Tram Chim National Park, situated in Dong Thap province’s Tam Nong district within the Mekong Delta, is renowned for its extensive biodiversity. This ecological significance led to its designation as the 2000th Ramsar site globally in 2012.
Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare Tram Chim became a national park in 1998 and then the fourth Ramsar site in Vietnam. The park’s plentiful green vegetation is inhabited by more than 130 species of higher plants featuring six main types of floristic societies.
Water life in the park is also bustling seeing the presence of over 150 species offreshwater fish, with some listed in Vietnam’s Red Book like clown feather-back fish, common archerfish and giant barbs, nearly 180 algae species, 26 epifauna species, 350 species of plankton and 34 species of amphibian.
Tram Chim is home to 198 bird species, including 16 rare ones such as red-headed cranes, black-faced spoonbills, black eagles, great-billed herons and spotted-billed pelicans. It was recognised as an important bird sanctuary in Vietnam. The number of fauna and aquatic species in Tram Chim National Park surpass those in other wetland reserves in the region, like Tra Su cajeput forest reserve in An Giang province and U Minh Ha National Park in Ca Mau province.
The diversity is largely attributable to the physical feature of the park which lies in the low-lying area of Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) and benefits vastly from the flood cycle generated by the Mekong River. In particular, a well-operating water drainage system has also helped direct a great amount of aquatic species on the Mekong River to reside in the park annually and add to its biodiversity.
As a haven for diverse plant and animal life, Tram Chim National Park in the Dong Thap Muoi region is also an excellent ecotourism spot. Within the park, an 18-year-old, 3,000-hectare cajeput forest frequently becomes a spectacle of tens of thousands of white storks during the flooding season. This area also provides roughly a dozen hectares of land where numerous bird species can play and build nests throughout the year.
Visitors can now explore the park via water taxi tours, guaranteeing breathtaking views of a vibrant “green oasis” alive with blooming flowers and the sounds and sights of birds, particularly during the flood season. When the waters recede, canoes navigate smaller canals, offering tourists opportunities to observe impressive 1.5-meter-tall cranes, herons with wingspans exceeding a meter, and long-necked darters as they forage for food.
To allow tourists to discover the area while safeguarding its delicate ecosystem, local authorities have invested in a road network. Conservation efforts are in place to protect the park. Notably, a 53-kilometer dyke was constructed to prevent complete flooding during the rainy season and to manage the water levels in the dry season.
A number of projects jointly developed by local authorities and state and international agencies have been launched to reduce local residents’ dependenceon the park and raise their awareness of protecting its environment.
Local residents have been encouraged to get involved in managing natural resources offered by the park and utilising them in a sustainable manner. These activities have helped Tram Chim National Park live up to its fame as the world’s Ramsar site and contributed to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.
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