Eight species of flora enlisted in Vietnam’s Red Book are beingpreserved at the Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong Delta province ofDong Thap, which enhances the ecological balance and the rehabilitationof regional species that are on the brink of extinction.

These rare plants include lotus, wild rice, yellow cheesewood, spikerushes, and water sprites that can grow rapidly and healthily during theflood season thanks to the favourable habitat there. They can be usedas medicines and serve as food suppliers for many species in the park.

The wild rice, for example, is the favourite food ofred-headed cranes. This variety of grain is being protected on the areaof 800 hectares and it can stand among the strong water.

Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare Tram Chim is endowed with richbiodiversity that helped it become a national park in 1998 and then thefourth Ramsar site in Vietnam in 2012. It is now the world’s 2,000th Ramsar site.

Tram Chim is home to over 150species of freshwater fish, with some listed in Vietnam ’s Red Book,including clown feather-back fish, common archerfish and giant barbs.

As many as 198 bird species are living there,including 16 rare ones such as red-headed cranes, black eagles andgreat-billed herons.

Forming part of the park, the3,000 hectare forest of cajeput, aged up to 18 years old, is oftenadorned with tens of thousand of white storks during the flood season.

Tours by watertaxis to the park are now available for tourists, who are assured to bestunned by a spectacular view of this “green oasis”.

A road system has been invested by local authorities to enable touriststo explore the site without harming its ecosystem.-VNA