Vietnam is situated smack in the center of Southeast Asia. The country has relatively different climatic zones: four distinct seasons in the North, two seasons in the South and something in between in the Central Coast.

There are high mountains with several peaks over 2,000m in the far North, the Truong Son Mountain Range running almost the full length of the country, the Central Highlands with series of plateaux, and the flat Mekong Delta to the far south. There are several places along the Truong Son Range that there are no human activities where several hundreds new-to-science animal and bird species have been discovered in the last few decades.

The Central Highlands of Vietnam are connected to wild habitats in Laos and Cambodia and there are several endemic bird species spotted in these places. The whole region classed as Endemic Bird Area thanks to high concentration of endemic bird species.

In bird migration season starting from September every year, Vietnam is right on the bird migratory path from cooler climate such as those in eastern Europe, China, Japan... The wild of Vietnam enters a period of high wild activities as migratory birds make their mega journeys towards the south with more temperate or warmer climates. And at the same time, twitchers, be it amateurs birders or professional ornithologists, too are on the move to Vietnam where fruitful birdwatching awaits! 

Lucky and Happy Birding to You All! And see in you in the wild of Vietnam!

Below is a list of key places for birding and birdwatching in Vietnam from the North to the South where you are more likely to have birding experiences surpassing your wildest dreams

1/ Phja Oac National Park (Cao Bang)

2/ Du Gia National Park (former Ha Giang Province, or Tuyen Quang Province now)

3/ Hoang Lien National Park (Lao Cai Province)

4/ Che Tao Forest of Mu Cang Chai (former Yen Bai Province, now Lao Cai Province)

5/ Tam Dao National Park (Phu Tho Province)

Several amazing bird species, especially during autum-winter-spring times.

6/ Van Long Wetland Reserve (Ninh Binh Province)

Spectacular waterfowls and the endemic Delacour's langur.

7/ Cuc Phuong National Park  (Ninh Binh Province)

Elusive bar-bellied pitta, white-winged magpie, pied falconet...

 

8/ Xuan Thuy National Park  (former Nam Dinh, now Ninh Binh Province)

9/ Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Quang Binh)

10/ Sa Mu Pass (Huong Hoa, Quang Tri Province)

11/ Bach Ma National Park (Hue)

12/ Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve (Kon Tum, now Quang Ngai)

Endemic species: Golden-winged laughingthrush

13/ Kon Ka Kinh Natioanal Park (Gia Lai)

Endemic species: Chestnut-eared laughingthrush

14/ Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve (Gia Lai)

Endemic species: Chestnut-eared laughingthrush

15/ Yok Don National Park (Dak Lak)

The specialty birds of Yok Don: White-rumped falcon, crested treeswift, an amazingly wide range of woodpeckers, stork-billed kingfishers,...

 

16/ Di Linh  (Lam Dong)

17/ Da Lat and Bidoup National Park (Lam Dong)

 

18/ Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai)

19/ Ma Da Forest (Dong Nai)

20/ Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap)

Sarus crane

21/ Ba Vi National Park