Location: 28 mi (45 km) West of Ha Tien, Kien Giang Province Map
Area: 314.22 km²
Phu Quoc National Park situated 28 mi (45 km) West of Ha Tien in Kien Giang Province of Vietnam. Phu Quoc National Park covers an area of 314.22 km² of Phu Quoc island that is located in a Gulf of Thailand. This nature reserve is a great place for hiking and camping through the jungles. Islands are covered with lush forests that contains over 470 plant species, numerous small rivers (largest being Rach Cua Can river) and many small caves and caverns. The area if fairly hilly, but its topography is not very high. The tallest mountain in the park is Mount Chua that reaches an elevation of 603 m. Additionally you can explore coral reefs that encircle islands. It numbers 62 species of various marine algae or weeds, 125 species of fishes and 132 species of molluscs. National park was established in 2001 to preserve many endangered species that can be found here.
Phu Quoc National Park (Vườn quốc gia Phú Quốc) is a protected area
in the northern part of Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam.
It spans 314.22 km² (31,422 hectares), covering roughly 50–70% of the
island depending on measurement sources and the island’s evolving
administrative boundaries. The park protects a mix of terrestrial
tropical rainforest ecosystems (evergreen and dipterocarp forests on low
hills, mangroves, and Melaleuca forests) and adjacent marine areas,
including coral reefs. It is managed by the People’s Committee of Kien
Giang Province and classified as an IUCN Category II National Park.
Its history is relatively recent in formal conservation terms but builds
on decades of progressive protection efforts amid Vietnam’s broader
post-war environmental recovery and biodiversity strategies.
Pre-1986 Context and the Need for Protection
Phu Quoc Island itself
has a long human history dating back centuries (Khmer influence,
17th–18th century development under Vietnamese lords, French colonial
presence, and use as a strategic base during conflicts, including a
notorious prison during the Vietnam War). However, the northern forests
that form the core of today’s park were noted for their relatively
intact primary forests compared to more exploited southern areas.
Valuable timber species (e.g., Hopea spp.) and unique
biodiversity—enriched by historical species dispersal from mainland Asia
and other regions—drew early scientific interest. By the mid-1980s,
Vietnam’s government began formalizing protected areas nationwide to
combat deforestation, habitat loss, and over-exploitation following
wartime and post-war pressures.
Establishment as a Nature Reserve
(1986–2001)
The protected area’s formal history began on 9 August
1986 with Decision No. 194/CT issued by the Chairman of the Council of
Ministers. This created the Phu Quoc Nature Reserve (initially called
Dao Phu Quoc or Northern Phu Quoc Nature Reserve), initially covering
about 5,000 hectares. The primary goal was to conserve the island’s rich
forest ecosystems and valuable woody species.
Key milestones during
this phase include:
10 March 1989: Kien Giang Provincial People’s
Committee established a dedicated Nature Reserve Management Board.
2
October 1992: The former Ministry of Forestry approved investment
funding via Decision No. 444/KL/QD, renaming the area Bac Dao Phu Quoc
Nature Reserve (Northern Phu Quoc) and supporting development
activities.
1993: A separate investment plan was approved for the
adjacent Phu Quoc Watershed Protection Forest (WPF), covering contiguous
areas to the south and west.
3 April 1996: Decision No. 360/UB-QD
(Kien Giang PPC) merged management of the Nature Reserve and WPF for
better coordination.
1998: A joint investment plan expanded the
protected scope, listing the Nature Reserve at ~14,957 ha and the WPF at
~35,873 ha.
During 1986–2001, the area operated as a
provincial-level nature reserve with limited staffing and resources.
Primary forests in the core zone remained relatively undisturbed
compared to other parts of the island, but threats such as shifting
cultivation, firewood collection, and potential illegal logging existed
regionally. Biodiversity surveys during this period highlighted the
area’s value, including rare and endemic species.
Upgrade to
National Park (2001)
On 8 June 2001, Prime Minister Nguyễn Công Tần
signed Decision No. 91/2001/QĐ-TTg, officially upgrading and expanding
the former Nature Reserve into Phu Quoc National Park. This decision
enlarged the area to its current 31,422 ha (incorporating portions of
the Watershed Protection Forest) and reclassified it under stronger
national protection. The park was zoned into:
Strict protection
area: ~8,603–8,786 ha
Ecological rehabilitation area: 22,603 ha
Administration and services area: 33 ha
The upgrade aimed to
better preserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use, and support
ecotourism as part of Kien Giang Province’s development.
On 17
January 2002, Decision No. 01/2002/QĐ-UB (Kien Giang PPC) formally
established the Park Management Board under the provincial Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development, with an initial staff of around 32.
Post-Establishment Developments and International Recognition
(2001–Present)
Following establishment, the Management Board
collaborated with local communities, military units, and authorities on
forest protection, restoration, and fire prevention. Ecotourism emerged
as a key strategy for sustainable funding, with zoning for trails,
visitor sites, and education centers outlined in plans from 2006–2015.
A major milestone came in 2006 when UNESCO designated the Kien Giang
Biosphere Reserve, with Phu Quoc National Park as one of its three core
zones (alongside U Minh Thuong National Park and the West Sea Protection
Forest). This elevated the park’s global status for conserving coastal
and marine ecosystems. (Note: Some tourist sources mistakenly cite 2010;
official records confirm 2006 for Kien Giang.)
In 2007, a related Phu
Quoc Marine Protected Area was established (covering over 40,000 ha of
sea), overlapping with and complementing the national park’s marine
components (coral reefs, seagrass, and species like dugong).
Conservation efforts intensified through biodiversity monitoring,
reforestation, and anti-poaching measures. The park’s rich flora (over
1,000–1,164 higher plant species, including endemics like Croton
phuquocensis) and fauna (mammals, birds, reptiles, and marine life) have
been documented in surveys, with several species listed in Vietnam’s Red
Book and IUCN Red List.
Challenges and Ongoing Management
Like
many Vietnamese protected areas, the park has faced pressures from
tourism development on Phu Quoc Island (which became a major resort
destination post-2010s), population growth, shifting agriculture, and
illegal resource use. Management plans emphasize balancing conservation
with community benefits, though funding and staffing remain challenges
common to Vietnam’s national parks.
Today, Phu Quoc National Park
serves as a “green lung” and biodiversity hotspot in the Mekong Delta
region. It supports ecotourism (hiking, waterfalls, wildlife viewing)
while protecting unique island ecosystems. Its evolution from a small
1986 nature reserve to a UNESCO-linked national park reflects Vietnam’s
growing commitment to environmental protection amid rapid economic
growth.
Location and Extent
The park occupies the northeastern portion of
Phu Quoc Island, with its northern and eastern boundaries directly along
the coastline. It spans the communes of Gành Dầu, Bãi Thơm, and Cửa Cạn,
plus portions of Cửa Dương, Hàm Ninh, Dương Tơ, and Dương Đông ward.
Geographically, it lies between latitudes 10°12′–10°27′ N and longitudes
103°50′–104°04′ E (or slightly to 104°05′ E in some records).
The
total area is 31,422 hectares (314.22 km²), divided into three
functional zones:
Strict protection zone: ~8,786 ha (core forest
and biodiversity hotspots).
Ecological restoration zone: ~22,603 ha.
Administrative/service/scientific research zone: 33 ha.
This
represents roughly 54–70% of Phu Quoc Island’s total land area (the
island itself measures about 562–575 km² depending on the source). The
park also borders or encompasses ~20,000 ha of marine areas in some
descriptions, though a separate Phú Quốc Marine Protected Area (187 km²)
handles offshore waters. It forms the core of the Kien Giang World
Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO-recognized).
Topography and Landforms
The park’s terrain is predominantly low hills and low mountains (hilly
rather than steeply mountainous), shaped by the island’s north-south
running ridges. Elevations are modest but create a rolling, dissected
landscape ideal for watershed protection. The highest point is Núi Chúa
(Mount Chua) at 603 m above sea level, located in the Hàm Ninh range; it
serves as the “roof” of both the park and the entire island.
The
topography features:
Gentle to moderate slopes.
Higher-elevation
areas with intact forest cover.
Lower elevations with more degraded
or secondary vegetation.
The island (and park) consists of 99
small mountains and hills, giving it a rugged yet accessible character.
From above, the forest appears as a continuous green canopy hugging the
northeastern coastline, with primeval forest meeting the sea directly—a
landscape uncommon in Vietnam.
Hydrology and Water Features
The park acts as the island’s primary watershed, supplying freshwater to
local communities. Drainage occurs through numerous seasonal streams
that originate in the hills and flow westward or directly into the sea.
Most streams are short and rain-dependent, swelling dramatically in the
wet season and shrinking or drying in the dry season.
Key
hydrological features include:
Rạch Cửa Cạn (Rach Cua Can
River/Stream) — the island’s largest and most significant waterway. It
drains the southern section of the park and empties into the Gulf of
Thailand on the west coast just north of Cửa Cạn village.
Notable
streams and waterfalls: Tranh Stream, Đá Bàn Stream, Đá Ngọt Stream, and
the year-round 7-tier Đá Ngọt waterfall (one of the park’s scenic
highlights).
Headwater streams cascade through dense canopy
before reaching rocky shorelines, creating a continuous forest-to-sea
hydrological corridor. Mangrove and melaleuca forests in low-lying or
flooded zones further regulate water flow and prevent coastal erosion.
Climate
Phu Quoc National Park has a tropical monsoon
(near-equatorial) climate strongly moderated by its oceanic position in
the Gulf of Thailand. Temperatures remain stable year-round, averaging
24–31°C, with high humidity. There are two distinct seasons:
Dry
season (November–April): Sunnier, lower rainfall; January–February are
the driest months.
Rainy season (May–October): Heavy rainfall, lush
green vegetation, and peak stream/waterfall flow.
The island’s
position shields it somewhat from the worst typhoons that affect
Vietnam’s east coast, but monsoon rains still drive the seasonal
hydrology and support the evergreen forest ecosystem.
Coastal and
Marine Geography
The park’s eastern and northern boundaries feature
pristine rocky and sandy coastlines, with over 60 km of shoreline in the
broader island context (much of it within or adjacent to the park).
Mangroves fringe sheltered bays, while coral reefs lie just offshore
(especially in southern park-adjacent waters). These reefs support rich
marine life, including hard and soft corals, fish, mollusks, and
seaweeds. The unique “forest-meets-sea” transition—primeval trees
overlooking coral-fringed shores—creates a highly connected coastal
ecosystem.
Vegetation and Ecosystems
The park protects 12,794
ha of lowland evergreen tropical moist forest (about 86% of the island’s
remaining primary forest). Vegetation varies by elevation and soil:
Higher elevations: Dense, pristine evergreen rainforest with large
trees from families such as Fabaceae (legumes), Dipterocarpaceae, and
others.
Lower elevations: More degraded secondary forest, melaleuca
(tràm) formations (tall, open, park-like stands, sometimes on
acid-sulfate soils), and mangrove/swamp forests in wet lowlands.
Rocky hills and coastal zones: Specialized rocky-mountain and coastal
forests.
Overall, 929 plant species have been recorded on the
island, with several hundred documented in the park. The forest retains
much of its original structure, serving as a genetic reservoir and
“green lung” for the island.
Phu Quoc National Park (Vườn Quốc Gia Phú Quốc) is one of Vietnam’s
most important biodiversity hotspots. Located in the northern and
central parts of Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province, it spans
approximately 31,422 hectares (314.22 km²), covering nearly 70% of the
island. Established to protect the island’s unique ecosystems, the park
forms part of the UNESCO-listed Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve (recognized
in 2006). It features a mosaic of habitats: lowland evergreen tropical
moist forests on low hills and mountains (up to ~565 m at Núi Chúa),
melaleuca forests at lower elevations, mangroves, rocky outcrops,
freshwater streams, pristine beaches, and extensive offshore coral reefs
and seagrass beds. This diversity of terrain—from primeval forest to
marine environments—supports an exceptionally rich “gene bank” of flora
and fauna in the southwestern region.
The park is zoned into a strict
protection area (core wilderness, ~8,603 ha), an ecological restoration
area (~22,603 ha), and a small administrative/service zone. Many species
here are endemic, rare, or listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and/or the IUCN
Red List, making the park a critical conservation site.
Flora
(Plant Life)
Phu Quoc National Park hosts an outstanding diversity of
higher (vascular) plants, with surveys recording 1,164 species belonging
to 137 families and 531 genera (some sources cite >1,150 or 929
island-wide, reflecting ongoing discoveries). The vegetation forms
layered tropical evergreen forests dominated by large trees on low
mountainous terrain, with distinctive melaleuca formations at lower
elevations. Forests cover roughly 12,794 ha (about 86% of the park).
Key components include:
Large timber and canopy trees: Melaleuca
(Tràm – evergreen with seasonally shifting dark green to grey-green
foliage), various Fabaceae (bean family) species, vên vên, dầu song
nang, dầu cát (dipterocarp oil trees), chestnut (dẻ), săng sót, da, bứa,
and valuable hardwoods like Hopea pierrei (a dipterocarp). Several
ancient heritage trees are protected: two ~700-year-old Cyrtophyllum
fragrans, two ~800-year-old Irvingia malayana, and two ~250-year-old
Hopea pierrei. These massive trees create a cathedral-like canopy in
primary forest sections.
Orchids and epiphytes: Hundreds to thousands
of orchid individuals; around 80 species documented in older surveys,
including many rare and beautiful ones such as Lan Vân Hài
(Paphiopedilum callosum), Ái Lan Lá Đẹp (Malaxis calophylla), and Âm Lan
Núi (Aphyllorchis montana). Ferns, parasitic vines (e.g., white cotton
vine), and other epiphytes thrive in the humid understory.
Medicinal
and understory plants: At least 155 species of medicinal herbs,
including hà thủ ô (Polygonum multiflorum), bí kỳ nam, cam thảo
(licorice), nhân trần, đỗ trọng, and sa nhân. These have high
traditional and pharmacological value.
Endemic species: At least 12
plants are found nowhere else on Earth, including Croton phuquocensis
and Phyllanthus phuquocianus (sometimes referred to locally as Phu Quoc
Cu Den or Phu Quoc Diep Ha Chau). These are considered “unique genetic
duplicates” with irreplaceable biological information.
Additional
vegetation types include mangroves along coasts, acid-sulfate melaleuca
swamps, and rocky-mountain forests. The park also protects offshore
marine flora: ~100 species of hard (reef-building) corals, ~20 species
of soft corals, and 62 species of seaweed/algae, plus extensive seagrass
beds that anchor the marine food web.
Fauna (Animal Life)
The
park supports a rich and balanced animal community linked to its
forest-marine continuum. Terrestrial surveys record hundreds of species,
many of which are threatened by historical hunting or habitat pressure
but benefit from ongoing protection.
Mammals
Approximately
30–43 species (across 18 families and 6 orders in detailed lists),
including 5–6 listed in Vietnam’s Red Book (2000/2007) and several on
the IUCN Red List. About 11 are bats (flying mammals).
Notable and
threatened species:
Primates: Silvered langur (one of the park’s
flagship primates), long-tailed macaque, crab-eating macaque,
stump-tailed macaque, slow loris, and pygmy loris.
Other: Dhole (or
wild “wolf” – Cuon alpinus, a rare pack hunter), small-clawed otter,
fruit bats, large bat colonies, and possibly white-cheeked or pileated
gibbons (referred to locally as vượn pillê or khỉ bạch in some
accounts).
These mammals inhabit the dense forest canopy and
understory, with primates often seen (or heard) along trails in
less-visited zones.
Birds
~119–200 species, including 3–4 in
Vietnam’s Red Book and 4 on the IUCN Red List. The mix of forest,
coastal, and wetland habitats supports both resident tropical species
and migrants.
Highlights include:
Raptors and coastal birds:
Sea eagles, various herons, storks, and egrets.
Forest specialists:
Characteristic tropical moist-forest birds, plus rarer sightings such as
the Phu Quoc crested argus (a pheasant-like species), black-faced
spoonbill, and red-billed blue magpie.
Birdwatching is excellent in
areas like Ganh Dau or Ham Ninh trails, especially at dawn/dusk.
Reptiles and Amphibians
~47–50 reptile species (9 on IUCN lists, 18
in Vietnam Red Book) and 14–23 amphibian species (frogs, toads, tree
frogs).
Common and notable groups:
Snakes (including venomous
pit vipers), monitor lizards, Chinese water dragons.
Turtles:
Freshwater turtles and marine species (hawksbill and green turtles) that
nest on Phu Quoc beaches.
Lizards and geckos adapted to forest and
rocky habitats.
Insects and Invertebrates
Hundreds of species
(not fully quantified in public sources) play vital roles as
pollinators, decomposers, and prey. The forest floor and canopy host
diverse butterflies, beetles, and termites (noted for large mounds in
some areas).
Marine Fauna
The park’s ~60 km of coastline and
offshore waters add another layer of richness:
~152 marine fish
species, including groupers, butterflyfish, wrasses, and reef-associated
species.
132 mollusks (e.g., giant clams, cowries/ốc đun cái).
32
echinoderms (sea stars, urchins, etc.).
Critically endangered marine
mammals and reptiles: Dugong (sea cow – a flagship species grazing
seagrass beds), hawksbill and green sea turtles.
Coral reefs
support vibrant underwater communities with high economic and ecological
value for local fisheries.
Overall Significance and Conservation
Notes
Phu Quoc National Park functions as a living laboratory of
island biogeography, where isolation has fostered endemism and a
complete ecosystem gradient from mountaintop forests to deep-sea corals.
Many species (e.g., the 12 endemic plants, several primates, and
dugongs) are globally significant and face threats from past poaching,
though strict protection and ecotourism zoning have helped populations
stabilize or recover in recent years. The park is also home to the
famous Phu Quoc ridgeback dog (a semi-wild local breed sometimes
encountered near forest edges).