Bird fauna - Birding

The Mekong Delta is one of Vietnam’s premier birdwatching destinations, supporting more than 350 bird species across its rich mosaic of wetlands, flooded forests, and coastal mudflats. The region is particularly renowned for its exceptional diversity of waterbirds and migratory shorebirds. Birding highlights include Tram Chim National Park, a stronghold for rare wetland species such as the Sarus Crane; Tra Su Cajuput Forest, famous for its spectacular colonies of egrets, herons, and other waterbirds; and the Tan Thanh mudflats, one of the country's best sites for observing migratory waders, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Grassland habitat for waterbirds in Tram Chim National Park

Most highlights

Sarus Crane, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmand's Greenshank, Asian Golden Weaver and lots of waterbirds

Birding routes

Birding in Mekong delta is relative easy as the habitats are mainly opened, coastal tidal mudflat, grassland or canals. Birders can visit these sites for 1 or 2 days. Some key birding sites in the Mekong delta as followed:

Tram Chim National Park:

Located near Tram Chim town, Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province is roughly a 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and 3 hours from Can Tho City. In dry season (January to May), the Eastern Sarus Crane can be seen in this park. Besides, some rare species like Spot-billed Pelican, Black-headed Ibis, or Comb Duck are also possible. Moreover, large numbers of Glossy Ibis, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Oriental Darter, Cormorants, Ducks, Bitterns, and Egrets are among more than 200 bird species recorded for this park.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in Tram Chim.

Sarus Crane (VU) is the iconic bird species of Tram Chim National Park

Tan Thanh beach:

Located in the Go Cong Dong commune, Dong Thap province (former known as Go Cong district, Tien Giang province), this premier shorebird site is highly accessible for day trips, sitting just a 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and an hour from My Tho City.

Specifically, this site is the best for the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Vietnam, which regularly overwinter here each year. Birdwatchers also have an exellent chance of spotting other global rarities such as Nordmann's Greenshank, Chinese Egret, and Far Eastern Curlew. Additionally, the mudflats teem with an abundance of terns and diverse waders, including various stents, knots, sand plovers, and sandpipers that are exceptionally easy to observe.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in the Mekong coast

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.

The globally threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper (CR) is the most wanted birds in Mekong Delta

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. This area is highlighted by a lot of waterbird species such as Egrets, Herons, Bittern, Darters, and Cormorants.

Click here to see the full bird checklist in the Tra Su

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 were observed in this sanctuary, dominated by Egrets, Cormorants and Black-crowned Night-heron. Other rare species such as Spot-billed Pelican, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork are also possible to observe.

Transportations

Nowaday, the Mekong delta is highly accessible, with private car, express buses, motorbikes all being excellent travel options. Depending on your starting location, you can easily map out the most convenient route to get there.

Accommodation

Comfortable hotels can be found in nearly every town along the route. When visiting Tram Chim National Park, the eco-friendly Wildbird Hotel is the definitive choice for nature enthusiasts, offering stunning panoramic views of the wetlands. For trips to Tan Thanh beach, you can base yourself at the Chuong Duong Hotel in My Tho City or stay locally at the newly opened Minh Nhien Hotel. Finally, the bustling tourist town of Chau Doc offers everything from standard to 5-star accommodations, featuring excellent properties like the Pho Chau and Victoria hotels.

Relevant tours:

• Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Waders in Go Cong
• Birds and Cultures in Mekong Delta – Tram Chim National Park
• Tram Chim National Park – special offer by Wildbird Hotel

 More infomation about birding sites in Vietnam:

• Mang Den – Kon Plong
• Da Lat Plateau
• Cat Tien National Park
• Yok Don National Park
• Tam Dao National Park
• Sa Pa - Fansipan Mt
• Cuc Phuong National Park
• Lo Xo Pass
• Bach Ma National Park
• Sa Mu - Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve
• Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park
• Tan Phu Forest (Thac Mai)
• Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve
• Mekong Delta