Bird bliss: Tram Chim National Park, a bird haven in Dong Thap, was named a heritage site. — VNS Photo Le Hoang Vu

DONG THAP  (VNS) — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last week recognised Tram Chim National Park in the Mekong province of Dong Thap as a national heritage site.

In May 2012, the national park, which is a large sanctuary for birds, was recognised as the fourth Ramsar site in Viet Nam and the 2,000th in the world.

The other Ramsar sites in the country are the Xuan Thuy Natural Wetland Reserve in the northern province of Nam Dinh, the Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) Wetlands and Seasonal Flood Plains in Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai, and Ba Be National Park in the northern province of Bac Kan.

Covering a total area of 7,588ha, Tram Chim National Park is considered a "smaller Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds)".

With a system of swamps, grass plots and natural canals, the park is an ideal habitat for 191 species of plants, 150 species of freshwater fish and nearly 231 species of water birds. Some of these are listed in Viet Nam 's Red Book of rare and threatened species.

The Tram Chim National Park was established in 1994 as the first national park in the Mekong Delta, followed by the establishment of Phu Quoc National Park in Kien Giang Province in 2001, U Minh Thuong National Park in Kien Giang Province in 2002, Ca Mau Cape National Park in 2003 and U Minh Ha National Park in Ca Mau Province in 2006. — VNS