Forest Floor Lodge, Cat Tien National Park Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City and The South

The Forest Floor Lodge offers simple but comfortable accommodation for those looking for a real adventure in Nam Cat Tien, one of Vietnam's most important and last surviving jungle areas. Built in a restored guard station close to the park's headquarters the hotel occupies prime forest location overlooking the Ben Cu rapids on the outskirts of the jungle. Surrounded by the sounds of the river and nature the lodge is a great base for excursions into the surrounding area or even to unwind and cut yourself off from the outside world.

 The Lodge has two room types: Deluxe Tents and Vietnamese wooden houses. Deluxe tents are similar in style to African safari tents with en suite bathrooms, mini-bar, fan’s and air conditioning. They are reached by a series of elevated walk ways that run through the lodge. However, our choice would be the Vietnamese Wooden Houses, located nearer to the lobby and reception area.  Constructed from timber and tiles with a private veranda overlooking the trees, these rooms retain the forest lodge feel and yet are relatively cool and spacious. They offer A/C, fan, mosquito nets, double or twin beds, and en suite bathrooms with hot shower. There are no televisions, in keeping with the aim of the hotel to take  guests back to nature.

 The lodge has one restaurant and bar, overlooking the Ben Cu rapids and serving a variety of drinks and local and western cuisine. The resort does offer wifi, but it is fuelled by generator-powered electricity and electricity may be switched off at night or at quieter times of the day. The Lodge is proud of its eco credentials and is an important contributor to the park's finances, while its rooms are designed to be low-impact on the environment.

 The Forest Floor Lodge can arrange a number of exciting excursions and activities in the forest and surrounding areas, including an early morning trek into the jungle to try to catch a sight of the rare yellow-cheeked gibbons who call this stretch of jungle home.

 The hotel cannot be described as luxurious - accommodation is pretty simple, although of a good quality - but it does have courteous and friendly staff  and facilities in a truly unique and isolated location.