10-Hour Birding Tour in Can Gio Mangrove Forest from Ho Chi Minh

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Enjoy a birding tour in the Can Gio Mangrove Forest
• 02 Spot Kingfishers, Herons, and Cormorants, among others
• 03 Look for winter waders such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Red Knot
• 04 Spend a full day birding across muddy shores, salt pans, and mangrove forests

Sign up for this birding tour in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), designed for easy, short birding during your time in HCMC. Start early in the morning to explore the Can Gio Mangrove Forest, soak in its natural beauty, and discover a remarkable diversity of birds, including Kingfishers, Herons, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, White-faced Plover, and Nordmann's Greenshank, among many others.

Start early in the morning to explore the Can Gio Mangrove Forest, soak in its natural beauty, and discover a remarkable diversity of birds, including Kingfishers, Herons, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, White-faced Plover, and Nordmann's Greenshank, among many others.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 10 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

City Ho Chi Minh

Languages English, Vietnamese

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Full-Day Birding in Can Gio Mangrove Forest

Birding is the activity of observing wild birds. There are so many different birds to see, unique bird behaviours to watch, and variations in bird songs to enjoy. It is both engrossing and relaxing to witness for yourself.

• Meet your tour guide, who will pick you up in Sai Gon early in the morning, then drive about 2.5 hours via the Binh Khanh ferry. Depending on the season and tide height, we will plan our birding time accordingly.
• Reach Can Gio Mangrove and spend a full day birding. Sometimes, we change the order of birding on the muddy shore, in the salt pans, and in the mangrove forests. Have lunch at a nearby restaurant before continuing with afternoon birding.
• Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Expert bird guide
• Private car with driver
• Lunch
• Entrance fees
• Environmental service fee
• Also provided: birding spotting scope, bird ID manual

What's Not Included

• Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities
• Beverages
• Other services not mentioned above

What to bring

• Camera
• Binoculars (recommended)
• Hat
• Shoes (recommended: trekking shoes)
• Comfortable clothes
• Personal medicine
• Raincoat

Know before you go

• Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve is situated to the south of Ho Chi Minh City. It covers 70,000 ha of the delta region and is rich in wildlife, with over 600 species of animals and 300 species of plants.
• During the war, the mangroves were a dense hiding place from which to launch attacks on the city, which both the Vietnamese and Americans found extremely difficult to penetrate or patrol. As a result, the Americans dropped a huge amount of toxins that damaged the mangroves.
• However, the mangrove is now beginning to recover and is protected by the government and international law, and there are efforts to reintroduce much of the wildlife that fled the area.
• In Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, there are 3 conservation areas for animals, including Bird Sanctuary, Bat Conservation Area, and Monkey Island.
• Located near Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio Mangrove Forest is one of several good sites for a single day of birding. The mangroves attract several passerine species, such as Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pied Fantail, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, and Golden-bellied Gerygone. Kingfishers, Herons, and Cormorants are also common here. In winter (December-April), many wader species come to stay in the area, greatly increasing its species abundance. Spoon-billed Sandpiper has been seen here several times, and other highlight species include White-faced Plover, Nordmann's Greenshank, Red Knot, Red-necked Stint, and Broad-billed Sandpiper, all of which are found here easily.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tour start

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.