Visiting the Ru Cha Mangrove Forest and Con Te in Hue: Leaf-Change Season, Paths and Parking

From central Hue towards the Thuan An estuary along National Highway 49, Ru Cha is a primeval mangrove forest left on the Tam Giang lagoon system, where most of the area is old gia trees (a local mangrove species). From late August to October each year the whole canopy turns together from deep green to orange-gold before the leaves fall, drawing photography and nature lovers who combine it with the neighbouring Con Te area.

The season when the leaves change at Ru Cha, and the mangrove ecosystem

The name Ru Cha comes from the dialect of Hue: “ru” means forest or highland and “cha” is the name of the mangrove tree (the gia tree), which grows naturally in dense stands that break the salt waves and protect the land of the Huong Phong area. Unlike the mangrove forests of the south, the gia trees at Ru Cha have gnarled, winding trunks and roots that rise above the brackish mud and weave together into shady arches along the small channels.

You can visit Ru Cha at any time of year, with two quite different looks:

• March to August (the green-leaf season): the whole forest is a fresh green and the air under the canopy stays gentle even on warm summer days. It is also the season when waterbirds, white egrets and lagoon fish multiply strongly.
• Late August to October (the yellow-leaf season): when the weather in Central Vietnam turns towards autumn and the first dry winds arrive, the leaves of the gia trees change gradually from green to lemon yellow and then orange-gold before falling into the water. The yellow period lasts for several weeks and gives a distinctive autumn scene on the lagoon.

The concrete forest walkway, the concrete viewing tower and where cars park

From the centre of the south bank of the Perfume River, the car runs along National Highway 49 towards Thuan An beach, then turns left at Thao Long dam and continues along National Highway 49B to the gate of the Ru Cha eco-village. The road to the edge of the forest is now concreted and surfaced, with a wide yard at the entrance where cars of 4, 7 and 16 seats can park and wait for your party.

From the car park you start strolling on a small concrete path that winds through the old gia trees. There are no noisy stalls on either side, only the sound of the wind in the leaves and the water lapping at the muddy banks. Further into the forest you come to a concrete viewing tower rising above the treetops. From the top storey you can look around 360 degrees over the whole stretch of mangrove, with shrimp and fish ponds on one side and the wide water of Tam Giang lagoon on the other.

Exploring the neighbouring Con Te area on Tam Giang

Just beyond the Ru Cha mangrove forest, towards where the Perfume River empties into Tam Giang lagoon, lies the Con Te area. Where Ru Cha has a closed beauty under dense canopy, Con Te opens into a wide space with a straight dyke road running across broad brackish ponds.

Along the Con Te road you find shrimp-watch huts on wooden piles, rows of traditional fish traps and the mooring place for local fishermen’s small boats. Between about 16:00 and 17:30 the breeze from the lagoon is cool and the afternoon light turns the whole long dyke golden, which suits an unhurried family walk, fresh air and photos before you move on to dinner.

A half-day plan combining Ru Cha, Con Te and Dam Chuon by private car

Because Ru Cha, Con Te and the Dam Chuon area all lie on the lagoon strip north-east of Hue, a short drive apart across Tam Giang bridge (Ca Cut bridge), the most sensible arrangement is to combine all three in one afternoon on the route of the private car from Hue to Tam Giang Lagoon and Dam Chuon.

A suggested plan from 14:30 to 19:30 for a family or a group of friends:

1. 14:30 – 15:00: the private car collects your party at a central Hue hotel and drives along National Highway 49 past Thao Long dam straight to the Ru Cha mangrove forest.
2. 15:00 – 16:30: walk through the gia forest, climb the viewing tower for a panoramic photo, and stroll along the Con Te road in the afternoon breeze.
3. 16:30 – 17:00: the driver collects your party at the Ru Cha car park and drives across Tam Giang bridge to the Dam Chuon landing (An Truyen village).
4. 17:00 – 19:00: take a boat to watch the sun set over Tam Giang lagoon and enjoy a brackish-water seafood dinner (banh khoai with lagoon fish, mud prawns, steamed rabbitfish) before the car takes your party back to Hue.

Besides the afternoon plan, if your group wants to swim in the morning before the mangrove forest, you can also combine the private car from Hue to Thuan An Beach or look at the private car routes starting from Hue to design a flexible trip around the weather.