U Minh Thðợng National Park or National Park of Upper U Minh (Vietnamese language: Vðá»Ân quá»Âc gia U Minh Thðợng) is a national park in the province of Kiên Giang, Vietnam.
It was established according to decision number 11/2002/QÃÂ-TTg, dated 14 January 2002, signed by then Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyá» n Tấn Dà ©ng. This decision turned the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve into U Minh Thuong National Park.
The park covers approximately with the nearest city being Rạch Giá
U Minh Thuong National Park is widely considered the richest region of the Mekong delta in terms of plant and animal biodiversity. It boasts of over 243 plant species. The park has a rich and varied mammalian population, totaling an impressive 32 species, including hairy-nosed otters. U Minh Thuong National Park is a haven for rare and endangered birds. A total of 187 species of birds has been recorded here, including the oriental darter, spot-billed pelican, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis, greater spotted eagle and Asian golden weaver. There are also a total of 39 amphibian species and 34 species of fish in the park. Both the saltwater crocodile and the Siamese crocodile were once found here, but a 2002 study concluded that both species were extinct in the park.
During the First Indochina War, the U Minh Forest was a Viet Minh stronghold. In 1952, 500 French paratroopers dropped into the U Ming forest to attack Viet Minh and were never heard from again. During the Vietnam War, it was a Vietcong base area. Officers Humbert Roque Versace and James N. Rowe of the United States Army were captured by the Vietcong during a battle in the U Minh Forest in October 1963.