Pu Mat National Park

Pu Mat National Park is a large protected area in western Nghe An Province, centered in Con Cuong District near the Laos border. Established as a nature reserve in 1995 and designated a national park in 2001, it covers about 94,804 hectares of primary tropical forest within the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve. It is notable for high biodiversity, the 1,841-meter Pu Mat peak, Khe Kem Waterfall, and the Giang River, and for Thai ethnic communities living in the buffer zone.

Visitors can expect a remote tropical forest landscape with dense primary forest, limestone mountains, rivers and waterfalls. The main accessible areas are the park headquarters at Chi Khe, Khe Kem Waterfall (150m high), and the Giang River where boat trips are offered. Exploration is mainly through guided trekking, wildlife and birdwatching, and visits to Thai ethnic villages in the buffer zone. Facilities are basic and most core-zone activities require a local guide and permit.

Originally established as Pu Mat Nature Reserve in 1995, designated as Pu Mat National Park on 8 November 2001 by the Prime Minister. It forms the core zone of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO in 2007, protecting one of the largest remaining areas of primary forest in northern Vietnam.

The buffer zone is home to Thai, Dan Lai and Kinh communities who maintain traditional stilt houses, brocade weaving, folk songs and agricultural practices. The park supports community-based ecotourism and homestays that showcase local culture and traditional knowledge of the forest.