Ho Chi Minh City Birding Tours

Code: HCAC01 | Categories: Birding | Locations: Da Nang / Hoi An, Hue

Birding Tours with Next Continent

Vietnam’s largest and most dynamic city, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), may be best known for its energy and urban sprawl, but it also offers surprisingly rich birding opportunities and sits at the heart of southern Vietnam’s world-renowned birding circuit. With over 9 million residents across 13 districts, Ho Chi Minh City is a bustling metropolis, yet it sits within striking distance of some of southern Vietnam’s most famous and high-yield birding destinations. Over 350~ bird species have been recorded in the greater HCMC region, including a wide range of endemics, migrants, and tropical specialties.

Despite rapid urbanisation, birders will find a variety of accessible and species-rich habitats within just a short drive. Explore the tidal flats and mangroves of Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, forest trails and reservoirs of Ma Da – Trị An, or the eastern edges of the Mekong Delta, where freshwater wetlands and paddy fields attract waterbirds, raptors, and passerines in abundance. Depending on the season and location, day tours can yield over 100 species, with winter and migration periods offering particularly high diversity and regular surprises.

For those with more time, Cát Tiên National Park (Vietnam’s premier birding and wildlife destination) is just a few hours away and is where we run our extremely popular Cat Tien 3-Day Birding Tour. The city’s strategic location makes it an ideal launchpad for linking together southern Vietnam’s top birding hotspots, whether that’s the Mekong Delta, Cat Tien NP or the famed Da Lat Plateau region.

At Next Continent, we offer an extensive and flexible range of birding experiences in and around Ho Chi Minh City. From relaxed half-day outings and private birding boat tours to targeted multi-day adventures, our tours are crafted to suit all levels of interest and expertise. Whether you’re a beginner, photographer, lister, or passionate naturalist, our expert local guides will tailor your experience to match your goals.

With world-class birding right on the doorstep of Vietnam’s busiest city, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most accessible and exciting urban birding bases in Southeast Asia. Join us and discover why southern Vietnam is hailed as one of the planet’s most significant birding regions.

Discover Your Perfect Birding Experience

Explore our exclusive tour offerings below and discover what makes each experience unique. We offer three signature single-day birding itineraries, alongside a wide range of custom and multi-day options—ranging from hardcore photography and target-species trips to extended adventures and relaxed half-day outings ideal for families, beginners, and nature lovers.

For those seeking something more personalised (such as a combination birds & mammals tour, specialist targets, etc) we’re happy to tailor an itinerary to match your goals, pace, and interests. All of our tours draw on years of field expertise and are designed to connect you with the region’s remarkable and varied bird life, including regional endemics and other high-priority species. As always, if you have any questions, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help!

Key Tours & Destinations:

Ho Chi Minh City Classic Birding

Whether you’re chasing lifers, focusing on photography, planning a Big Day, or simply seeking a relaxed birding pace, our Classic Birding tours are tailored just for you. Designed around your goals and schedule by expert guides, this fully customisable experience is the perfect way to explore Ho Chi Minh City’s rich birding opportunities and ecosystem your way. Single-day tours start at $330 for one person, $195 per person for two, $150 for three, and $125 for four

Mangroves, Wetlands & Tidal Flats: Can Gio Birding Day Tour

Our most popular 1-day birding experience from Vietnam’s largest city. Explore the rich birdlife of Can Gio’s pristine mangrove and coastal biosphere. Expect large numbers and an extraordinary diversity of Indochinese specialists, including parakeets, bitterns, and bee-eaters, as well as global rarities such as Nordmann’s Greenshank and more!

Cat Tien 3-Day Birding Tour

Cat Tien is southern Vietnam’s top birding destination, home to a rich mix of endemics, regional specialties, and rare lowland forest species. Expect to see over 100 species on this tailored tour, with highlights like Germain’s Peacock-Pheasant, Bar-bellied & Blue-rumped Pittas, Orange-necked Partridge, and is ideal for both birders and bird photographers. Flexible and rewarding, this is one of the best ways to experience Vietnam’s avian diversity, and by far one of our most popular tours.

Ho Chi Minh After Dark: Owls & Nightjars Spotlighting Tour

Discover Ho Chi Minh City After Dark on our Nocturnal Spotlighting Tour. The perfect experience for birders, wildlife photographers and nature lovers to get up close and personal with some of Vietnam’s unique and rarely seen nocturnal creatures. Running year-round, this tour highlights species such as the Savanna Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar and Eastern Barn Owl, alongside an array of fascinating reptiles, amphibians, moths, and more!

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Day Tour: Search for the World's Rarest Wader

Join us on a search for one of the world’s rarest and most endangered shorebirds. Our full-day trip visits key coastal areas only a few hours from Ho Chi Minh City, where these elusive migrants can be spotted during their overwintering season. Led by expert guides, this tour offers an unforgettable chance to observe a global conservation icon alongside a diversity of other waders and coastal species. Perfect for birders, photographers, and nature lovers. Private and small group departures available.

Wild Mekong: 3-Day Birding Expedition to Tram Chim National Park

Join our short but rewarding birding expedition into the heart of the Mekong Delta. Centered on Tram Chim, one of Vietnam’s last remaining lowland wetland reserves, this tour offers excellent opportunities to observe waterbirds, grassland specialists, and seasonal migrants, including Sarus Crane, Pied Harrier, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Asian Golden Weaver and more. Highlights include private guided boat cruises, spotlighting, and a coastal extension to search for the world’s rarest wader, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Perfect for birders & photographers and available year round.

Photography Tours & Expeditions:

Vietnam Pitta Photography Tour: 7-Day Birding Expedition

A dedicated bird photography expedition focused on Vietnam’s most photogenic and sought-after pittas, this 7-day tour is perfect for solo travellers, couples, and small photography groups. With expert local guides and access to our own private ethical photography hides, you’ll have exceptional chances to capture stunning images of Rusty-naped, Blue-rumped, Blue, Bar-bellied, and Blue-winged Pittas, alongside a suite of other colourful forest species. Fast-paced but flexible, this specialised tour combines rewarding birding with outstanding photographic opportunities in some of Vietnam’s richest lowland habitats.

The Ultimate Vietnam Bird Photography Expedition: Cat Tien & Da Lat

Designed for serious bird photographers, this ultimate 7-day expedition combines the lowland rainforests of Cat Tien with the cool montane forests of the Da Lat Plateau, Vietnam’s two most productive bird photography destinations. Led by expert photography guides and with exclusive access to our own network of ethical private hides, you’ll enjoy carefully crafted shooting opportunities for a wide range of regional specialties, from jewel-like pittas and broadbills to laughingthrushes, woodpeckers, and barbets. Whether you’re after clean backgrounds, close encounters, or natural behaviour in perfect light, this tour delivers a premium photographic experience across two of Vietnam’s richest ecosystems.

Kingfishers of Vietnam: 7-Day Photography Tour

A vibrant and fast-paced bird photography tour focused entirely on Vietnam’s dazzling diversity of kingfishers, this 7-day expedition is ideal for solo photographers, couples, and specialist photo groups. With expert guides, custom hide setups, and boat trips for up-close action on the water, you’ll have outstanding opportunities to photograph Blue-eared, Black-backed Dwarf, Banded, Stork-billed, and Pied Kingfishers, alongside Common, White-throated, Black-capped, and Collared. Designed for the best light, angles, and repeat encounters, this tour offers a richly rewarding experience with some of Asia’s most striking birds.

Why Choose Us?

Expert Guides: Our experienced bird and wildlife guides have in-depth knowledge of the region and its avifauna.
Private Driver: You’ll be accompanied by a private driver to ensure seamless transportation throughout your tour.
Bird Lists: We’ll provide a detailed bird list of all the species encountered during your trip. Same goes for sharing eBird checklists.
Spotting Scopes & Field Guides: Available upon request to enhance your birding experience.
Meals & Accommodation Transfers: We can organise meals and provide pickup/drop-off services from your accommodation.
First Aid & Safety: All our guides are trained in first aid and ensure a COVID-19 Safe environment throughout your tour.
Comprehensive Insurance: We provide full insurance coverage, giving you peace of mind during your adventure.
Entrance Tickets & Permits: All necessary entrance tickets and permits are included in your tour, so you don’t have to worry about any additional fees.

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

This tour was wonderful. Everything worked well and seamlessly together, with a great tour and driver combo, fantastic food and comfortable accomodation, not to mention sensational birding.

I strongly doubt our photography group will ever do a tour as amazing as this one!

Ho Chi Minh City Birding Tours

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