Son Tra Butterfly Walks

The Son Tra Nature Reserve is a spectacular coastal forest and low-elevation peninsula rich in biodiversity. Home to an extraordinary variety of tropical butterflies, this lush landscape also supports a remarkable array of birds, mammals, plants, and other wildlife, including rare Vietnamese and Indochinese endemics, migrants, and coastal vagrants. Thanks to its diverse flora and coastal climate, Son Tra has become one of Vietnam’s most celebrated butterfly-watching destinations.

Drawing on years of field experience, we’ve crafted an immersive half-day tour that showcases the very best of Son Tra’s Lepidoptera. This tour is perfect for serious butterfly enthusiasts, families, travellers, and nature lovers alike, offering a unique opportunity to witness the dazzling variety of tropical species that inhabit the peninsula.

The experience begins shortly after dawn with a complimentary pick-up from your accommodation in Da Nang or Hoi An, followed by a brief breakfast and coffee stop en route to the reserve. Once in the forest, we’ll explore our favourite trails, selected based on seasonal flowering, local conditions and recent sightings.

To maximise sightings, we deploy tried-and-tested butterfly lures, such as fermented sugar water, rotting fruit, even a splash of beer (yes, butterflies love beer!) at targeted locations along the way. While the lures do their work, we guide you on a gentle walk through rich butterfly habitats, pausing to observe activity at flowering bushes, puddling spots, and sunny glades. Later, we return to check what’s been drawn to our lures for close-up viewing and photography.

The tour wraps up by late morning with a return transfer to your accommodation. For more dedicated Lepidopterists, we also offer a full-day extension, doubling the lure sites and habitat types, which typically increases the number of species observed by up to 30-40%.

Travel options include a comfortable vehicle, this is ideal for families and a relaxed experience, or a more adventurous motorbike ride with our expert guides, allowing access to remote and rugged areas of the peninsula.

In addition to butterflies, Son Tra offers chances to see a host of other wildlife. Keep watch for the critically endangered Red-shanked Douc Langur, tropical birds, reptiles, dragonflies, scorpions, freshwater crabs, and more. Whether you’re a passionate naturalist or simply curious to see Vietnam’s vibrant wildlife, this tour offers a rewarding and unforgettable glimpse into the biodiversity of Son Tra.