[10 days] Vietnam Bird Photography Tour: Capturing Southern Vietnam’s Avian Wonders

Bird fauna - BirdingAbout 350 species of birds have been recorded in the area, which are mainly waterbirds. Of which, many species are endangered or threatened such as Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant, Bangal Florican. Egrets and herons are the most common in reserved areas and birds sanctuaries. Waterfowls, cormorants, kingfishers and bee-eaters can be found almost everywhere. To the river mouths or muddy beaches, waders including Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Plovers, Greenshanks.MammalThe Mekong delta has an extremely rich fauna not only on land but also in the water with the Itawari dolphin species. Another common primate here is the Long-tailed Macaque, the world's largest bat Greater Asiatic Yellow Bat, along with two species of otters, the Eurasian Otter and the Asian Small-clawed Otter. Along with some other species like Asian Palm Civet, Crab-eating Mongoose, Javan Mongoose, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Wild Boar, Sunda Pangolin, etc.Most highlightsSarus Crane, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, Asian Golden Weaver and lots of waterbirdsBirding routesBirding in Mekong delta is relative easy as the habitats are mainly open, grassland or cannals. Birders can visit these sites for 1 or 2 days.Tram Chim National Park: Located near Tram Chim town, Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province. In dry season (January - May), the Sarus Crane can be seen easily. Numbers of bitterns, egrets, Painted and Asian Open-billed Storks, Darter, cormorants, Indian Spot-billed Duck... are among about 200 bird species recorded for this park.Tan Thanh beach: Located in Go Cong district, Tien Giang province. This relative new site is the best for Spoon-billed Sandpiper, beside that, Nordmann's Greenshank, White-faced Plover with lots of Red-necked Stint, Red and Great Knots, Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlew.It is about 3 hours from Ho Chi Minh city, 1 hour from My Tho by private car so one day birding here is quite reasonable.Tra Su malaleuca forest: The site is a bird sanctuary near Chau Doc city, An Giang province. For someone who live or work in Can Tho/Chau Doc, they can spend the weekend to enjoy the nature with some birding.Bac Lieu bird sanctuary: It is not far from Bac Lieu city, the site support a great number of species, they make up for it in abundance. Thousand breeding waterbirds, most of which are egrets, cormorants and Black-crowned Night-heron. Other rare species are Spot-billed Pelican, Black Ibis, Painted Stork.TransportationsThere are many ways to reach Mekong delta, by private car, express bus, motorbike are applicable.AccommodationHotels are found in almost towns in the area. For Tram Chim national park, a new hotel (Hoang Gia hotel) near the park, you also can stay at the guesthouse belong to headquarter. In My Tho, Chuong Duong hotel perhaps the best choice for Tan Thanh beach. As the tourist attraction town of Chau Doc, plenty of hotels range from standard to 5-star, recommending Pho Chau hotel, Victoria hotel... 1. Lesser Whistling-duck2. Cotton Pygmy-goose3. Spot-billed Duck4. Garganey5. Common Teal6. Buttonquail sp.7. Common Kingfisher8. White-throated Kingfisher9. Pied Kingfisher10. Green Bee-eater11. Blue-tailed Bee-eater12. Plaintive Cuckoo13. Asian Koel14. Green-billed Malkoha15. Greater Coucal16. Lesser Coucal17. Asian Palm Swift18. Grass Owl19. Large-tailed Nightjar20. Spotted Dove21. Red Collared Dove22. Pink-necked Green Pigeon23. Bengal Florican24. Sarus Crane25. Ruddy-breasted Crake26. Watercock27. Purple Swamphen28. Common Moorhen29. Wood Sandpiper30. Common Sandpiper31. Greater Painted-snipe32. Pheasant-tailed Jacana33. Bronze-winged Jacana34. Black-winged Stilt35. Grey-headed Lapwing36. Red-wattled Lapwing37. Oriental Pratincole38. Black-shouldered Kite39. Eurasian Marsh Harrier40. Shikra41. Greater Spotted Eagle42. Little Grebe43. Darter44. Little Cormorant45. Indian Cormorant46. Little Egret47. Grey Heron48. Purple Heron49. Great Egret50. Intermediate Egret51. Cattle Egret52. Chinese Pond Heron53. Little Heron54. Black-crowned Night Heron55. Yellow Bittern56. Cinnamon Bittern57. Black Bittern58. Black-headed Ibis59. Black-faced Spoonbill60. Painted Stork61. Greater Adjutant62. Lesser Adjutant63. Golden-bellied Gerygone64. Brown Shrike65. Racket-tailed Treepie66. Indochinese Cuckooshrike67. Pied Fantail68. Black Drongo69. Common Iora70. Oriental Magpie Robin71. Pied Bushchat72. Sand Martin73. Barn Swallow74. Yellow-vented Bulbul75. Streak-eared Bulbul76. Zitting Cisticola77. Yellow-bellied Prinia78. Plain Prinia79. Oriental White-eye80. Lanceolated Warbler81. Rusty-rumped Warbler82. Black-browed Reed Warbler83. Oriental Reed Warbler84. Common Tailorbird85. Striated Grassbird86. Striped Tit Babbler87. Oriental Skylark88. Olive-backed Sunbird89. Plain-backed Sparrow90. Eurasian Tree Sparrow91. Paddyfield Pipit92. Streaked Weaver93. Baya Weaver94. Asian Golden Weaver95. White-rumped Munia96. Black-headed Munia

Biodiversity valuesCat Tien National Park supports a variety of habitat types, including primary and secondary lowland evergreen forests dominated by species in the Dipterocarpaceae; primary and secondary lowland semi-evergreen forest, dominated by Lagerstroemia spp; freshwater wetlands with open lakes and seasonally inundated grasslands, containing Saccharum spontaneum, S. arundinaceum and Neyraudia arundinacea; flooded forest, dominated by Hydnocarpus anthelmintica mixed with Ficus benjamina; and a range of secondary habitat types, including grassland and areas dominated by bamboo.To date, 76 mammals, 320 birds, 74 reptiles, 35 amphibians, 99 fish, and 435 butterfly species have been confirmed to occur at the national park; and there are unconfirmed records of an additional 32 mammals, 19 birds, nine reptiles, four amphibian, 31 fish and four butterfly species. The species confirmed to occur include 16 mammals, 15 birds, and eight reptiles that are globally threatened.Cat Tien is one of the most important sites in Vietnam for the conservation of large mammals. Among the large mammal species that have been confirmed to occur at the national park are Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Lesser One-horned Rhinoceros, Eurasian Wild Pig (Sus scrofa), Sambar (Cervus unicolor) and Gaur (Bos gaurus), of which the later three species reportedly occur at high densities relative to other areas in Vietnam. Of the large mammal populations at Cat Tien National Park, the most globally significant one is that of Lesser One-horned Rhinoceros. This is the only known population of the species in mainland South-East Asia and the only known population of the sub-species R. s. annamiticus in the world. However, the population size and range of this species at the national park has declined over the last two decades, and current estimates put the population size at seven or eight individuals and the range at 6,500 ha.Cat Tien National Park is also a nationally important site for primate conservation, supporting populations of several primates of conservation concern, including Black-shanked Douc (Pygathrix nigripes), Northern Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca leonina) and Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon (Hylobates gabriellae).Bird fauna - BirdingCat Tien National Park is situated in the South Vietnamese Lowlands Endemic Bird Area (EBA), and supports populations of all three bird species that characterised this EBA: Orange-necked Partridge (Arborophila davidi), Germain's Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron germaini) and Grey-faced Tit Babbler (Macronous kelleyi).Most highlightsOrange-necked Partridge, Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Siamese Fireback, Green Peafowl, Wreathed Hornbill, Lesser Adjutant, Woolly-necked Stork, Blue-rumped and Bar-bellied Pittas, Pale-headed and Black-and-buff Woodpeckers, Black-and-red, Banded, Dusky Broadbill, Blyth’s Frogmouth, Grey-faced Tit Babbler.Birding routesThe Lagerstroemia and Ecological Trails, which begin near the park headquarters are good places to search for Germain’s Peacock Pheasant and pittas. The Dak Lua road may provide easier birding, especially early in the day when broadbills and Siamese Fireback can be seen.Haven rapid trail is one of good places for broadbills, woodpeckers, barbets.Jeeps can be rented to the turn off to Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) and Bau Chim (Bird Lake). Green Peafowl and waterbirds can be seen around these lakes, as well as Siamese Crocodile and, for the fortunate visitor, large mammals such as Gaur. The 5 km trail from the Dak Lua road to Bau Sau is also a good place for Germain’s Peacock Pheasant and pitas.TransportationCat Tien is about 3.5 to 4 hours (depends on trafic) by car from Ho Chi Minh City (150 km) and 3.5 hours from Da Lat city.  The site is situated off National Highway 20 between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat.AccommodationsA range of standard accommodation is available at the park headquarters, and it is also possible to stay at Bau Sau, a ranger station in the heart of the park.Forest Floor Lodge is more fancy, it locates at Ben Cu rapid where people can enjoy the view however for most birders they don't need to stay here