Da Nang: 1-Night Herping Tour

Step into the spectacular nocturnal world of the Da Nang, where the forest comes alive after sunset. This short but high-yield herping adventure offers the chance to encounter a remarkable array of reptiles and amphibians including leaf turtles, vipers, pythons, geckos, frogs, toads, and more

Details

Summary
— 3hr Herping Tour
— Choose Your Ride: Motorbike or Car
— Bookings Available Year-Round
— Departs from Da Nang or Hoi An
— Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request

Prices From: (Motorbike / Car)
Single Person: $100 / $195 per person
Group of 2: $70 / $105 per person
Group of 3: $76 per person (car option only)
Group of 4: $62 per person (car option only)

Da Nang: 1-Night Herping Tour

Code: DNSD09 | Categories: Herping | Locations: Da Nang / Hoi An

Summary:

Join us on our popular Da Nang Herping Tour, to experience a patchwork of surprisingly wild habitat, with lowlands, coastal forest, rice paddies, and scrublands, home to a fascinating diversity of snakes, frogs, and nocturnal life. This one-night adventure is perfect for serious herpers, nature-curious travellers, wildlife photographers, and families alike.

The tour starts with pick up early evening and is guided by our experienced local field experts. The big highlight and main target of this tour is usually the Vogel’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus vogeli), but other key highlight species include Oriental Whipsnake (Ahaetulla prasina), Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata), Many-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga multomaculata), Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus) Ba Na Slender Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus banaensis) and the very rare Vietnamese Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys pulchristriata), alongside a supporting cast of frogs, toads, owls and nightjars.

This tour can be done either by car for small groups or by motorbike for solo travellers and pairs wanting a more flexible, fast-paced approach. Two-person motorbike trips include a second guide for greater area coverage. Each night in the field is unique, guided by recent weather, activity levels, and seasonal patterns, so we adapt our search accordingly. While snakes are the headline, the broader nocturnal ecosystem is always part of the experience.

Whether you’re short on time or just want a taste of Vietnam’s after-dark wildlife, this compact tour delivers a focused and flexible encounter with the country’s reptilian side. Pickup is available in both Hoi An and Da Nang, with field time running from approximately 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

Tour Pace

This easy and accessible tour is suitable for everyone, from children to older adults. It includes visits to several key locations (each night is different!) all with minimal walking on flat, well-maintained paths. Head torches are provided to ensure you’re safe and can see where you’re going.

Key Target Species & Other Wildlife Highlights

Snakes:
Oriental Whipsnake (Ahaetulla prasina), Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus), Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus), Indo-Chinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros), Siamese Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis), White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), Vogel’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus vogeli), Collared Reed Snake (Calamaria pavimentata), Many-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga multomaculata), Guangxi Cat Snake (Boiga guangxiensis), Collared Black-headed Snake (Sibynophis collaris), Banded Wolf Snake (Lycodon fasciatus), Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus), Burmese Python (Python bivittatus)

Geckos:
Thua Thien-Hue Bent-toed Gecko (Cyrtodactylus pseudoquadrivirgatus), Common Four-clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata), Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus), Ba Na Slender Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus banaensis), Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko)

Lizards:
Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata), Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus)

Turtles:
Common Thread Turtle (Mauremys sinensis), Vietnamese Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys pulchristriata)

Frogs and Toads:
Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), Asian Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra), East Asian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis), Paddy Field Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis), Kurixalus banaensis (Kurixalus banaensis), Limnonectes poilani (Limnonectes poilani), Microhyla picta (Microhyla picta), Guenther’s Frog (Sylvirana guentheri), Black-striped Frog (Sylvirana nigrovittata), Similar Frog (Papurana attigua), Spot-legged Tree Frog (Polypedates megacephalus), Common Southeast Asian Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax), Round-tongued Floating Frog (Occidozyga martensii)

Other Bonus Wildlife:
Collared Scops Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar, Grey Nightjar, Eurasian Woodcock

Group Size

Private tours are available for individuals or small groups, with options for larger groups on request. Solo herpers or pairs may choose to travel by motorbike with our guides instead of by vehicle. This option reduces costs slightly, shortens travel times, and provides access to a few additional areas.

Photography Opportunites & Notes

Excellent wildlife photography opportunities are available, both for serious camera users and even those equipped with smartphones.

For guests with a serious interested in photographing reptiles, amphibians, and insects, a standard macro lens is ideal. If you’re unsure what to bring or want tailored advice based on your gear, feel free to contact our expert team — we’re happy to help you prepare for the best possible shots.

Discover More in Central Vietnam

If this tour caught your eye, you might also enjoy some of our other herping experiences in the region, each with its own unique focus and highlights. Below are some of our most popular and recommended options, perfect for discovering more of what Central Vietnam has to offer. Thinking of doing more than one? Let us know and we’ll be happy to create a customised package to suit your journey.

Duy Son: 1-Night Herping Tour

Go deeper into central Vietnam’s untamed wilds on this specialist 1-night herping tour in the Duy Son Highlands. Far from the city lights and tourist trails, this off-the-beaten-track experience is designed for serious herpers and reptile-focused photographers in search of Vietnam’s rarer and more cryptic targets. From pit vipers and bubble-nest frogs to endemic geckos and other forest specialists, this intense one-night outing is one of our most popular herping tours in Central Vietnam.

Bach Ma 2-Night Herping Tour

One of Vietnam’s most underrated endemic herping zones, this tour of the Annamite Mountains features a spectacular array of high-value target species including rare snakes, range-restricted amphibians, endemic tortoises, and even some species yet to be formally described. Join us for the ultimate herping adventure in Central Vietnam on this all-inclusive tour.

Hoi An Snakes & Vipers: 1-Night Herping Tours

Beyond the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An’s ancient town lies a world of extraordinary and rare wildlife. Designed for herpers, wildlife photographers, tourists, and families alike, this nocturnal experience reveals an opportunity to connect with spectacular creatures such as pit vipers, keelbacks, tree snakes, pipe snakes, tropical frogs, endemic geckos, and more. You might even spot the elusive Mainland Leopard Cat or catch a glimpse of an owl or nightjar, as no two nights are ever the same! So come see the wild side of Hoi An after dark and experience with nature like never before.

Tailor Your Experience

Looking to enhance your experience? Whether it’s adding an extra day, making an additional stop, arranging pick-up from a distant location, hiring a camera, or combining your tour with another one of our amazing experiences, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today, and let our experts craft a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices tailored to your needs

Tour Reviews

Absolutely amazing tour! I went from Hoi An with Next Continent’s guide Hoang, who is incredibly passionate about his snakes. I knew right from the get-go that this guy was absolutely all over it. Almost within 5 minutes we had our first White-lipped Pit Viper, followed almost immediately by Siamese Red-necked Keelback. For the next hour or so, we slowed down a bit with a few frogs and bugs, but then the pinnacle with an incredibly beautiful Asian Sunbeam Snake, high on the want list so incredibly happy.

Fantastic experience with a super knowledgeable guide. Amazed by Hoang’s skill at snake spotting particularly in thick Vietnamese jungle. Top highlight was a super fat Burmese Python at the last stop, but really enjoyed the Vogel’s Pit Vipers and the beautiful Golden Tree Snake.

Best night out for herpers and nature people. We had such a great time we ending up doing both the Da Nang and Hoi An herping tours on different nights. Thanks Hoang and Tien for being our guides!

All I wanted was Boiga multomaculata and Trimeresurus vogeli. We got both species, so I'm a very happy guy!