless catfish of Hau Giang. A meal here blends the rich flavors of the Mekong Delta in a rustic setting amidst the picturesque backdrop of the forest, surely creating an unforgettable experience for visitors. 

To get the best experiences in the forest, you can book Can Tho wildlife tour from the local travel agency. They organize the best things for you.