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With more than 900 species of birds, including over 13 endemics, 25 near-endemic species, 9 endemic subspecies and 11 near-endemic subspecies, Vietnam is a superlative neotropical birding destination in South East Asia.
There are many amazing birdwatching places to see birds across Vietnam, but a few stand out as particularly special. Many locations are important stopovers for migrating birds, making them extra special during the spring and winter seasons.
Let’s take a look at the "Top 10 Birding Destinations in Vietnam" and the top "Must-See Bird" for each area:
A male of Bar-bellied Pitta at Cat Tien National Park, Southern Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Cat Tien National Park is the most famous birding destinations in Vietnam. Cat Tien National Park is estimated as the reserve of natural resources in Vietnam with lots of rare, specious and endemic genes of fauna and flora, as plentiful site for scientists, domestic and foreign tourists. Birders have recorded over 350 species in the park, including many specialties that are easier to find in Cat Tien than in any other park in the region.
Must-See Birds of Cat Tien National Park: Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Bar-bellied Pitta (Near Endemic), Orange-necked Partridge (Near Endemic), Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Germain's Peacock-Pheasant (Near Endemic), Great Hornbill, Pale-headed Woodpecker, Gray-faced Tit-Babbler (Near Endemic), Indochinese Babbler (Near Endemic - Subspecies),…and more.
Suggested Itinerary for a Birdwatching Trip include Cat Tien National Park: Birdwatching Tour - Best of Southern Vietnam (11-days)
Indochinese Green Magpie at Deo Nui San (Di Linh), Southern Vietnam - Photo by Phuc Le
Di Linh is an excellent birding hotspot between Cat Tien National Park and Dalat Plateau. This is the most reliable site to see the beautiful endemic birds of Vietnam "Orange-breasted Laughingthrush". You also have a great chance to see the newly split "Black-headed Parrotbill" and the beautiful "Indochinese Green Magpie".
The main birding site is Deo Nui San, a pass is located about 16 km east of Di Linh along the old road between Di Linh and the seaside town of Phan Thiet. Deo Nui San (Also known as Deo Suoi Lanh or Nui San Pass) is an excellent birding site, a pass surrounded by impressive forested hills.
Must-See Birds of Deo Nui San (Di Linh): Blue Pitta, Indochinese Green-Magpie, Black-headed Parrotbill (Near Endemic), Orange-breasted Laughingthrush (Endemic), Black-hooded Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Collared Babbler, Annam Streaked Wren-babbler (Endemic - Subspecies), Red-vented Barbet (Near Endemic), Bar-backed Partridge,…and more.
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Collared Laughingthrush at Da Lat Plateau, Southern Vietnam - endemic birds of Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Da Lat Plateau is one of the best places for birding in Vietnam. This area has 8 species of total 13 endemic species of Vietnam and many near-endemic species and subspecies also can be found here. Main birding sites in Da Lat Plateau including Ta Nung Valley, Suoi Tia trail, Tuyen Lam Lake, Langbian Mountain and Bi Doup National Park.
Da Lat Plateau is one of the five endemic bird areas (EBAs) in Vietnam identified by BirdLife International. The plateau located in southeastern Vietnam, reaches elevations of over 1500 meters, several mountains in this area rise to over 2,000 m.
The center of this plateau is Da Lat City, also known as a famous domestic tourist destination with cooler climes and its old French colonial buildings and numerous outdoor cafes, restaurants, and markets that making it the perfect base to easily explore the surrounding areas in day trips.
Must-See Birds of Da Lat Plateau: Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), Gray-crowned Crocias (Endemic), Collared Laughingthrush (Endemic), Vietnamese Greenfinch (Endemic), Dalat Shrike-Babbler (Endemic), Annam Prinia (Endemic), Dalat Bush Warbler (Endemic), Black-crowned Fulvetta (Endemic), White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Rusty-naped Pitta,…and more.
Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Go Cong (Tan Thanh beach), Southern Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Go Cong (Tan Thanh beach) located in Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang province (Mekong Delta), Southern Vietnam. This birdwatching site is one of the important sites for many migratory shorebirds on the East Asian Flyway. The intertidal mudflats at this site are habitats for thousands of migratory shorebirds. Most especially, this is a trusted destination for "Spoon-billed Sandpiper", one of the rarest migrant birds in the world.
Must-See Birds of Go Cong (Tan Thanh beach): Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, Spot-billed Pelican, White-faced Plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Asian Dowitcher,…and more.
White-rumped (Pygmy) Falcon at Yokdon National Park, Central Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Yok Don National Park is a unique and fascinating birding place in Central Vietnam. This Park is located near Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province in Central of Vietnam, was established in 1992. Yok Don is the second biggest national park and it is the only national park to conserve dry deciduous dipterocarp forests in Vietnam. The trees here lose their leaves annually in dry season, which lasts from November to April. When wet season (May – October) comes with its heavy precipitation, everything revives quickly.
Yok Don National Park is a unique forest ecosystem type harboring a vast variety of important and endemic species. This is home to a wealth of wildlife including 89 species of mammals (Wild elephants, wild water buffalos, gaurs,..), over 300 species of birds,... Many of these species are listed in IUCN Redbook.
Must-See Birds of Yokdon National Park: Annam Prinia (Endemic), White-rumped (Pygmy) Falcon, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Black-headed Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Gray-headed Parakeet, Burmese Nuthatch, Purple Sunbird,…and more.
Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush at Mang Den (Mang Canh forest), Central Vietnam - Endemic birds of Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Mang Den (Mang Canh Forest) is the best birding place to see the rarest endemic "Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush". Mang Den is the name of a resort town under development approximately 50 km to the east of Kontum city in Central Highlands of Vietnam.
Mang Canh Forest (Kon Plong forest) and Pa Sy waterfall are two birding sites above Mang Den town. Kon Plong is an Important Bird Areas (IBAs), has relatively high levels of bird endemism, and supports seven restricted-range species, qualifying the site for inclusion within the Kon Tum Plateau Endemic Bird Area (EBA).
Must-See Birds of Mang Den (Mang Canh Forest): Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush (Endemic), Black-hooded Laughingthrush (Near Endemic), Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Near Endemic), Annam Sultan Tit (Near Endemic - Subspecies), White-winged Magpie, Indochinese Green-Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Gray-headed Parrotbill, Rusty-naped Pitta, Blue Pitta,…and more.
Golden-winged Laughingthrush at Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve, Central Vietnam - Endemic birds of Vietnam - Photo by Phuc Le
Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve is the birding place not to be missed in your Vietnam Birding Trip. This is the best place where you have a great chance to see two new bird species to science "Golden-winged Laughingthrush" and "Black-crowned Barwing", were described as recently as the 1990s.
This area is a protected area located in two districts of Dak Glei and Tu Mo Rong, in Kon Tum province, Central Highlands of Vietnam (approximately 150 km to the north of Kontum city). Ngoc Linh is a second highest mountain range in Viet Nam, following the Hoang Lien Mountain (Sapa, northwest Vietnam), the highest in South Viet Nam and Indochina and recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area, Important Bird Area, and Global Endemic Bird Area.
Must-See Birds of Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve: Golden-winged Laughingthrush (Endemic), Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Vietnamese Cutia (Endemic), Black-crowned Barwing (Near Endemic), Indochinese Fulvetta (Near Endemic), Annam Golden-breasted Fulvetta (Endemic - Subspecies), Brownish-backed Sibia (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler, Red-tailed Minla, Ferruginous Flycatcher,…and more.
Suggested Itineraries to explore all the essential birding sites for the endemics & other regional specialities of Vietnam: Vietnam's endemics & specialties (22-days)
Tonkin Partridge at Cuc Phuong National Park, Northern Vietnam - Endemic subspecies birds of Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Cuc Phuong National Park is the one of the best places for birdwatching in Vietnam. This park is located in Ninh Binh Province, the first national park in Vietnam, established in 1962. Cuc Phuong National Park is considered to be one of seven globally significant Centres of Plant Diversity in Vietnam.
Cuc Phuong National Park has the area of 22.000 hectares, of which three quarters are limestone with height from 300 meters to 600 meters above sea level. The vegetation of the national park is dominated by limestone forest. This is home to more than 300 species of birds and many rare species of flora and fauna, including a critically endangered endemic primate "Delacor's Langur".
Must-See Birds of Cuc Phuong National Park: Tonkin Partridge (Endemic - Subspecies), Red-collared Woodpecker (Near Endemic), Blue-rumped Pitta (Near Endemic), Bar-bellied Pitta (Near Endemic), Tonkin Streaked Wren-babbler (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Annam Limestone Babbler, Limestone Leaf Warbler (Near Endemic), White-winged Magpie, Common Green-Magpie, Rufous-throated Fulvetta,…and more.
Pale-throated Wren-babbler at Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao forest), Northern Vietnam - Near endemic birds of Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest) is the best birding place to see the extremely rare "White-throated Wren-Babbler", seen by only a handful of birders. Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest) is located in Yen Bai Province, Northern Vietnam. Being considered to be the most beautiful forest in the northwest Vietnam with rich flora and fauna. Other name of this area: Mu Cang Chai Species and Habitat Conservation Area.
Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest) supports the largest known population of "Western Black Crested Gibbon (Endangered species)" in Vietnam. The population at the site is thought to number around 100 individuals. In addition, the proposed protected area is important for bird conservation, supporting a number of restricted-range species populations of "Rufous-necked Hornbill (Vulnerable species)" and the endemic birds of Vietnam "White-throated Wren-babbler (Endangered species)".
This area possesses not only beautiful and diversed nature but also diversed culture of ethnic minorities. The primeval forest range is also home of Hmong people who have a rich and profound culture.
Must-See Birds of Mu Cang Chai (Che Tao Forest): White-throated Wren-Babbler (Endemic), Pale-throated Wren-Babbler (Near Endemic), Spectacled Barwing, Chinese Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler, Himalayan Shortwing, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Grey Treepie, Crested Bunting,…and more.
Blue-naped Pitta at Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park, Northern Vietnam - Photo by Bui Duc Tien
Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park is one of the best birding places in Northern Vietnam to see the most rare and shy "Blue-naped Pitta".
Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park located in Cao Bang province, North Vietnam, was established in 2018. This naional park is located in the system of the Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, which has recently been recognised as a new member of the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks. The park is designated to ensure environmental security and mitigate land erosion and floods, thus helping to stabilise production and improve livelihoods of local people in downstream regions. Furthermore, actions will be taken to develop eco-tourism, thereby contributing to local socio-economic development.
Must-See Birds of Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park: Blue-naped Pitta, Pale-throated Wren-Babbler (Near Endemic), Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Mountain Bamboo-Partridge, Tonkin Streaked Wren-babbler (Near Endemic - Subspecies), Short-tailed Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Eastern Grey Treepie, Collared Crow, Chestnut Bulbul,…and more.
When is the best time of year for Birding in Vietnam?