Go Cong coast is one of the most important sites for shorebirding in Vietnam. The most notable species there is the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, which has wintered here every year since 2011.
Visit the Go Cong coast during the main wintering season to search for Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other threatened shorebirds. The itinerary is timed around tides and current access, and sightings of any particular species, including the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, cannot be guaranteed.
At low tide, the Mekong Delta coast opens into a vast feeding landscape for migratory shorebirds. This focused trip is timed around tide and season, with Spoon-billed Sandpiper as a priority target when it is present, alongside a much broader community of sandpipers, plovers and other coastal waterbirds. The experience is as much about understanding the mudflat ecosystem as it is about searching for one exceptionally rare bird.
Tan Thanh area, located in Go Cong, Dong Thap province (formerly known as Tien Giang province), is one of Vietnam’s most important shorebird sites. The most highlighted species there is the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, which has wintered here every year since 2011. There are up to 5 individuals that have regularly overwintered here during November through April.
Tan Thanh tidal mudflat - a preferred site of Spoonies
Our target bird here is, of course, one of the rarest (perhaps 1,000 adult birds exist) and critically endangered bird species on Earth, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBS). However, we will also look for the rare (500-1,000 in its population) and threatened Nordmann's Greenshank, and the new taxon, "White-faced Plover, as well as many other waders such as Broad-billed and Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Red and Great Knot.
The globally threatened Spoon-billed Sandpiper (CR) is the main target at the Tan Thanh area
Itinerary:
Our departure time from Ho Chi Minh City will be strategically planned around the local tide forecasts for Cua Tieu (see the tide forecast for Cua Tieu). To ensure optimal birding conditions, we aim to arrive at Tan Thanh precisely during low tide, when the mudflats are exposed and bird activity peaks. While we target key species during these optimal conditions, sightings cannot be guaranteed.
The drive from Ho Chi Minh City takes approximately 3 hours. We will aim to arrive with enough time to enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee before heading out to search for our target species.
After a successful morning in the field, we will celebrate with an excellent local seafood lunch. Please note that if you do not eat seafood, alternative high-quality dietary options are gladly available upon request. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City after lunch.
Tour price:
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Relevant tour:
More information about the birding sites in Vietnam
Tell us your travel dates, target birds, group size and preferred pace. Wildtour will help design a realistic and rewarding itinerary.