Ho Chi Minh Herping: 1-Night Urban Tour

Join us on our popular Ho Chi Minh Herping: 1-Night Urban Tour, to experience some world-class herping opportunities all within a short drive of Vietnam’s biggest city. Though crowded, bustling and constantly buzzing with energy, Ho Chi Minh City has a surprising number of green spaces, scrublands and scrubby corridors, providing habitat and opportunity for a fascinating diversity of snakes, frogs, and other nocturnal life. This one-night tour is perfect for serious herpers, nature-curious travellers, wildlife photographers, and families alike.

Led by our experienced local herping team, the tour starts with pick up at around 5:00 PM from your accommodation or designated meeting point. From there, we head straight to our first (secret!) location around sunset to begin herping. Most evenings include two key stops, chosen and timed based on current conditions, seasonal activity, and recent sightings to give you the best shot at maximum encounters and species diversity.

Ho Chi Minh City has approximately 60~ species of reptiles and amphibians, including many high-value snake, frog and gecko targets. Some of the standout and regularly encountered species include Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis), White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), Many-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga multomaculata), Long-nosed Whip Snake (Ahaetulla fusca), Indochinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros), Oligodon taeniatus, Oriental Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa), Painted Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis pictus), Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor), and Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata). Frogs and geckos are also well-represented, with Mada Paddy Frog (Micryletta erythropoda), Ninhthuan Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla ninhthuanensis), Mukhlesuri Narrow-mouth Frog (Microhyla mukhlesuri), Spot-legged Treefrog, and the unmistakable Tokay Gecko (Gekko gecko).

For those with an interest in birds, we also often record Collared Scops Owl and Savanna Nightjar, just make sure to flag tit with your guide at the start of the tour.

We usually wrap up around 10:00 PM with drop-off back at your accommodation. While dinner isn’t included (to maximise time in the field), you’re welcome to bring snacks or a bánh mì. If you’d prefer a quick meal before we start, there’s a great restaurant right next to our first stop serving delicious Vietnamese beefsteak and noodles.

This tour can be done by car for small groups or by motorbike for solo travellers. 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 herping potential, this high-yield night tour delivers a focused and flexible encounter with some of Indochina’s epic herping opportunities.