This biggest National Park covers an area of nearly 30,000ha, including more than 27,000ha of forest. It also has 6,000ha of buffer land and 20,000ha of surrounding ocean area, which help mitigate external impacts on the park’s fauna and flora.

According to director Pham Quang Binh, Phu Quoc National Park is located on an island that has a mixture of continental and coastal climate, creating a rich ecosystem of primeval, secondary and indigo forests. Its indigo forests are distributed in the wetlands, the lowlands that are flooded in the rainy season, and sloping hills.

The co-existence of the Malaysian, Burmese and Himalayan ecologies in Phu Quoc has created a rich ecosystem. There are more than 470 species of plants, 140 species of wild animals, and several types of coral reefs offshore. Phu Quoc is also one of the two places in Vietnam where the Dugong, a marine species on the brink of extinction can be found.

In 2001, the government decided to upgrade the park to preserve its ecology and recognise it as a National Park. The Park Management Board has coordinated with local residents and military units to implement forest protection measures, particularly fire prevention.

“The rainy season in Phu Quoc is short but the dry season is longer there. So we have established a forest fire prevention steering board and firefighter units which are on standby,” said Mr Binh. “Every commune and local military unit has worked out detailed fire prevention plans. We also have regular communications with local residents to raise their awareness of forest protection.”

Phu Quoc National Park is a good destination for tourists as it offers a wide range of activities such as camping and trekking. It’s also ideal for those who want to study the tropical forest. As Phu Quoc develops into Vietnam’s ecotourism capital, the jewel in its crown, the park will become ever more attractive to visitors from around the world.