The weekends are full of excitement when I leave the city, the destination is the pristine Bu Gia Map national park, the largest remaining primeval forest of Binh Phuoc province.
This fairy-tale scene made me imagine the magnificent primeval times. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes vivid, with warmth, dreaminess, and incredible mystery.
About 200 km from Saigon, Bu Gia Map National Park is located at the end of the South Truong Son range. This place has a rather special geographical position, which is a transitional place from the Central Highlands to the Southern Delta. To the east of Bu Gia Map is Dak Nong province, to the northwest, it borders Cambodia. I have been to many forests and climbing mountains in Europe and America, but the tropical forests of Southeast Asia (including Vietnam) always have their own charm that is hard to resist. Nature at Bu Gia Map attracts visitors by the rusticity, of the wildest things such as fresh, cool air and clear streams. In particular, this place is also characterized by the primeval forest when there are many rare species of trees such as rosewood, red oak, and cedarwood. Visitors coming here are easily caught up in the rolling, fanciful foliage of ancient trees up to 40-50 m high. Visitors coming here are easily caught up in the rolling, fanciful foliage of the 40-50 m tall old trees. I silently watched the clouds fly alternately in the forest foliage, in the high blue sky. Stepping into the wilderness always gives you a feeling of being nourished, peaceful and elated at the same time. Here, I also learn how to exploit my senses more, feel the natural world more and more attractive. Going through the primeval forests, breathe in the fresh air created by the trees. The air given by nature will make your soul light and relaxed. Nature also always heals our troubles, doesn’t it? The habitat of the humid tropical forest is diverse. There are plants that are used by indigenous people as medicinal herbs, or used in daily life such as giant umbrella tree, mausoleum. The forest also has cool, clear streams that are filtered completely naturally through layers, layers of forest trees and rocks. With low mountainous terrain, the trails here have a moderate slope, quite easy to go. The plants intertwine with the stream create a diversity of landscapes, as well as the habitat of many animals. The biodiversity makes the forest scenery more pure and fresh. I could smell the damp vegetation and the rotten leaves slowly blending into the forest soil, giving off a pungent odor. The deeper you go into the forest, the more strange and curious you will feel. The most interesting thing is probably when being immersed in the rapids and natural lakes in the middle of the forest with the flow originating from Dak Nong province. The clear sound of the stream, the murmuring water helps your soul to be strangely peaceful. This is the time when I let myself float on the pure, blue water. Lakes and streams intertwine with the forest canopy, blending in and out, creating a feeling of friendliness and immersion as if returning to the primitive period. Not only watching the majestic scenery, I also learned about the culinary culture and traditional dishes of the S’tieng and M’nong people such as lam rice, Thuc soup, grilled chicken, stream fish, wild vegetables… Going to pick wild vegetables, collect firewood, catch fish from streams… then set up a kitchen, boil water for tree roots with a mausoleum and cook in the middle of the forest with bamboo tubes. Traditional Thuc Soup (Trau Pung) of the S’tieng includes rattan buds, bitter eggplant, spinach, wild mushrooms and stream fish. Com lam, a traditional dish typical of the cultural identity of the S’tieng people. In the S’tieng language, lam rice is called “Bien man don ka”, which means that sticky rice is cooked into rice in a bamboo tube. This is also an indispensable dish in their holidays and Tet. The S’tieng and M’nong people have a long tradition of association with the mountains and forests. Since ancient times, these ethnic groups have lived along primeval forests and depended on hunting, gathering, and shifting cultivation. Coming here, I also had the opportunity to travel on the beautiful border route. There are 2 main roads to go through Bu Gia Map, DT 741 road and Binh Phuoc province border. The difference is that these two roads can connect to form a circle embracing the forest. Bu Gia Map National Park – the green lung of the Southeast region, is definitely a great experience for anyone who loves nature. There is no phone signal or internet, where you are completely immersed in nature, listening and enjoying the sounds of the mountains. You will feel the breeze on your skin, hear the harmonious singing of birds, smell the fragrance of plants, taste the sweetness of the air… Note before the journey You must contact the managers of Bu Gia Map in advance. They will assign a guide to lead you to the desired location. Without a guide, rangers and border guards will not allow you to enter the forest. In addition, you need to prepare all the basic items when entering the forest: – Shoes with good adhesion, climbing ability, bring slippers (when not going to the forest), long socks that can be draped over pants to avoid squeezing, insects – Comfortable jungle clothes, good elasticity, swimwear for bathing – Snacks and drinks – Common medical drugs, insect repellents, extractors
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