Situated in the far north of Vietnam, Hoang Lien National Park and the township of Sa Pa (Lao Cai), alongside with the adjoining mountains of Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) is in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, where sits Vietnam’s highest peak, Fan Si Pan (3,143 m asl). Hoang Lien National Park supports a diversity of habitats and is the key site for montane forests: elevations below 1,800 m support extensive lower montane evergreen forest; elevations between 1,800 and 2,500 m support upper montane evergreen forest, elevations between 2,500 and 2,800 m support sub-alpine forest, while the vegetation above 2,800 m is dominated by stands of dwarf bamboo. Most natural forest below 1,000 m has been cleared for cultivation.
In recognition of its importance for several restricted-range and globally threatened bird species, Hoang Lien National Park is recognised as an Important Bird Area. For birdwatchers, the main draw is the opportunity to see a good representation of eastern Himalayan specialties, including more than eight laughingthrushes. A fairly steep trail starts from the top of Quy Ho pass at 1,900 m asl) to the summit of Fan Si Pan. Birding trips typically require two or three days to see a good representation of species and visitors may choose to camp at two spots at 2,200 m and 2,800 m asl. Large mixed foraging flocks are regularly encountered in these forests. Many of the most sought-after species should be searched for along the summit trail and this includes Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Pale-throated Wren Babbler, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Himalayan Cutia, Golden Parrotbill, and White-browed Bush Robin.
Tam Dao is a hill resort sitting on a mountainous ridge some 80 km from Hanoi. There are several forested peaks over 1,300 m asl on the ridge, much of which overlaps with Tam Dao National Park. Tam Dao comprises hill and montane broadleaved forests and is among the best places to see Blue-naped Pitta, Pale-footed Bush Warbler, Short-tailed and Rufous-headed Parrotbill and Purple Cochoa in Vietnam. A well-known 3-km long trail (also known as the ‘water tank trail’) passes through open scrubby forest along the first 2 km before entering dense bamboo and broadleaved evergreen forest as a narrow trail. Key targets species for birdwatchers here include ground birds such as Silver Pheasant and the elusive Blue-naped Pitta. Other species of interest include Collared Babbler, Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler, and Grey Laughingthrush.
Ba Vi National Park is located about 50 km southwest of Tam Dao and is dominated by Mount Ba Vi (1,296 m asl), an isolated massif east of the Da River. Broadleaved forests here occur from above 600 m asl and is typically shrouded in mists. There are also some areas mixed coniferous and broadleaved forest at lower elevations. Key species for birdwatchers include Red-vented Barbet and the localised Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush (ssp. varennei), the latter only found in Vietnam and Hainan Island. The best site for birding is a steep trail on the access road which climbs to the summit of Ba Vi. Besides the laughingthrush, a host of species such as Silver-breasted Broadbill, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava (in winter) and Fork-tailed Sunbird are possible.
Cuc Phuong, Vietnam’s first national park, is located in Ninh Binh, some 135 km from Hanoi. Cuc Phuong’s karstic landscape is dominated by tall subtropical evergreen forest, including forest on limestone. In some parts of the Park, the forest can be stratified into as many as five layers, with impressive emergent trees of Parashorea stellata and Terminalia sp. More than 300 birds have been recorded to date, including sought-after Grey Peacock Pheasant, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Bar-bellied and Blue-rumped Pitta, and the localised Red-collared Woodpecker. A well-maintained network of trails around the Cuc Phuong’s headquarters provides easy access into secondary and tall forests. During the northern winter, many migratory species occur including Swinhoe’s Minivet, Japanese Thrush and Chinese Blackbird.
A well-paved access road which runs for 19 km towards the Bong substation provides good access to birdwatching habitat. Residents including Silver Pheasant, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pitta have been recorded feeding along the road. There are several good trails for birdwatching, the Loop Trail, the Big Tree Trail and the open areas of forest around the guesthouse and Bong Sub-station. The Loop Trail covers a total distance of about 7 km and is home to specialties such as Red-collared Woodpecker, Long-tailed and Silver-breasted Broadbill, Blue-rumped, Bar-bellied and Eared Pitta, Rufous-throated and Black-browed Fulvetta.
Xuan Thuy National Park is located in the Red River Delta at the mouth of the Red River’s main channel and encompasses mangroves, coastal scrub, fishponds and intertidal flats. This wetland, internationally recognised as a Ramsar Site, comprises three islands interspaced with intertidal flats: Ngan, the largest, Lu and Xanh. Xanh, together with Lu Island, is partly inundated at high tide. Xuan Thuy is an important staging and wintering area for large numbers of migratory waterbirds. Over 300 bird species have been recorded, including some of the most important congregations of migratory shorebirds and gulls in Vietnam, and migrant landbirds like flycatchers, thrushes and raptors. Highlights include Black-faced Spoonbill, Asian Dowitcher, Black-tailed Godwit (ssp. melanuroides, bohaii), Nordmann’s Greenshank and a small wintering population of Spoon-billed Sandpiper (typically offshore) and Saunders's Gull. In particular, Xuan Thuy supports the largest wintering population of Black-faced Spoonbill in Vietnam. Con Lu can be accessed by boat, which can be arranged and booked in advance through local birdwatching guides. Species on the mudflats and sandy areas include Chinese Egret, Asian Dowitcher, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Great and Red Knot, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Saunders's Gull. The vegetation in the centre of Lu Islet is also a resting area for many migrants.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is situated in one of the largest areas of contiguous limestone karst landscapes in the region and abuts the Hin Namno National Protected Area across the border in Laos. Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is possibly better known to naturalists for its threatened primates, including the charismatic Red-shanked Douc and Francois’s Langur. Known for its limestone karst formations and extensive cave systems, the park is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. Two of Phong Nha’s main species, the Limestone Leaf Warbler and Sooty Babbler, both limestone specialists, can be seen near the boundaries of the national park. One of the best sites for birding in Phong Nha is the Hang Chin Co area (Nine Women Cave). About 25 km from the National Park headquarters, the trail here enable access to evergreen forests and is a good place see several sought-after species, including Austen’s Brown Hornbill and the Red-collared Woodpecker. Limestone Leaf Warbler and Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler have also been recorded.
Bach Ma National Park is a spectacular park in the central Annamites with a good representation of habitats ranging from lowland to montane evergreen forest above 900 m asl. It can be easily accessed from Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An. Bach Ma lies on a high mountain ridge that runs west-east from the Laotian border to the South China Sea, effectively forming a biogeographical boundary between the flora and fauna of northern and southern Vietnam. Several peaks in the park exceed 1,000 m asl, the highest which is Mount Bach Ma at 1,448 m asl. Over 250 bird species have been recorded at Bach Ma National Park. A paved access road leads to the summit of Bach Ma. There are several trails around the summit and the guesthouse where species such as Austen’s Brown Hornbill, Red-collared Woodpecker and Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler can be observed. Vietnamese Crested Argus used to be common but appears to have declined greatly in recent years. Other key species include Rufous-throated Partridge, Red-vented Barbet, White-winged Magpie, Indochinese Green Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Black-browed Fulvetta and a distinctive subspecies of the Sultan Tit (ssp. gayeti). The Crested Argus or Tri Sao trail, spanning about 5 km is a good site to see ground birds such as Green-legged Partridge, Blue-rumped Pitta and Bar-bellied Pitta and can be reached from the access road to the summit.
Ngoc Linh (2,598 m asl) is the highest point in the southern Annamites and a large part of the montane forests here are protected within the Ngoc Linh (Kon Tum) and Ngoc Linh (Quang Nam) Nature Reserves. The Lo Xo Pass is located along the newly-built Ho Chi Minh Highway and traverses these two protected areas, and can be accessed from Da Nang. Ngoc Linh remains mostly covered in primary evergreen forest and together with Lo Xo is the key site for several localised and highly restricted-range species such as Black-crowned Barwing and Golden-winged Laughingthrush. Other specialties here include Austen’s Brown Hornbill, White-winged Magpie, Short-tailed Scimitar Babbler, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush and Yellow-billed Nuthatch.
About 60 km southeast of Lo Xo is the resort town of Mang Den in Kon Tum. From Mang Den, there are extensive areas of montane forests which can be easily accessible by road. The main attraction for birdwatchers is the Grey-crowned Crocias and Black-hooded Laughinghthrush, together with a host of species shared with the Ngoc Linh area (e.g. Austen’s Brown Hornbill, White-winged Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie). About 18 km to the north of Mang Den is the village of Mang Canh from where it is possible to access montane forest along several forest trails to observe the Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush.
The Da Lat Plateau is the most important part of the birding circuit for visiting birdwatchers to Vietnam as the majority of the country’s endemics are found in and around its forested mountains. Much of this habitat can be accessed by a short drive from Da Lat City. Species of interest include Collared and Orange-breasted Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Vietnamese Greenfinch, Vietnamese Cutia, Dalat Bush-warbler and Dalat Shrike-babbler. The Da Lat plateau also supports distinctive and endemic subspecies of Rufous-backed Sibia (ssp. eximia), Black-headed Sibia (ssp. robinsoni), Black-throated Sunbird (ssp. johnsii), Mrs Gould’s Sunbird (ssp. annamensis) and Red Crossbill, all likely to be future species splits. One of the most popular birding spots in Da Lat is the Tanung Valley, a forested valley on the road from Dalat to Ta Nung and is located some 14 km out from Da Lat city. Another popular birding spot is Tuyen Lam lake and its extensive areas of pine forest, again located only a few kilometres from the centre of Da Lat. The pines around the lake shore are a good place to look for Oriental Hobby, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Vietnamese Greenfinch and Red Crossbill. Lang Bian mountain (2,167 m) is yet another popular spot and is part of the Bi Doup-Nui Ba National Park. A road passes through coniferous forest on its lower reaches into moist evergreen forest which supports a surprisingly high density of birds. Specialties typically observed at Lang Bian include Grey-bellied Tesia, Black-crowned Fulvetta, Vietnamese Cutia and Yellow-billed Nuthatch.
Around 80 km from Da Lat city and out of Di Linh town, the road passes through excellent areas of submontane and montane evergreen forest. This area is generally referred to in birdwatching reports as ‘Deo Nui San’, and lies on the road from Di Linh to Phan Thiet. This stretch of forested mountains is a regular on the birding circuit of southern Vietnam and used to be one of the best places to look for the endemic Orange-breasted Laughingthrush although the species is quite rare nowadays. Species of interest here include Blue and Rusty-naped Pitta, Dalat Shrike-babbler, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Black-headed Parrotbill and Green Cochoa. Large mixed flocks are regularly encountered and should be checked for sibias, woodpeckers, Long-tailed Broadbill and babblers.
Covering over 70,000 hectares of lowlands and hills, Cat Tien National Park holds some of the largest areas of lowland broadleaved forests in south Vietnam and is one of the most popular destinations for visiting birdwatchers, given its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City. Parts of Nam Cat Tien (especially in Dac Lua) and Tan Phu are covered in dense bamboo thickets and scrub. More than 350 species have been recorded in Cat Tien, although its highlights are several Indochinese species of lowland forests, such as Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Green Peafowl, Bar-bellied Pitta and with luck, Orange-necked Partridge. A well-maintained network of trails around the park’s headquarters, and a Ramsar-recognised wetland, the Bau Sau ‘Crocodile’ Lake provides easy access into lowland and limestone forests. A long track, some parts tarred, runs from the park headquarters towards the Bau Sau area follows the Dong Nai River to its east for some distance and is excellent for birdwatching. Groups of Siamese Firebacks, Green-legged Partridge and many species of forest edges can be seen along the track. The Bau Sau observation hide at the lakeside is excellent for watching waterbirds including three species of storks (Woolly-necked Stork, Painted Stork and Lesser Adjutant), Bronze-winged Jacana, Asian Golden Weaver, and small parties of Green Peafowl are regular.
The coasts of Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces in the Mekong Delta is covered by fairly extensive areas of intertidal flats and mangrove forests, and as a result of their accessibility from Ho Chi Minh City, has become a popular site to observe shorebirds. One of the most popular spots is Tan Thanh beach, a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the city and is the best spot to see wintering Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Vietnam. More than 50 waterbird species have been observed here and both Great Knot and Nordmann’s Greenshank are regular, alongside flocks of Curlew Sandpiper, godwits and Asian Dowitcher.
Tram Chim National Park is located in the (upper) Mekong Delta not far from the international border with Cambodia and is well known for its waterbird diversity, being the only place in Vietnam where the Sarus Crane used to occur regularly although sightings are more sporadic these days. Nevertheless, the site remains the best place to observe waterbirds associated with freshwater wetlands and large flocks of cormorants, Glossy and Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Bronze-winged Jacana and various rails are regularly encountered. In winter, the wetlands are visited by large flocks of Garganey and Black-tailed Godwit. Established in 1998, Tram Chim spans over 7,600 ha of seasonally inundated grassland, reedbeds, woodland and remnant Melaleuca forests. Tram Chim’s wetlands is bisected by an intricate network of canals and lotus-covered lakes. More than 150 species have been reported from Tram Chim. It was recognised internationally as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and is the only East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) flyway network site in the country. Tram Chim is about three hours’ drive (130 km) from Ho Chi Minh City, in the Viet Nam Mekong Delta region, making it highly accessible to visitors.