Benefit sharing on ecotourism and conservation activities in cat ba national park

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY STUDENT THESIS BENEFIT-SHARING ON ECOTOURISM AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES IN CAT BA NATIONAL PARK Major: Natural Resources Management Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management Code: D850101 Student: Hoang Dinh Nguyen Student ID: 1453091211 Class: K59B Natural Resources Management Course: 2014 – 2018 Advanced Education Program Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA Supervisor: Dr Ngo Duy Bach Hanoi, June 2018 ABSTRACT Ecotourism is roughly becoming a hot industry for public and private investors in the world Besides, the mutual relationship between ecotourism and conservation is evaluated importantly in balancing economic and environmental aspect Thus, stakeholders involve in ecotourism activities have play crucial role in conservation activities and sustainable tourism Cat Ba National Park, due to its impressive natural and cultural tourism resources, has a large potential to become one of the sought-after ecotourism destinations in the world In fact, it is well-known tourist attraction for both inbound and outbound tourist In this research, by using useful techniques namely participant observation, semi-structured interviews, questionnaire survey method, it has given on the general current status of ecotourism development in Cat Ba National Park (CBNP) in both the center and Viet Hai community-based tourism, and then identifying some key stakeholders and their role in ecotourism and conservation activities It also has contributed to the information in terms of Stakeholder Interactions and its benefitsharing mechanism in two cases The positive and negative impacts of ecotourism on conservation has carefully discussed from this research Ultimately, this research has produced a set of recommendation on justifiable benefit-sharing in management Keywords: benefit-sharing, ecotourism stakeholders, Cat Ba National Parks i development, community-based, key ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Foremost I would like to express my deep gratitude to my principal supervisor Dr Ngo Duy Bach for his effective supervision He is a reviewer, who sacrificed valuable time to carefully read and feedback my proposal as well as my thesis, despite a short period of time In addition, he gives me a help as a bridge connecting me with others important people during the field trip I would like to express my sincere to SJ Vietnam (a volunteer international youth NGO) They facilitated me as a tourist who came and participated in some volunteer activities for the local community They also supported me an accommodation and food for weeks in CBNB Joining with voluntary student from Cardiff University, I undergo new experiences with them when discovery as a voluntourist It is literally helping to complements my own topic The research also would not be realized without guidance and support from all the staffs working in The Center for Services, Ecotourism & Environmental Education at Cat Ba National Park They gave me a chance to work in their agency as a tour-guide in weeks Besides, providing excellent research facilities and a warm welcome, I am extremely grateful to them for what they have done for me Particularly, I would like to thank Mr Cau ,vice president in travel services and ecotourism, provided me careful guidance throughout the whole period of weeks in CBNB I have learnt a lot from him not only academically but also personality As a independence, maturity and confidence to work with others offices and people, which laid solid foundation for this research and further my work in the future Special thanks go to the following individuals and organizations: Cat Ba National Park , Cat Ba Forest ranger station, Viet Hai People‟s Committee, Mr Hung, Mr Duc and all the interviewees who responded to questionnaires and interview in my research with the supporting and collaboration from these bodies and individuals, the research has accomplished more easily ii Finally, it is cannot but mention to my beloved family and friends My family supported to me a lot about financial as well as sprits For instant, they encouraged me in every single tough moment during the time when I did my thesis In addition, my friend who assistance throughout a half of field trip, have tremendous meaning on me when spending their time to help me in data collection time There is an inspiration to encourage me to more harder iii CONTENTS ABSTRACT i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii CONTENTS iv ABBREVIATIONS vi TABLE CONTENTS Error! 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Bookmark not defined Chapter I: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale 1.2.1 General objective: 1.2.2 Detailed objectives: 1.3 study area 1.4 The structure of the thesis Chapter II: LITURATURE REVIEW 2.1 introduction 2.2 Defining Ecotourism 2.3 The participation of stakeholders in ecotourism activity 2.4 Relationship between ecotourism and environmental conservation 2.5 Ecotourism and voluntourism 10 Chapter III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 12 3.1 Case study approach 12 3.3 Data collection 13 3.3.1 Questionnaire Surveys 13 3.3.3 Semi-structured interviews 13 3.3.4 Participant Observation 14 3.3.1 Document analysis or secondary data analysis 15 iv 3.3 Data analysis 16 4.1 Current status of ecotourism and conservation activity in CBNP 17 4.1.1 Infrastructure and tourism services 17 4.1.2 Tourist frequency in CBNP 20 4.2 key stakeholders in ecotourism activities 23 4.2.1 Non-local actors 23 4.2.2 Local actors 26 4.3 Interaction among stakeholders 31 4.3.1 Park headquarters 31 4.3.2 local communities participant 36 4.4 Impacts of Ecotourism on Conservation activities 38 4.4.1 Positive impact 38 4.4.2 Negative impact 43 Chapter V: Discussion 45 5.1 The role of stakeholders 45 5.1.1 Donor organizations 45 5.1.2 Public Sector 45 5.1.3 Private Sectors 46 5.1.4 Local Communities 46 5.1.5 Tourists 46 5.2 Benefits Distribution Mechanism 47 5.4 Proposing solutions for sustainable ecotourism development in association with forest resource management 49 Chapter VI: Conclusion 51 REFFERENCES APPENDIX v ABBREVIATIONS CBNP Cat Ba National Park PAs Protected area DMOs destination marketing organizations CBE Community-based ecotourism CEEE Center service of ecotourism and environmental education TDP Tourism Development Department PA Removing barriers hindering protected area management effectiveness in Vietnam (Project) vi List of Tables Table 1.1: Species in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve Table 4.1 Group of development projects associated with conservation in recent years 24 vii List of Figures Figure 1.1: The map of Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve Figure 4.1 Temporal recuse in Park headquarters 18 Figure 4.2 Information board in Park headquarters 18 Figure 4.3: Number of domestic and international visitor in terrestrial tourist routes and marine tourist routes in period of year from 2013 to 2017 20 Firgure 4.4 Mangrove ecosystem in Phu Long 23 Figure 4.5 Local clay house in Viet Hai 23 Figure 4.5 : CEEE‟s staffs assess their salary (n=13) 31 Figure 4.6: Travelers assess current tickets price (n=20) 32 Figure 4.7: Travelers assess current commodity (n=20) 33 Figure 4.12: locals responsibilities in ecotourism (n=14) 36 Figure 4.13: comparing monthly Family Income between locals participant and locals nonparticipant ecotourism 37 Figure 4.15: Some of volunteer activities in CBNP 42 Firgure 4.16: Trash left by visitors on the "Kim Giao forest - Ngu Lam Peak" 44 viii Chapter I: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale National Parks and natural landscape are increasingly interested in the use of land for tourism development It is considered to be an important foundation for the development of the Ecotourism and to bring about the benefits of economic and social development However, whether or not the development of ecotourism in the national parks ensure the requirements for resource protection depend much on local community In Vietnam, as soon as the national parks are established, communities living in the core and buffer zone depend on the resources of the nature reserve They face a lot of difficulties in changing their previous lifestyles such as limited harvesting forest products or shrinking field areas in order to compensate for those disadvantages, many policies and projects are being developed to support and enhance the quality of life of people as "Programme 135" to support finance for people living in remote areas The tourism development project is being implemented in most of the national parks in Vietnam However, the effects of the tourism promotion are not much supporting the economic growth of local community and the conservation activities Participation of local people living in buffer zone is interested by authorities in ecotourism activities in Vietnam National Parks In fact, however, the participation of the community in tourism activities was very limited and totally unorganized The benefits-sharing issues among national parks, travel agencies, and local communities are much limited when almost profits come to individuals or small group which have a certain knowledge and capital It is undeniable that the benefits-sharing on ecotourism and conservation in National park with stakeholders is Inappropriate Local communities are almost out of the running or traveling spontaneously Even authority in national park who directly manage tourism resources are also out of tourism activities passively and dependently Cat Ba national park is typical appropriate case study for several reasons Firstly, the development of tourism as well 11 Thi Thanh An Nguyen, 2014 “Local ecological knowledge, livelihoods and conservation in the changing forest social ecological systems of Cat Ba Island, Vietnam” Doctor thesis The University of Queensland 12 Ministry of Resource and Environment, 2015 Project of increasing efficiency of management of conservation zones (PA) 13 Official website of Cat Ba National Park, 2016 Tourism activities Available at < http://catbanationalpark.vn/cat-ba-national-park-7> APPENDIX APPENDIX Phiếu khảo sát (questionnaire survey 1) : Phiếu khảo sát cộng động dân địa phương (Local community) “ Chúng thực nghiên cứu thực trạng hưởng lợi ích từ hoạt động du lịch bên liên quan VQG Cát Bà Sự hợp tác bạn việc trả lời quan trọng cho thành công Chúng xin chân thành cảm ơn.” ("We are doing research on how to benefit-sharing implement in ecotourism activities among stakeholders with the goal of sustainable development in Cat Ba National Park Your cooperation in answering is very important to our success We sincerely thank you ") Phần I: Thông tin cá nhân: ( Hãy điền × vào bạn lựa chọn ) personal information Giới tính bạn (Sex): ☐ Nam (Male) ☐ Nữ (Female) Tuổi bạn: (Age) ☐ 18-22 ☐ 22-50 ☐ 50 Trình độ học vấn (Educational level) ☐ Đại học trở lên ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp (university) ( high school) (Primary school) (secondary school) (restaurant staff) Nghề nghiệp (career) ☐Nông dân ☐Nội trợ ☐Nhân viên nhà (Farmer) (Housewife) hàng Công việc khác (others) : ……………………………………………………………………………… Thu nhập hàng tháng tính trung bình (Average monthly income) ☐ 000,000 triệu (Less than millions) ☐ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (2 to millions) ☐ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (5 to millions) ☒ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (7 to millions) ☐ 000,000 triệu (up millions) Nguồn thu nhập gia đình (Main income source of the family) ☐Lâm sản ☐Chăn ☐Du lịch ☐Thủ ☐Trồng ☐Giảng ngồi gỗ ni (tourism) cơng mỹ lúa dạy (Forest (grazing) nghệ (Farm) (Teaching) product) (handicraft) Phần II: Sự tham gia dân địa phương du lịch (Participation of locals in tourism) Bạn tham gia du lịch cộng đồng bạn nào? (How are you involved in tourism in your community?) ☐ Hướng dẫn viên du lịch ☐ Người trông cửa hàng ☐ Nhà sản suất đồ lưu niệm (tour guild) (Shopkeeper) (Handicraft maker) ☐ Không tham gia du lịch ☐ Khác (ghi rõ) (others) (No participant) ……………………………………… Nếu không tham gia, sao? (why you don‟t participant in tourism) ……………………………………… Bạn làm việc ngành du lịch rồi? (How long have you worked in tourism) ☐Dưới năm (Less than year) ☐Từ đến năm (1 to years) ☐Từ đến năm (4 to years) ☐Từ đến năm (7 to years) ☐Trên 10 năm (10 years up) Tại bạn định làm việc ngành du lịch? (Why you decide to work in ecotourism) Có Khơng Tơi khơng biết Câu hỏi (Questions) (yes) (No) (I don‟t know) Tôi muốn kiếm tiền (I want to earn money) ☐ ☐ ☐ Tơi muốn có liên lạc với người nước ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Tôi thất nghiệp (I was unemployed) ☐ ☐ ☐ Tôi muốn học ngoại ngữ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ (I want to get in touch with foreigners) Tôi muốn tiết kiệm tiền cho tương lai (I want to save money for the future.) Tơi muốn đóng góp cho phát triển làng (I want to contribute to village development) (I want to learn foreign language) Ai thuyết phục làm (Someone convinced me) Yếu tố xác định khả tạo nhiều lợi ích từ du lịch? (What factors determine the ability to make more benefits from tourism) ( trả lời nhiều câu hỏi) ☐ Sự nhiệt tình cá nhân (Personal enthusiasm) ☐ Tình trạng kinh tế gia đình (Family economic status) ☐ Cung cấp dịch vụ tốt cho khách du lịch (Provide better services to tourists) ☐ Đặc điểm du lịch (Tourist characteristics) ☐ Số lao động gia đình (Number of labors in the family) ☐ Thời gian rảnh (Time availability) ☐ Khác (others) (vui lịng ghi rõ)………………………………………………………………… Bạn có hài lịng với số tiền bạn kiếm từ du lịch từ cố gắng bạn ? (Are you satisfied with the money you earn from tourism in relation to your effort?) ☐ Rất khơng hài lịng (Strongly dissatisfied) ☐ Khơng hài lịng (Dissatisfied) ☐ Không thể định (Cannot decide) ☐ Hài lòng (Satisfied) ☐ Rất hài lòng (Strongly satisfied) Nếu thu nhập từ du lịch đủ cao cho sống bạn hoàn toàn chuyển từ hoạt động khác sang làm việc ngành du lịch? (If the income from tourism is high enough for living will you completely switch from other activities to work in tourism) ☐ Có (Yes) ☐ Không (No) ☐ Tôi (I don‟t know) Bạn gặp phải vấn đề làm việc với khách du lịch? (What are the problems you are facing in working with tourists) (Có thể có nhiều câu trả lời) ☐ Tôi không hiểu ngôn ngữ ( I don‟t know foreign language) ☐ Tôi khơng có đủ kỹ hiếu khách.(I don‟t have sufficient skills) ☐ Tơi khơng có đủ thời gian để làm (I don‟t have enough time to work) ☐ Cơ sở vật chất không đủ tốt (My infrastructure is not good) ☐ Hành vi / kỳ vọng du lịch (behavior/ tourism expectation) ☐ Khác (vui lòng ghi rõ) Bạn đánh giá thu nhiều lợi ích từ du lịch sinh thái phát triển? (How would you rate who makes more benefit from ecotourism development) ☐ Sở du lịch (Department of tourism) ☐ Đơn vị quản lý khu vực bảo vệ (Protected Area Management Unit) ☐ Điều hành tour (Tour operator) ☐ Hướng dẫn viên du lịch (Provincial tour guide) ☐ Dân làng (Villagers) ☐ Người khác (others)……………………………………… Bạn có đồng ý với chương trình chia sẻ doanh thu không? (Do you agree with the current revenue sharing scheme) ☐ Đồng ý (Agree) ☐ Khơng đồng ý (Disagree) Nếu khơng, cần làm để cải thiện? (if disagree how can improve) ……………………………………… ……………………………………… ……………… ……………………… ……………………………………… ……………………………… ……… ……………………………………… ……………………………………… 10 Bạn nhận thấy nhận lợi ích hoạt động du lịch ☐Có việc làm, tăng thu nhập ☐Tiếp xúc với nhiều người ☐Mở rộng hiểu biết ☐Cải thiện giao thông ☐Không lợi ích 11 Những lợi ích du lịch làng/khu bạn sống gì? (Có thể có nhiều câu trả lời) ☐ Thêm công việc thu nhập ☐ Giáo dục tốt ☐ Bảo tồn rừng ☐ Làng ☐ Chăm sóc sức khỏe tốt Khác (vui lòng ghi rõ) ………………………………………………………………… 12 Những nên làm để làm cho du lịch bền vững làng? (What we should to make tourism sustainable in the village?) (Có thể có nhiều câu trả lời) ☐ Nhiều lợi ích cho cộng đồng địa phương (More benefits to local community) ☐ Thu hút thêm khách du lịch (Attract more tourist) ☐ Bảo vệ động vật hoang dã rừng (Protect wildlife and forests) ☐ Cung cấp thêm giáo dục đào tạo (Provide more education and training) ☐ Cải thiện sở hạ tầng sở vật chất (Improve infrastructure and facilities) ☐ Quản lý chất thải phù hợp (Proper waste management) ☐ Văn hóa địa phương bảo vệ (Protected local culture) ☐ Phát triển điểm du lịch (Development new tourism sites) ☐ Đa dạng hóa hoạt động du lịch (Diversifies tourism activities) ☐ Các bên liên quan khác làm việc (Different stakeholders working together) 13 Bạn đưa nhận xét bổ sung du lịch cộng đồng khơng? ( bạn nhận xét thêm khơng) …………………………………………………………………………………………… Bạn hồn thành phiếu câu, chân thành cảm ơn bạn! (You just have done questionnaire, Thank you for your help) Phiếu khảo sát 2: (Questionnaire survey 2) Phiếu khảo sát cán nhân viên ban du lịch VQG (Questionnaire survey form for staffs working in Park headquarters) Phần I: Thông tin cá nhân: ( Hãy điền × vào bạn lựa chọn ) Giới tính bạn (Sex) : ☐ Nam ☐ Nữ Tuổi bạn (Age): ☐ 18-22 ☐ 22-50 ☐ Trên 50 Trình độ học vấn (educational level) ☐ Đại học trở lên ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp Bạn làm việc theo hình thức (what kind of work form you working) ☐ Cơng vụ (official) ☐ Thời vụ (temporary) 10 Vai trị bạn trung tâm du lịch vườn ( What is your job in the CEEE?) ☐ Nhân viên bán hàng (shopkeeper) ☐ Hướng dẫn viên (Tour guide) ☐ Bảo vệ (Guard) ☐ Cán (Manager) Công việc khác: (others) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… Phần II: Thơng tin lợi ích liên quan ( Related-information) Lệ phí vào cổng theo bạn là: (How you rate entrance fees) ☐ Hợp lý (Reasonable) ☐ Cao (High) ☐ Thấp (Low) Ai người trả lương trực tiếp cho bạn: (Who directly paid your salary) ☐ Vườn quốc gia ☐ trung tâm du ☐ Công ty xe điện ☐ Chủ thầu địa điểm (National park) lịch (electrical car (contractor area) (CEEE) company) Phí trả lương cho bạn theo bạn (Are you satisfied with your salary?) ☐ Rất thích hợp ☐ Thích hợp ☐ Vừa phải ☐ Khơng thích hợp (strongly satisfied) (satisfied) (So so) (inappropriate) Theo bạn, bạn đáp ứng nhu cầu khách du lịch chưa (Do you meet the needs of tourists) ☐ Đáp ứng tốt ☐ Khá ☐ Trung bình ☐ Khơng đáp ứng Trong q trình cơng tác, bạn nhận thấy hài lịng với khách du lịch không (During the work, Are you satisfied with the tourists) ☐ Có (yes) ☐ Khơng (No) Nếu khơng sao: (if no,why) ………………………………………………………………………………………… ……… Theo bạn q trình cơng tác, bạn giúp ích cho cơng tác bảo tồn vườn? (During the work, how did you help to preserve the garden?) ☐Tuyên truyền cho du khách giá trị bảo tồn (Propagandize visitors for conservation value) ☐Trực tiếp tham gia thu dọn rác thải từ du khách (Directly collect garbage from visitors) ☐Trực tiếp tham gia chăm nom động vật lồng (Directly take care of animals in cages) ☐Phát chặt bụi, dại khu vườn (thinning activities on shrubs and wild plants in the Park) Hoạt động khac (others) ……………………………………………………………………………… Bạn hoàn thành phiếu câu hỏi, chân thành cảm ơn bạn! You just have done questionnaire, Thanks to your help! Phiếu khảo sát (Questionnaire survey 3): Phiếu khảo sát khách du lịch (questionnaire survey form for tourist visiting in Park headquarters) Phần I: Thông tin cá nhân: personal Information ( Hãy điền × vào bạn lựa chọn ) Giới tính bạn (Sex) : ☐ Nam (Male) ☐ Nữ (Female) Tuổi bạn (Age): ☐ 18-22 ☐ 22-50 ☐ Trên 50 Trình độ học vấn (educational level) ☐ Đại học trở lên ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp ☐ Hết cấp (servant staff) Bạn làm cơng việc gì: (what is your job) ☐Nông dân ☐Nội trợ ☐Nhân viên nhà (Farmer) (Housewife) nước Công việc khác (others): ……………………………………………………………………………… Thu nhập hàng tháng tính trung bình (Average monthly income) ☐ 000,000 triệu (Less than millions) ☐ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (2 to millions) ☐ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (5 to millions) ☐ 000,000 to 000,000 triệu (7 to millions) ☐ 000,000 triệu (up millions) Phần II: Thơng tin lợi ích liên quan Lệ phí vào cổng theo bạn (How you rate entrance fees) ☐ Hợp lý (reasonable) ☐ Cao (High) ☐ Thấp (low) Theo bạn lệ phí vào cổng nên bao nhiêu: (How much should the entrance fee be) ☐ 20.000vnđ ☐ 30.000 vnđ ☐ 50.000vnđ ☐ 60.000vnđ ☐ Khơng đổi Bạn có định mua q lưu niêm qua chuyến thăm quan vườn không? (Do you intend to buy souvenirs through a visit to the garden?) (như đũa kim giao, hàng truyền thống, áo phông lưu niệm, giống cây,…) (such as Kim giao chopsticks, traditional goods, souvenir T-shirts, plants, ) ☐Có (Yes) ☐Khơng (No) Nếu có sản phẩm gì? Nếu khơng sao? (If no, why) ………………………………………… ☐ Khơng thấy có sản phẩm đặc sắc (nothing special) ☐ Giá thành cao (expensive) ☐ Cồng kềnh cho chuyến (hard to carrying) Lý khác (others):………………………………… Bạn có thấy chuyến vào vườn bạn đáp ứng kỳ vọng tham quan không? (Do you see the trip to your garden meets the expectation of sightseeing?) ☐Có (yes) Nếu khơng sao? ( chọn nhiều đáp án) ☐Khơng (No) ☐ Ít thú rừng để tham quan (less wildlife animals) ☐ Cảnh quan không đẹp (unbeautiful landscape) ☐ Cách phục vụ chưa tốt (worse services) Lý khác (others):……………………………………………………… Bạn có muốn lưu lại vườn từ - ngày ,để tẩn hưởng kỳ nghỉ khơng? (Do you want to stay in the CBNP for 1-3 days to enjoy your holiday?) ☐ Rất mong muốn ☐ Mong muốn ☐ Khơng ☐ Có thể (strongly desired) (desired) (No) (Maybe) Dịch vụ vườn hấp dẫn bạn chuyến đi? ( What service at the headquarters most attractive to you during the trip) ☐ Tuyến du lịch ☐ Nơi ăn ☐ Ăn uống ☐ Thái độ dịch vụ (tourist routes) (accommodation) (food) (attitudes services) Phương tiện hay dịch vụ bạn cho nâng cao chất lượng chuyến bạn? ( What service you think enhances the quality of your trip?) ☐ Hướng dẫn viên (tour guide) ☐ Bảng thông tin (information broad) ☐ Trung tâm đón khách (welcome center) ☐ Xe điện (electrical car) ☐ Tờ rơi, đồ (poster, brochure) ☐ Nhà hàng, ăn uống(restaurant, food) ☐ Đường ( đường nhựa hay bê tông thay cho đường đất) (road) Nếu nâng cao chất lượng phương tiên dịch vụ đó, bạn có sẵn lịng trả thêm tiền không? ( If we improve the quality of these facilities and services, are you willing to pay extra?) ☐ Sẵn lịng (willing) ☐ Khơng (No) ☐ Khơng biết (maybe) Khi tham quan chuyến vừa rồi, bạn có muốn quay trở lại vườn khơng? (When you have visited the trip, you want to go back to the park) ☐Có (Yes) ☐Khơng (No) ☐ Khơng (not sure) Cảm ơn bạn hoàn thành phiếu điều tra! You just have done questionnaires, Thank for your help! ... activities in Cat Ba National Park -To study on benefit- sharing mechanism of ecotourism in Cat Ba National Park -To study on the impacts of ecotourism on conservation activities in Cat Ba National Park. .. protection in Cat Ba National Park 1.2.2 Detailed objectives: -To assess the current status of ecotourism and conservation activities in Cat Ba National Park -To identify stakeholders in ecotourism activities. .. balancing economic and environmental aspect Thus, stakeholders involve in ecotourism activities have play crucial role in conservation activities and sustainable tourism Cat Ba National Park,