Mang Den - Kon Plong

Central and highland

Mang Den - Kon Plong

Summary

Mang Den lies on the Kon Tum Plateau at around 1,200 m and combines a cool highland town with access to montane evergreen forest, especially around Mang Canh. The area has become one of central Vietnam's most important specialist birding destinations because it lies within the Kon Tum Plateau Endemic Bird Area and provides relatively accessible habitat for several highly localised birds.

The flagship species is Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, a restricted-range endemic that is one of the principal targets of most visiting birders. Other important birds include Pale-capped Pigeon, Northern Brown Hornbill, White-winged Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Grey-crowned Tit, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Indochinese Wren-Babbler, Grey-crowned Crocias and several pittas and laughingthrushes. Mang Den can be reached by road from Pleiku and is frequently combined with Lo Xo Pass and other Central Highlands sites. A growing range of hotels in town makes logistics straightforward, while the surrounding highland scenery and cool climate add appeal for mixed birding and nature groups.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in Mang Den – Kon Plong area

Most highlights

Pale-capped Pigeon, Northern Brown Hornbill, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, White-winged Magpie, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Grey-crowned Tit, Rufous-faced Warbler, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Indochinese Wren-babbler, Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush, Black-hooded Laughingthrush, Grey-crowned Crocias, Rufous-backed Sibia, Grey-faced Warbler.

Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush is the most wanted bird species in the Mang Den – Kon Plong area

Transportation

You can travel by private car from Pleiku airport for about 3 hours. A connected trip with Lo Xo Pass is usually driven from Da Nang for a one-night stay in Kham Duc or vice versa.