So What is the most wanted you want to see in Vietnam, I know that, depend on your lifer list it different for each other but in General, the Vietnam endemic birds, and other special birds are the most people want right, I’ll list it here for you to explore, you could also print it out to easy read.
What is endemic birds of Vietnam
This list of bird species found exclusively in Vietnam is based on the taxonomy used in del Hoyo & Collar (2014 & 2016). The source list based on the December 2017 update is available online here.
del Hoyo, J. & N.J. Collar HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2014 Vol. 1: Non-passerines & 2016 Vol. 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Additional species recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update or considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.
Tonkin Partridge Arborophila tonkinensis (Galliformes Phasianidae)
Edwards’s Pheasant Lophura edwardsi (Galliformes Phasianidae)
Black-crowned Fulvetta Schoeniparus klossi (Passeriformes Pellorneidae)
White-throated Wren-babbler Rimator pasquieri (Passeriformes Pellorneidae)
Orange-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax annamensis (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)
Golden-winged Laughingthrush Trochalopteron ngoclinhense (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)
Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Lanthocincla konkakinhensis
Collared Laughingthrush Trochalopteron yersini (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)
Grey-crowned Crocias Laniellus langbianis (Passeriformes Leiotrichidae)
Vietnamese Greenfinch Chloris monguilloti (Passeriformes Fringillidae)
The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3.
Annam Prinia Prinia rocki (Passeriformes Cisticolidae)
Annam Grasshopper-warbler Locustella idonea (Passeriformes Locustellidae)
What’s other near endemic & specialities birds for Vietnam
White-eared Night-Heron (Gorsachius magnificus) – EN
Long thought endemic to south China and at one time considered as a breeding bird only on Hainan Island it is only recently that the colony at Ba Be has reached the keen of western birders. Unfortunately during last two years (2016-2017), there was no sighting in Ba Be anymore.
Orange-necked Partridge (Arborophila davidi) – NT
Used to endemic to northeast Cochinchina but recently found in east Cambodia, and now very rarely seen in its former stronghold at Cat Tien National park. Tan Phu forest is one of the best sites for this species.
Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron germaini) – NT
Occurs in east Cambodia but Vietnam is its stronghold especially at Cat Tien national park
Red-vented Barbet (Megalaima lagrandieri) – LC
Although it occurs in Cambodia and Laos as well as Vietnam it is usually most easy to see here
Indochinese Barbet (Megalaima annamensis) – LC
Recently finally split from Black-browed and confined south Laos and south Annam
Red-collared Woodpecker (Picus rabieri) – NT
Although it occurs in Laos, Vietnam is the only logical place to search for this bird. Astonishingly elusive for a Woodpecker it totally eluded us as it does most tour groups
Blue-rumped Pitta (Pitta soror) – LC
Allegedly widespread in Indo-China and occurring as far west as west Thailand, it is rarely seen outside Vietnam (and often missed within as well)
Bar-bellied Pitta (Pitta elliotii) – LC
Like Blue-rumped Pitta, it is occurring as far west as Thailand and again rarely seen outside of Vietnam
White-winged Magpie (Urocissa whiteheadi) – LC
Fairly widespread but rarely seen outside of Vietnam or southwest China
Grey-crowned Tit (Aegithalos annamensis) – LC
Confined to south Laos and Annam. Now generally recognised as distinct from Black-throated Tit
Yellow-billed Nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) – NT
Although it occurs outside of Vietnam, only really findable within its borders
Limestone Warbler (Phylloscopus calciatilis) – LC
Occurring in limestone country in central Laos and central Annam, but again only realistically findable in Vietnam. A recent split from Sulphur-breasted Warbler
Black-headed Parrotbill (Paradoxornis margaritae) – NT
Now recognised as distinct from Grey-headed and confined to south Annam, rare in Muldukiri, Cambodia.
Black-hooded Laughingthrush (Garrulax milleti) – NT
Just reaching into Laos otherwise confined to Vietnam
Rufous-cheeked Laughingthrush (Garrulax castanotis) – LC
Occurs on Hainan Island and central Laos. Most reliable sites are on Mt Ba Vi and the forest on west Ho Chi Minh road at Samu pass
White-cheeked Laughingthrush (Garrulax vassali) – LC
Fairly widespread in highland of Laos and Vietnam
Short-tailed Scimitar-Babbler (Jabouilleia danjoui) – NT
Virtually confined to Annam and Tonkin, target bird at Da Lat, Mang Den, Bach Ma. Also call Indochinese Wren Babbler
Sooty Babbler (Stachyris herberti) – LC
Formerly considered endemic to limestone country in central Laos but now known to be thriving in central Annam. Locally common in Phong Nha Ke Bang national park
Pale-throated Wren Babbler (Spelaeornis kinneari) – NT
Confined to Fansipan mt, recently recorded in NW Wangxi, Yunan, China
Grey-faced Tit-Babbler (Macronous kelleyi) – LC
An exciting Indochinese endemic! Very common and widespread in southern of Vietnam
Vietnamese Cutia (Cutia legalleni) – NT
Now split from Himalayan and confined to south Annam. Found fairly common in Da Lat, Di Linh, Mang Den and Central Laos
Black-crowned Barwing (Actinodura sodangoram) – LC
Only recently described and confined to southeast Laos and southern central Annam. Best site is Mang Ri forest but also able to see at Lo Xo pass by the roadside
Indochinese Fulvetta (Alcippe danisi) – LC
A Laos speciality but also found in central and south Annam. Found on Bidoup mt and Ngoc Linh mt above 1,800m
New endemic species by recently split
Dalat Shrike Babbler (Pteruthius flaviscapis)
Possible endemisms in the future
These are local subspecies found only in Da Lat plateau
Blue-winged Minla (Minla cyanouroptera orientalis)
Rufous-backed Sibia (Heterophasia annectens eximia)
Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata johnsi)
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra meridionalis)
Brown Bullfinch Pyrrhula nipalensis ssp
Western Black Crested Gibbon – Nomascus concolor
Nestled within the verdant landscapes of Vietnam, the Western Black Crested Gibbon (Nomascus concolor) emerges [...]
Northern White-cheeked Gibbon – Nomascus leucogenys
The northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) is a Critically Endangered gibbon species indigenous to South [...]
Northern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon – Nomascus annamensis
The Northern Yellow-Cheeked Crested Gibbon, or Nomascus annamensis, is an exclusive primate species found in [...]
Eastern Black Crested Gibbon – “Cao-vit Gibbon” – Nomascus nasutus
Nestled within the dense, emerald-green forests of Vietnam, the Eastern Black Crested Gibbon (Nomascus nasutus), [...]
Long-tailed Macaque and Con Son Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis and Macaca fascicularis condorensis)
The Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is a common species in Vietnam, but there exists a [...]
Grey-shanked Douc Langur – Pygathrix cinerea
The Grey-Shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix cinerea), classified under the Animalia kingdom and Chordata phylum, was [...]