4 Best Sights in Ca Mau, Mekong Delta

In a mangrove forest about 5 km (3 miles) from the township of Bac Lieu is a large bird sanctuary that is home to 46 species of birds, including the endangered painted stork and small king cormorant. An estimated 40,000 birds live here, within a 951-acre mangrove ecosystem. The best time to visit is when the birds nest during the rainy season between May and October. Time a visit for dawn or dusk, when thousands of birds take to the skies.

The wet market here is small, but a bustling hive of activity from early in the morning to dusk. Few foreign tourists visit Ca Mau, so expect a lot of attention if you walk through.

This 104-acre mangrove forest, which stretches to Vietnam's southernmost point, is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve that is home to many rare and endangered birds, animals, and reptiles. The national park is 110 km (68 miles) from Ca Mau City, about two hours by speedboat. No organized tours visit the park (at the time of writing), but it is possible to hire a speed boat to take you there. This should be arranged well in advance of arriving in Ca Mau (preferably from Ho Chi Minh City) and should include the services of an English-speaking guide.

The vast U Minh Ha National Park, 35 km (22 miles) from Ca Mau, contains swaths of swampland and pearl-white cajeput trees, also known as melaleuca or paperbark trees, as well as 32 mammal species, including deer and wild boar, and 74 bird species, including the endangered painted stork. A boat trip through the forest is breathtaking and eerily quiet. There are several "ecotourism" ventures in the forest, primarily in the Vo Voi area, which cater to domestic tourists rather than international visitors. Nevertheless, a visit can be interesting, but it's best organized well before arriving in Ca Mau.