Date: September 25, 2025
Time: Half Day Tour (6:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
Guide(s): Tiên Nguyễn
Car Driver: Tung
Group size: 2x PAX. Yana and her 3-year old Robert
What Tour: Son Tra Butterfly Walks
Guide’s Notes:

1. Wildlife highlights:
   1. Butterflies & Insects: Common Rose, Black and White Helen, Paris Peacock, Great Mormon, Blue Glassy Tiger, Chocolate Tiger, Common Grass Yellow, Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger, White-edged Blue Baron, Studded Sergeant, Rustic, Gaudy Baron, Golden Birdwing, Common Earl, branded swifts, typical blues.
   2. Mammals: Red-shanked Douc Langur, Rhesus Macaque, Cambodian Striped Squirrel
   3. Birds: Indochinese Blue Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Stripe-throated Bulbul and more.
2. Weather & Conditions: Warm, humid, partly cloudy with good light for butterfly activity.
3. Recommendations: For butterfly watching in Sơn Trà, the morning is the best time, as activity is highest between 7:00 and 11:00 AM. Moving at a slow pace is important, since many species rest low to the ground or on damp patches when undisturbed. Using butterfly lures such as fermented fruit and sugar water can also increase the chances of attracting rarer species. Since Sơn Trà often provides unexpected highlights like primates and forest birds, guests are encouraged to stay alert for other wildlife as well! To enjoy the walk comfortably, light clothing, good walking shoes, a hat, and plenty of drinking water are recommended.

Forest and Habitat: Sơn Trà Nature Reserve is a low-elevation coastal peninsula near Đà Nẵng, covered in evergreen and secondary forest. The habitat is very diverse with a mix of scrub, dense forest, and coastal edge, which supports a wide range of wildlife. It is known as a strong site for butterflies, but also holds interesting mammals and birds.

Detailed Tour Report:

The day began with pick-up from the guests’ accommodation and arrival at the gate around 7:00 AM. From there, we began a slow forest walk, focusing on butterfly activity along the roadside. The guide also set out butterfly lures (fermented water, rotting fruit, and sugar water), which helped attract several species.

Activity was good during the first part of the walk, especially in sunny gaps where species were sunny themselves. Large swallowtails were the most obvious: Common Rose, Black and White Helen, Paris Peacock, Great Mormon, and Common Swallowtail. We also saw Chocolate Tiger, Blue Glassy Tiger, Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger, and Common Grass Yellow. Later in the morning we added White-edged Blue Baron, Studded Sergeant, Gaudy Baron, Rustic, and Golden Birdwing. Smaller butterflies included Typical Blues, several Branded Swift species, and Common Earl.

The guests were very interested in other insects as well. We spent time looking at planthoppers, stick insects, katydids, lanternflies, leaf beetles, stink bugs, and assassin bugs. Many of these were found by checking logs, bushes, leaves, and small holes along the path.

Other wildlife was also recorded. 2x groups of Red-shanked Douc Langur were observed moving through the canopy, and Rhesus Macaque were also present in smaller numbers. Birds included Indochinese Blue Flycatcher, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Scaly-breasted Munia and Pin-striped Tit-Babbler. 

The tour covered a relatively short distance but produced a good range of butterflies and other insects. Yana and her son Robert showed high interest in both butterflies and invertebrates, which made for an active and engaging walk. Mammals and bird sightings added variety to the trip. Overall, Sơn Trà once again demonstrated its value as a butterfly-watching site, with reliable sightings of swallowtails and several forest specialties. Even within a half-day, the tour produced a good list of species and rewarding encounters.

If you’ve enjoyed reading about this outing and are ready to experience it for yourself, we’d love to welcome you on one of our tours! The Sơn Trà Half-Day Butterfly Walk is perfect for nature-loving families, curious travellers, and anyone interested in exploring Vietnam’s incredible insect and wildlife diversity. Contact us today to learn more or book your own guided butterfly adventure in Đà Nẵng.